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United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Four-fifths of the UAE is desert, yet it is a country of contrasting landscapes, from awe-inspiring dunes to rich oases, precipitous rocky mountains to fertile plains. The United Arab Emirates is a constitutional federation of seven emirates; Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is located along the south-eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Qatar lies to the west, Saudi Arabia to the south and west, and Oman to the north and east. The capital and the largest city of the federation, Abu Dhabi, is located in the emirate of the same name.
Planning your studies in the UAE
Institutions (especially in the higher education sector) are of a high standard and good quality. They are eager to accept foreign students as well as are willing to learn from their experiences.
You can find the list of accredited programs in each university from the CAA web site
Links to the UAE Government websites
Some government sites are not provided in English, the UAE interact site is a good option to find links in English.
Also, government sites are often not updated and information might not be current, you are strongly advised to check the relevant information with the International Office or Student Service Office of your host institution.
Links to most government web sites can be found at:
www.uae.gov.ae
www.uaeinteract.com
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
The UAE embassy and consulates in Australia
The UAE Embassy in Canberra:
12 Bulwarra Close,
O’Malley,
ACT 2606, Australia.
Tel: +61 2 6286 8802
Fax: +61 2 6286 8804
Web site of the UAE Embassy in Australia:
http://www.uaeembassy.org.au
Email: uaeembassy@bigpond.com
Australian embassy and consulates in the UAE
Australian Embassy in Abu Dhabi:
Al Muhairy Centre,
14TH Floor, Al Muhairy Centre,
Abu Dhabi,
UAE
Tel: +971 02 634 6100
Australian Consulate General in Dubai:
Level 25, Burjuman Business Tower
Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Road (Trade Centre Road)
P.O. Box : 124400
Dubai, UAE
Tel : 971 4 508 7100
Please visit;
http://www.dfat.gov.au/missions/countries/aedu.html
Other contacts and links
The two main telecommunication providers in offering services in land line, mobile and internet service s are:
These sites provide information and link on most services such as internet, child care, insurance …and more:
http://www.expatdubai.com/
www.uaeinteract.com
You can find a lot of information at
http://www.expatwoman.com/
Postal service: The postal service in the UAE is Emirates Post.
The Road Transport Authority web site is RTA of the UAE.
Tertiary studies in the UAE
Fees and funding
There are no clear guidelines as to university tuition fees and funding; you will need to contact the International Office of your home university or the Admissions Office of the host university to determine the exact nature of your overseas study experience and applicable fees.
You can find a list of accredited programs in each university on the CAA Portalhttp://www.caa.ae/caaweb/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=5&tabid=1
Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific research in the UAE: http://www.mohesr.ae/department.html
Scholarships
The UAE universities generally only offer scholarships to their own nationals.
However, the international campuses in the UAE do offer some form of scholarship; for example, University of Wollongong-Dubai and Murdoch University do offer scholarships to international students.
For Australian citizens and permanent residents, there are scholarship programs available for students.
For scholarship information, please visit: www.uowd.ac.ae or www.murdochdubai.com
Studying in English
Most of the local universities use Arabic as their teaching medium; however, many courses/programs are available in English now in the UAE, especially in the major universities. Therefore, it is advisable for students to check the teaching medium of the host institution before commencing.
List of and links to universities in the UAE
• Abu Dhabi University
• Al Ghurair University
• Dubai College
• American University in Dubai
• American University of Sharjah
• United Arab Emirates University
• University of Sharjah
• University of Wollongong in Dubai
• Zayed University
• www.murdochdubai.com
Please also note that some universities have separate colleges for different genders and some programs might be on offer for male students, while others are for female students only. Please check with the host institutions for such information.
