Study in the UAE Where East Meets West

So why wouldn't you want to expand your educational and cultural horizons through studying in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)? For this oil-rich Persian Gulf state has some of the finest universities in the whole Middle East region, with students from all corners of the world taking full advantage of the extensive range of degree courses on offer across a range of disciplines, from engineering, technology and science to business, arts and the media.

Who hasn't heard of fabulous Dubai, the largest city in the UAE? It's a city of around 2 million people with a deserved reputation as a glitzy tourist playground. But it's also a thriving and successful commercial hub where incredible fortunes can be made, and perhaps lost just as easily. It's therefore no surprise to find the universities in Dubai are cutting edge, too, reflecting and serving the needs of the city's rather diverse and cosmopolitan business community. They may not figure prominently in the top tier of world university rankings, but nevertheless Dubai's eclectic mix of higher educational establishments provide the levels of skills and expertise much sought after in today's well connected society.

Other Cities in the UAE

Yes, although Dubai tends to take all the plaudits, probably because it's one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, let alone the Middle East, there are other equally amazing cities in the UAE, each boasting some of the top universities to be found anywhere. Abu Dhabi, for instance, is not only the capital of the UAE, it's also the seat of government. It also has a range of first class educational establishments, including Abu Dhabi University, founded in 2003. The university offers both undergraduate and postgraduate study programs and is affiliated to a range of illustrious overseas institutions such as the University of Westminster and the University of London.

But there's a third city in the UAE which is often overlooked. Surrounded by the emirate of the same name, Sharjah is more famous across the Middle East as a centre for second-hand cars. There are literally hundreds of used-car dealers in this city of some 800,000 people, attracting buyers and sellers from countries all across the Middle East. The city also has a number of universities, including the American University of Sharjah, often referred to simply as AUS Sharjah (pictured top).

The university, which forms part of the 1,600 acre complex of educational institutions making up University City, stands out not only for the high level of expertise employed, but also for the way it delivers education based squarely on the American model. Indeed, the standard of educational instruction at AUS Sharjah is comparable to that found in the top universities in the USA itself with the curriculum organized according to the American pattern of semesters and courses.

But student life is not just about attaining educational goals, important though these undoubtedly are. Far from it. It's also about learning how to interact with others, particularly if students come from vastly differing backgrounds and cultures. That's certainly reflected in the diversity of the student population at AUS Sharjah and which is easily explained in terms of the university's strategic global location. North meets South and East meets West is perhaps a better and more succinct way of putting it!

You can check out a list of universities in the UAE here.

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