The findings, drawn from its platform activity across the UAE (United Arab Emirates) and wider GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council), highlight Dubai’s fast-rising role as a preferred study abroad destination for Indian students, driven by affordability, proximity, globally recognised programmes, and strong career pathways
Leverage Edu, part of Leverage.biz, a global education > jobs talent mobility platform, on Dec 11 released new data showing a sharp rise in student interest in Dubai, with applications from India and neighbouring countries growing nearly 40 times since 2023. For Leverage Edu, this surge has translated into a significantly larger Dubai share within its overall business, rising from 3-4% last year to roughly 11% this year, equivalent to more than 1,000 students.
According to KHDA, Indian students now account for roughly 42% of all international higher-education enrolments in Dubai, underscoring the rapid expansion of the India-Dubai education corridor. Several international branch campuses in Dubai now offer globally recognised postgraduate programmes at AED 50,000-85,000 per year, significantly lower than their parent campuses abroad. When combined with generally lower living costs than London or major US cities, families can expect roughly 20-40% lower total annual costs in Dubai, though exact savings vary by programme, university, scholarships, and housing preferences.
The Emirate’s proximity to India, robust safety standards, and strong student-support systems further reinforce its attractiveness. Leading universities such as Middlesex University Dubai, Heriot-Watt University Dubai, University of Birmingham Dubai, and University of Wollongong Dubai have been central to this momentum, offering internationally aligned curricula with industry linkages and internship pathways.
Leverage Edu’s data indicates that postgraduate programmes account for over 70% of applications, with Business and Management representing about two-thirds of total interest, followed by Data Science, Analytics, and AI, together accounting for nearly 80% of interest.
Alongside academic fit, students are responding to Dubai’s employment ecosystem. Internship-linked programmes supported through regulated MOHRE pathways, allow students to gain structured work experience during their studies often leading to industry exposure and early traction in the region’s job market. Employers in Dubai are hiring most actively in AI and data roles, hospitality, tourism, and finance, sectors where the city is scaling rapidly and where student demand directly aligns.
“We’ve seen a clear shift in student sentiment over the past couple of years, with Dubai now coming up in nearly every other counselling conversation. Students aren’t just getting a degree, they’re gaining early exposure to one of the world’s most dynamic job markets, with internship and employment opportunities that many traditional study-abroad hubs cannot match. The 40x surge in applications reflects a growing recognition that quality education, career readiness, and affordability can coexist. At Leverage Edu, we’re proud to be the bridge enabling thousands of Indian students to access this opportunity and build futures that are both globally competitive and rooted in the thriving GCC ecosystem,” said Akshay Chaturvedi, Founder and CEO, Leverage Edu.
The momentum is not limited to Dubai. With Saudi Arabia investing heavily in new STEM and research-led programmes under Vision 2030, the wider Middle East is emerging as a growing hub for global education and innovation, opening up a broader set of opportunities for Indian students in the region.
