The UAE as an Emerging Hub for International Students

Thursday, 31 January, 2019

Home to more than 200 nationalities, the UAE is one of the hottest expat destinations and truly a melting pot for a mix of cultures.

With various opportunities for expatriates, the sky is truly the limit and the UAE has been a springboard to success for professionals from all over the world. With a 3.2m population of Indian and Pakistani residents alone, there is no doubt that investment from these regions are on the rise. The number of Asian companies investing in the UAE is ever growing and so are the opportunities for students and alumni’s who wish to pursue a career within these companies.

In the quest of making the transition easier for job seekers, the UAE government has recently announced that visitor visas can be extended to job seekers, and that some students are now able to sponsor family members which is another initiative to retain local talent. Rules and regulations as well as eligibility can be found on the respective embassy websites.

One of the fastest growing sectors in the region is Education and with UOWD alongside other internationally recognised educational institutions, there are variety of study options for those looking to obtain an internationally recognised degree in the UAE.

In a study conducted by the British Council, the UAE has been ranked amongst the top 5 countries based on the following assessment criteria when it comes to the quality of higher education.

Quality Assurance and Degree Recognition

Higher education institutions in the UAE undergo regular quality assurance and assessments which ensure a high quality of study programs, staff and relevant student support.

Topped up with the fact that the degree will not only be recognised in the GCC but also internationally, opens wider doors for students who wish to pursue a career internationally.

Transnational Educational Engagement

While studying in the UAE you will have the chance to engage with other institutions and corporations nationwide. Most universities have partners across various industry sectors which can support students significantly when seeking placements, work experience or future career prospects.

Openness for Higher Education Systems

With the rise of Educational Institutions setting foothold in the UAE, KHDA, the governmental licensing body for education, has been successfully working on attracting more institutions in order to make the UAE a hub for international education, offering a variety of curricula to prospective students.

Other than the criteria’s mentioned above, there are various initiatives as part of the 2020 Strategy by the Ministry of Education to attract International Educational Institutions to the UAE. One of the major advantages is the regulatory environment that supports these institutions to successfully expand to the UAE and operate in a business-friendly environment.

With this growing number of investment to the UAE, it is inevitable that more and more jobs will be created in the years to come, hence obtaining an educational degree in the UAE will give you a direct access to these companies looking for regional talent.

Following are sectors that are growing at a fast rate offering a range of opportunities for young professionals.

• Real Estate
• Marketing
• Tourism
• Government sector
• ICTE-Commerce is currently amongst the fastest growing sector in the UAE.