UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Over the past two decades the United Arab Emirates has transformed from desert into one of the leading education hubs of the Middle East. Students don't come here for the centuries-old academic traditions of Oxford or Harvard. They come for something else — a modern, practical education (above all in business, technology and hospitality management), a comfortable and very safe life, and the unique experience of an international crossroads where hundreds of cultures and nationalities meet, from Americans to Indians, from Britons to Chinese. Unlike Europe, where many universities expect knowledge of the local language, the UAE teaches almost entirely in English, and the country is actively courting international students by streamlining visa procedures and offering post-study work programmes. For Russian-speaking students, visa-free entry for tourists and a relatively straightforward student visa process are an important plus.

What students typically come to study

For school pupils. The Emirates is a huge market of international schools where you can study under almost any curriculum: British (IGCSE, A-Level), American (the High School Diploma with Advanced Placement — AP — courses), French, German, Indian and more. Unlike the boarding schools of Switzerland or the United Kingdom, most schools in the UAE are day schools, and only a few offer full boarding.

One of the best-known boarding schools is Swiss International Scientific School Dubai (SISD), in the Dubai Healthcare City district. It offers a choice of several programmes, as well as a language-immersion option with bilingual teaching in English and German, French or Arabic. Pupils live in an on-campus residence, in rooms for one to four. It was recently announced that a branch of the famous British school Harrow International School will open in Abu Dhabi, which will probably offer boarding too. Even so, most international children studying in the UAE live with their parents or relatives. Sending a child to board away from the family, as is common in Europe, remains rare in the Emirates. 

For university students. This is where most international students set their sights. In the 2024/2025 academic year the UAE's 66 higher education institutions saw a record intake of 57,035 new students, 13% more than the year before. International students make up more than 35% of all learners and come mainly from South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and, increasingly, Europe. In Dubai alone the number of university students tops 30,000.

The most popular programmes are business and management, engineering and information technology, hospitality management (the country's calling card), medicine (dentistry and pharmacy), and aviation. The Emirates appeals not only through tuition that is affordable next to the USA and Europe, but also through enormous career prospects: the headquarters of hundreds of international companies are based here.

What studying is like

Secondary education. If you specifically want the boarding option, the choice is small. The leading names are Swiss International Scientific School Dubai (SISD), Repton School Dubai and Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills. But it is worth understanding that the UAE is not a country where children are routinely sent off to board alone, as they are in Switzerland or England. The idea of boarding is only just taking root here. Most children from Russian-speaking families in the UAE live with their parents, who often work in the Emirates.

Higher education. This is a true «mecca» for students, with many campuses of the world's leading universities operating in the UAE. Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) and Dubai Knowledge Park (DKP) host branches of universities from the United Kingdom (Middlesex, Heriot-Watt, Birmingham, Wollongong), Australia, India (BITS Pilani), America and France (Sorbonne Abu Dhabi, the Paris Sorbonne). These programmes do not follow local standards but deliver a full Western education: students earn the same degrees as at the home campus, with the option to transfer to the parent campus at any point — the so-called «transfer» between campuses. The University of Birmingham in Dubai, for example, lets students begin in the UAE and finish in England. That is a major advantage: a British university degree at a lower price than in Europe.

Visa requirements

Citizens of countries outside the Gulf states need a student visa to study in the UAE. The process is relatively simple compared with the USA or Europe, but it requires a sponsor. Most UAE universities take on that role: once you are enrolled, the university arranges the visa in place of an employer or relative. This is a huge advantage.
Requirements for the visa:

• Confirmation of enrolment from the university; a passport valid for at least 6 months at the time of entry;
• Proof of financial means (a bank statement showing at least 20,000 dirhams or a sponsorship letter from parents);
• A medical certificate (tests for HIV, hepatitis and tuberculosis);
• A certificate of no criminal record (sometimes required for certain courses).

The student visa fee varies with the university and how urgent your application is. Processing through the university usually costs 3,000–5,000 dirhams, plus 300–500 dirhams for a medical insurance policy (mandatory, but cheap next to the USA). Some universities also ask for a refundable deposit (around 3,000 dirhams). Thanks to the digital Salama platform, a visa is now issued in just 10–15 working days. In 2025 the UAE Pass platform launched, letting you obtain an Emirates ID and other documents online without visiting an office.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• The UAE is one of the safest countries in the world, with street crime close to nil.
• Universities are equipped with the very latest technology and world-class laboratories.
• You earn a degree from a British or Australian university while paying less than in London or Sydney.
• A quick, convenient visa, without the long months of waiting and interviews typical of US visas.
• The «Golden Visa» for high achievers — a real chance to build a career in the region.
• Universities, shops, signs and documents are all in English; Arabic is needed only for dealing with government bodies and older residents.

Cons:

• The climate. From May to October the temperature exceeds +40°C, making it extremely hard to be outside. Almost everything — sport and outdoor life included — happens in air-conditioned spaces or in the early morning and late evening.
• The high cost of living. Rent and many services in Dubai and Abu Dhabi rival London or Zurich.
• Cultural and legal particularities. This is a country governed by Muslim law. Foreigners are not required to observe strict religious rules, but loud music after midnight, public displays of affection, swearing and, above all, public intoxication can earn a heavy fine or even imprisonment followed by deportation (especially in the Emirate of Sharjah). To Europeans this can come as a surprise.