The United Arab Emirates, also known as the UAE and The Emirates, is a federation situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf. Termed emirates because they are ruled by emirs, they are; Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Quwain. The capital of the UAE is Abu Dhabi, which is also the country's centre of political, industrial and cultural activities. The UAE's official religion is Islam, and Arabic is the official language.

Its oil reserves are ranked as the world's sixth largest and the UAE possesses one of the most-developed economies in West Asia. It is the thirty-fifth-largest economy at market exchange rates, and has a high per capita gross domestic product (GDP). It is 15th in purchasing power per capita and has a relatively high Human Development Index for the Asian continent, ranking thirty-second globally. The IMF classifies the UAE as a high-income developing economy.

Education - Studying in the UAE

The UAE has established an excellent higher education system in a very short period of time. The country now has one of the highest application participation rates in the world. Ninety-five per cent of all females and 80 per cent of all males who are enrolled in the final year of secondary school apply for admission to a higher education institution or to study abroad.

The higher education system for studying in the UAE is monitored by the Ministry of Higher Education. The ministry are also is responsible for admitting students to its undergraduate institutions.

In autumn 2009, the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) opened its doors to its first class of graduate students. The Dubai School of Government (DSG), a research and teaching institution focusing on good governance and public policy in the Middle East, also launched its first masters programme in 2009.

A number offoreign universities, including the Paris Sorbonne and Michigan State University, have opened campuses in the UAE. In February 2008, a branch of the New York Film Academy opened in Abu Dhabi, and it launch's its first bachelor's degree program in 2010. INSEAD, one of the world's largest graduate business schools,has been operating a Middle East campus in Abu Dhabi since 2007, and now runsseven executive-education programs.

The number of universities in the UAE is increasing and the government has placed a big emphasis on university education. Universities in the UAE are often located in exceptional buildings with excellent facilities and up-to-date technology.

Application process

Applications are accepted all year round, but submitting your application early is recommended to ensure sufficient time to secure a visa. Applications for postgraduate study are made directly to the individual institutions and the application process can vary between institutions. For more information, visit the website of the university you are applying to.

Visas

The UAE authorities have taken many steps to make the process in gaining a visa for entry to the UAE as straightforward as possible. Citizens of 39 countries do not require visas prior to arrival at a UAE airport, and there are efficient systems in place to facilitate visitors who are not citizens of these countries.

The type of visa that you require for entry into the UAE depends on several different factors such as your nationality, the purpose of your planned visit and its planned duration. If you are a national citizen of a GCC country, you do not require a visa to visit the UAE. You will simply need to produce your GCC country passport upon arrival at the point of entry into the UAE.

For more information about visas for studying in the UAE, please visit UAE Interact or contact your local UAE embassy.

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