Surge In Student Numbers

Universities in the UAE are seeing a surge in students due to the arrival of Western universities. Rising education and accreditation standards in the country are also helping the trend of "reverse migration", an education official said.

Mariam Shaikh, admissions manager of Canadian University of Dubai, said a growing number of students are coming back to Dubai.

"Parents find value for money in taking all four years of a Baccalaureate programme here which is accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the UAE as well as the Canadian education authorities," said Mariam.

Tala Ahmad, a Kuwaiti student at the American University of Sharjah, said: "I will miss my family if I go abroad. Since we are getting the same US-standard education here, I don't see why I should go far to study."