Move over London and New York - Why Dubai is the next best bet to study abroad?

There’s one city that has been quietly making its presence felt in attracting international students to its shores, and no, it’s not in the USA or Europe. It’s Dubai. Home to 60+ international university campuses such as the University of Birmingham, Rochester Institute of Technology, Heriot-Watt University, Murdoch University, and De Montfort University to name a few, Dubai is bound to become the next global hub for education. Many British, American, and Australian universities have opened their campuses in Dubai in the last decade with many more in the pipeline.

A city that was nothing but just a small trading port in the 90s has now not only become home to towering skyscrapers and manmade wonders but also some of the best universities in the world. But what explains Dubai’s meteoric rise and why so many Indian students are flocking to study there?
 

#1 Easy Connectivity

To begin with, it’s the distance and connectivity. One can fly directly to Dubai or Sharjah from most Indian cities including Tier 2. To add to that, the flight time is hardly 3-4 hours which makes good sense for students wanting to stay close to home. Moreover, flight tickets are as low as a domestic flight, making flying in and out of Dubai affordable. 
 

#2 Home away from home

Dubai is home to a large Indian diaspora, to the extent that it almost feels like home. You get all the Indian food you want, you get to celebrate festivals, and watch your favorite movies which kind of evokes a sense of familiarity, which means no homesickness.  
 

#3 Streamlined Visa Process

Believe it or not, it just takes 15-20 days to get the visa processed without a burgeoning documentation to furnish. And maybe that’s the reason 164K students from India went to Dubai to study between 2021 and 2022 according to Times of India. 

#4 English Taught Programs

Dubai is a global city with expats from all over the world calling it home. Universities and colleges offer English-taught programs and one can go about their daily lives easily without having to learn another language. So, as long as you can converse in English, you are good to go. 

#5 Affordability

The city is not very cheap to live in but it will be much cheaper than other global cities like London or New York. The groceries will be cheaper, rents cheaper, eating out will be cheaper, and day-to-day expenses much lower. 
 

#6 Visas to Work

There are no post-study work visas like other countries but there are plenty of other pathways for students to live in the country after graduation. Employment Visas, Jobseeker Visas for recent graduates, Freelancer Visas, Golden Visa, and Investor Visas, a lot of options out there. 

#7 Good Employment Prospects

The job market in the UAE is booming. Finance, AI, Tech, Hospitality, Marketing, Education, Consulting, and the list goes on. The economy is robust and diversified which means plenty of growth opportunities in various sectors. The government invests heavily in attracting talent from overseas to come and work in Dubai. 

There are plenty more reasons why Dubai is on its way to becoming a knowledge hub of the Middle East and the city is ready to welcome more students than ever to come and study there. With good job opportunities after graduation, world-class universities, and a good standard of living, Dubai can be your next best bet to study abroad.