New visa announcements increase student enrollment in UAE
January 21, 2025
By Expat Media
Education groups see a significant year-on-year rise in enrolments
Following the introduction of new visas, UAE schools and universities have seen an increase in new student enrolments for the next academic year, underlining the country's status as an educational center.
Educationists believe the new visas boost the UAE's appeal and give individuals the confidence they need to see Dubai as a desirable destination to live and work.
Zafar Raja, Chief Operating Officer, GEMS Education said: “As a school group, we welcome the UAE government’s updates to the visa laws and the benefits these offer to families choosing to make the UAE their home for the long-term. Overall, we see a significant year-on-year rise in enrolments across our schools.
"This growth reflects increased demand for high-quality education among families as well as the enduring attractiveness of the UAE as a place to live, work and raise a family. We believe this trend is set to continue, in no small part due to these new regulations that remove barriers and make it easier to enter and stay in the UAE, including for young people, as they increasingly choose to study and establish their future careers in the Emirates.” Zafar added.
The UAE Cabinet announced the most comprehensive set of entrance and residence changes and upgrades in April 2022. The new system includes extended Golden Visas (long-term residence) and new entry visas.
In addition, new visa regulations enable parents to sponsor their sons until they reach the age of 25, rather than the old age restriction of 18. This practically implies that male children can stay in the UAE after finishing secondary school and university.
According to Ashwin Assomull, Head of LEK Consulting’s Global Education Practice, there has been a lot of discussion about the impact of the Golden and Green visas on international immigration to Dubai. This is one of the factors that makes it simpler for individuals to visit Dubai and make it their permanent home.
The fact that we have a thriving K12 industry is going to drive enrollment. KHDA has done an outstanding job of establishing relationships with private sector operators and investors.
In Dubai, you may choose from a variety of curricula, pricing ranges, and services. Assomull claimed that there are a number of other reasons why individuals want to relocate to Dubai and the UAE. “The way Dubai managed Covid-19 is a success story. The way Covid-19 was handled in India has also led to many Indian residents leaving the country. From Europe, we’ll see a lot of people moving in as taxes increase there. Dubai has always been a safe haven offering a lot of leisure activities. These are all the factors leading to increased enrollments in the Emirate.”
Universities in Dubai and other emirates, on the other hand, have reported an increase in student enrolment. “We are experiencing a period of exciting growth and development as an institution. In part, we believe that the new visa rules have helped bring awareness to the ease and benefits of an education in the UAE. The new visa rules have made high-quality local education available to a global audience,” said Dyllan Hancott, Chief Advancement Officer, Canadian University Dubai (CUD).
He went on to say that during this time, they are seeing a big rise in the number of leads and enrolments. We have seen a 100 percent increase in current enrolments, thanks in part to these visa modifications and new programs, facilities, accreditations, collaborations, and more at Canadian University Dubai.
More students from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), South Asia, and Europe are expected to arrive in the UAE later this year, according to educational experts.
“In light of the new visa rules, we anticipate an increase in the prospective students from the MENA region, CIS, and South Asian countries that would most likely reflect in our future student enrolment intakes,” said Mohammed Hettini, Chief Marketing, and Communications Officer, American University of Ras Al Khaimah “We believe that more outstanding and talented international students will be encouraged to enroll in Higher Education Institutions in the UAE due to the new types of visas. The UAE is becoming a popular destination for international students due to the high level of safety, innovation of new programs, and quality of education offered in the UAE. However, the new rules, along with the introduction of Golden visas, will facilitate new opportunities, such as granting residence visas to the family members of the Golden visa holders. This may boost student enrollments in post-graduate programs as well.” he added. KMB/Expat Media
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