Dubai: Around 1,500 UK visas were issued to Emiratis for study purposes in the past 12 months, according to the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi.
A similar figure was recorded for the previous year, with 99 per cent of applications by Emiratis being cleared.
The news comes as part of an announcement by British Council UAE to host the 14th edition of the Education UK Exhibition 2015 (EDUKEX) next month in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
EDUKEX will be held at Le Royal Meridien Abu Dhabi on November 10 and at the Dubai World Trade Centre on November 11 and 12.
The Abu Dhabi exhibition will feature around 20 universities and will be open between 4pm-9pm, while the Dubai event will see participation of around 40 education providers between 5pm-9pm over two days.
The annual fair features scores of UK universities, granting students and parents a chance to speak with representatives about educational programmes. They also learn about visa requirements, studying and living in the UK, as well as information regarding scholarships and financial aid.
EDUKEX 2015 comes amid rising interest among UAE students to complete their higher studies in the UK, according to Marc Jessel, Director, British Council UAE
The UK offers special conditions for Emirati students, including fewer supporting documents, and a full range of services for faster processing. Students applying in the UAE can take advantage of priority visa services for faster processing, he added.
The fair also provides guidance on IELTS (International English Language Testing System), an English proficiency test available through more than 900 test centres and locations in over 130 countries.
IELTS is accepted in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other countries. It has “helped millions of people worldwide access education and employment opportunities”, said Nick Godfrey, Country Examinations Manager, British Council UAE.
“Taking the IELTS exam helped me move to Canada, and gain the job that I wanted,” added Shivani Karwal, a fashion blogger. “In 2013, after I graduated from my MBA programme, I did the IELTS test, mainly because I wanted to move to Canada and find a job.”
