Studying in the UAE: what to consider

I lived in Qatar, working as a university counsellor during a period marked by the uncertainty of US visas. During this time, I conducted extensive research on universities across the Middle East and North Africa region. Families were increasingly worried about violence and Islamophobia in Western countries and wanted to explore alternative options that would provide their children with a world-class education in a region that is welcoming to diverse students. 

The students that I work with are increasingly becoming interested in universities outside the main English-speaking countries, with the most cited reasons being safety, visas and cost. At the recent CIS Forum in Seville, an admissions representative from a US university remarked, “We know that we are no longer competing with similar universities in the US – we are competing with other countries.” 

Last year, I worked with several European students who wanted an American-style education but were concerned about visa cancellations, detainments and, of course, violence. There were stories circulating about students being arrested for social-media posts, and as one of my students said, “If they are detaining and deporting Germans, what are they going to do to me? My passport is weak compared with that.” 

They had applied to dozens of US universities, but I also encouraged them to consider American universities with satellite campuses where graduates get the same degree as the main campus, usually for a fraction of the cost. Universities in the Middle East are keen to attract diverse students (yes, Europeans count – diversity is contextual).

The students became interested in NYU Abu Dhabi and were ultimately admitted with full-ride scholarships that included flights to Abu Dhabi, much to their parents’ delight. 

After this, other students began asking about universities in the Emirates. That year, four students applied to universities in the UAE, and three matriculated. The pipeline had begun.

Why studying in the UAE is worth considering

There has been major investment in higher education in the Emirates, resulting in generous financial aid, lower tuition fees, state-of-the-art facilities and a post-study work visa process that is more seamless and generous than those offered by many Western countries. 

In the US, student-visa holders can only be employed by their university, which severely limits paid internship opportunities. However, most other countries, including the UAE, do not have this work restriction.

During a fly-in visit to a university in the UAE, one student mentioned how easy it was for him to find internships as a result of the growing employment opportunities. He was competing with far fewer students at the branch campus, compared with the main campus, which has more than 10 times the number of undergraduates. 

The UAE has an extremely low crime rate. Additionally, given the increasing reports of Islamophobia across the Global North, many Muslim students I work with have said that they would feel more comfortable living in a Muslim-majority country, where they can also feel more connected to their faith. 

That said, the UAE is a strong option for students of all faiths, because it is the most liberal country in the Gulf. It may not be the right fit for everyone (those who hate hot weather will have a hard time), but the country is an emerging global hub that is keen to attract the best and the brightest, and is willing to invest in them.

Where to study in the UAE

Below is a list of internationally focused undergraduate universities in the UAE (excluding Abu Dhabi, which will be covered elsewhere).

Be sure to research universities’ accreditations and whether or not they are recognised outside the UAE, especially for majors that lead to careers that require special licences. 

Dubai

• American University in Dubai
• Canadian University Dubai
• Heriot-Watt University Dubai
• Middlesex University Dubai
• University of Wollongong in Dubai
• Rochester Institute of Technology Dubai
• Amity University Dubai
• Murdoch University Dubai
• Curtin University Dubai
• University of Birmingham Dubai

Sharjah

• American University of Sharjah 

Ras Al Khaimah

• American University of Ras Al Khaimah
• University of Stirling RAK Campus

Attestation of academic qualifications

To matriculate, students must have their academic qualifications (transcripts) attested. Some universities do not require this, so always check with the university admissions office before beginning the attestation process.

The general rule is that documents must first be authenticated in the country of origin and then attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

International Baccalaureate (IB)

1. Request legalisation via your school’s IB coordinator (before final results) or through the IB website (after final results).

2. Submit the legalised IB results to the UAE MOFA for attestation.

Qualifications originating in the United States

1. Submit the qualifications to the secretary of state in the state where they were issued for authentication or certification.

2. Submit the state-authenticated qualifications to the US Department of State for further authentication.

3. Submit the US Department of State–authenticated qualifications to the UAE MOFA for attestation.

Qualifications originating in other countries

Each country has its own process for authenticating academic documents. For the UAE MOFA to recognise these documents, they must first be authenticated by that country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs or equivalent authority.