For a comprehensive list of universities and colleges in the UAE with address, telephone numbers and links, visit:. http://www.dubaifaqs.com/universities-colleges-list-in-dubai-UAE.php
http://www.arabiancampus.com/studyinuae/universities/uclist.htm
http://www.justlanded.com/english/Dubai/Directory/Education/Universities
List of and links to VET or technical colleges in the UAE
- Dubai Men’s Colleges
- Dubai Women’s College
- Dubai College of Government
- Emirates Aviation College
- e-TQM College
The only Australian technical college in the UAE is the SAE Institute, which is a private college offering audio production, film production, interactive animation & applied multimedia courses: http://dubai.sae.edu/en-gb/home/
Living in the UAE
Costs and Budgeting
The cost of living is quite expensive in the UAE. University accommodation will be cheaper than renting. Transportation is also expensive as there is little public transport and taxis are the usual option.
International students should budget at least AED 3000 to AED 7500 per month, depending on whether you stay on or off campus. This will include utilities, accommodation, transport, food, and entertainment.
General info on budget can be found at: www.uowdubai.ac.ae
Visa and entry
It is hard to get accurate information on visa requirement as the official web site has not been updated for a long time and is subject to change without notice. Therefore one should check with the UAE Embassy in Australia before travelling.
Australian passport holders will be granted a free of charge visa for a single visit upon arrival in the UAE; this will allow them to stay for 60 days, with the possibility to extend once for 30 days.
In terms of Student Visa, an UAE education institution is to produce a supporting letter for the student and is to apply to the Ministry of Immigration for a student/resident visa on their behalf. This usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to obtain. The cost varies from institution to institution, and it is advisable to purchase health insurance coverage at the same time. The visa is only valid for one year and will need to be renewed annually.
For visa issues:
UAE Immigration
UAE Interact
UAE Government
NB: Unfortunately, most sites do not have specific and clear information on student/residence visa.
The University of Wollongong in Dubai web site provides information for international students.
Managing and accessing money – banking
There are considerable formalities involved in opening a bank account in the UAE, involving a considerable amount of paperwork. Most banks are open from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm, Saturday to Thursday, with ATM machines spread all over the UAE.
Only people with a residence visa or work permit (with labour card) are allowed to open an account in the bank. It is best for you to check with the Student Services Office or International Student Office in your institution in regards to money transfer and bank accounts before you arrive as it might take a long time before you get your own bank account (usually subject to your student/residence visa). You may require a supporting letter or document from the institution to open an account.
You can find out some general information from this site: Just Landed
This gives a general introduction to money matters in the UAE and provides links to all major banks. UAE Interact - Travel > Money
Accommodation
Most of the universities have accommodation facilities and will be less expensive than private accommodation expenses. On campus accommodation is separated by gender.
Private accommodation is expensive and you might be required to pay a whole year’s rent in advance. The best option is to seek recommendation from your institution.
To get an idea of the cost of private accommodations, please visit: Dubizzle
Health care and insurance
Health care in the UAE is of high international standard with many clinics and hospitals available. Check that the doctor is English-speaking when making an appointment. Most universities have their own on-campus Medical/ Health Centre and they provide basic health care, usually with a registered nurse or even doctor on duty.
Institutions should be able to provide a list of doctors, dentists and therapists under the coverage of the insurance policy scheme purchased. If you do not intend to purchase a local insurance scheme, you are strongly advised to take up an Overseas Health Insurance policy that provides international coverage which includes the Middle East.
You should contact your host institution to clarify the type of insurance policy required, as it is compulsory to have health insurance for the application of a sponsored student/residence visa.
Conditions regarding Working in UAE
Currently, UAE labour law does not allow students on university sponsored visas to undertake paid work. Students may take up unpaid internships but must obtain permission from the university before commencement. Students might also be able to take up unpaid work for a maximum of 20 hours per week. Some universities/institutions are located in special educational zones and unpaid work or internships might be allowed within the zones.
Postgraduate students who secured full time work must change from the university sponsored visa to an employer sponsored visa. Employer sponsored visas are generally not available for part time work
It is best for students to check with the International Office or the Student Service Office upon arrival in regards to the updated information on working in the UAE.
The UOWD website gives some guidelines on working in the UAE: