Why Study in Dubai?

Dubai is the second-largest Emirate of the UAE, and features a modern, glitzy city, the tallest building in the world (Burj Khalifa), seven star hotels such as Burj Al Arab, Palm Islands, incredible malls and fountains. The third-largest Emirate is Sharjah, which is a more traditional Arab city featuring the beautiful University City with park-like grounds and traditional Islamic architecture, as well as a range of museums and heritage areas celebrating the Arab-Islamic culture of the Gulf. Not far outside the cities of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah, you will find yourself in the middle of the desert, with vast shifting sand dunes, camels, and the occasional Gaf Tree.

Many Cultures in One Location

Study in the UAE, and you will certainly learn a lot about the Emirati culture. However, Emiratis only make up approximately 20% of the country´s population, with the remainder coming from all over the Arab-Islamic world, and beyond! While most people speak English, walk the streets and you will hear conversations in Arabic, Farsi, Urdu, Tagalog, English, and any number of other languages. You will come away from this study abroad experience with a wide knowledge and insight into a broad range of world cultures. The UAE is the place to discover the real meaning of the word internationalization.

Excellent Educational Facilities

There are a range of study abroad opportunities, from large public universities to smaller private colleges, and everything in between. Many of these will be accredited both by the UAE´s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR), and by an accrediting agency in another country. For example, the American University of Sharjah (AUS) is accredited jointly by MOHESR and by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools in the US. Not only that, but AUS´s individual programs are accredited to the “gold-standard” within the US system (i.e. AACSB, ABET, and NAAB). This means that students can continue on with their major studies in confidence at a high quality university, while experiencing all of the benefits and adventure that study abroad in the UAE has to offer.

The UAE is a very safe and modern country, with very low levels of violent and property crime. The diversity of the population means that there are definitely residents who have directly experienced some of the troubling events happening around the region, and you will learn a lot during conversations with the many nationalities living and working there.

Many Program Options

Study abroad in the UAE as an exchange student (through a university partnership or ISEP), through a third-party provider (API, CIEE, IFSA-Butler), or as a direct-enrollment visiting student. You can join for a semester, or a year, and perhaps include an internship before returning home.

The Emirates are the central hub of the world. Students studying there can travel easily to and from their host country through one of the many world-class international airports in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, or Sharjah – or one of the regional airports. There are so many interesting and exotic locations nearby – India, Kenya, Bahrain, Nepal, Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, and many more. Reach both European and African locations in short flights.