As thousands of final-year students in the UAE submit their applications to local universities, we take a look at some of the best higher education options in the Emirates and what they have to offer
Where is it from?
Edinburgh (often referred to as Old Smokey), Scotland
When was it founded?
1821 (parent university); 2005 (Dubai campus)
What is it?
Founded 200 years ago as “the world’s first mechanics institute” – a centre teaching technical subjects – in Edinburgh in Scotland, Heriot-Watt is the eighth-oldest higher education institution in the UK and has three campuses in Scotland. It is well-established in the UAE, being the first British university to open in Dubai International Academic City. A wide range of subjects are offered on the Dubai campus. While the university is particularly strong in business and engineering disciplines, it also has degree programmes in contrasting fields such as fashion. Heriot-Watt has another satellite campus, in Putrajaya in Malaysia. In Dubai the university received a five-star ranking from Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in 2019 and 2020.
Where is it based?
Dubai Knowledge Park (the new campus replaces the one in Dubai International Academic City)
How has it handled the Covid-19 pandemic?
The blended learning approach followed by the university, together with digitally enabled campus, helped students to engage with on-campus live sessions remotely.
"Students attend all practical sessions. We have not received any major deferral requests – we have witnessed a significant increase in our admissions for our January 2022 intake by close to 10 per cent," the university said.
"Our admissions and student recruitment teams have moved quickly to organise virtual events like our Hybrid Admissions Week that will allow prospective students, parents and working professionals to book an appointment for a consultation with our admissions team and faculty either virtually or on a one-to-one basis.”
What are the fees?
Dh235,200 – bachelor of business administration (four years at Dh58,800 per year)
Dh260,400 – bachelor of science in computer science (four years at Dh65,100 per year)
Dh85,050 – master of science in advanced mechanical engineering (one year)
Dh207,900 – engineering doctorate in construction (four years)
What subjects does it teach?
Bachelor’s degree subjects include accountancy, architecture, business, computer science, cybersecurity, data sciences, engineering, fashion, finance, interior design, management, marketing, psychology, statistics.
Master’s degree programmes include artificial intelligence, business psychology, business analytics, construction project management, digital marketing, energy, logistics and supply chain management, information technology, network security, real estate, software engineering and strategic project management.
Doctoral degree programmes include construction, energy, energy, geoscience, infrastructure and society, engineering and physical sciences, management and languages, mathematical and computer sciences, and psychology.
There are one-year degree entry or foundation programmes tailored to particular undergraduate courses.
What doesn't it teach?
Agriculture, anthropology, archaeology, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, criminology, dentistry, filmmaking, geology, history, journalism, law, medicine, modern languages, music, philosophy, physics, politics, sports science and veterinary medicine.
Where is it ranked globally?
270th – QS World University Rankings (parent university)
501 - 600th – Times Higher Education World University Rankings (parent university)
Who goes there?
There are nearly 4,000 students from 105 countries, with India, Pakistan and China being the major contributors.
Who has gone to the parent university?
- Adam Crozier, a businessman who, in the UK, has run the advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi, The Football Association, the Royal Mail Group and ITV, one of Britain’s main television networks.
- Irvine Welsh, an author best known for his novel Trainspotting, which deals with urban poverty in Edinburgh.
- Shirley Robinson, who won sailing gold medals in successive Olympic Games, the first British woman to do so.
A note from Prof Ammar Kaka, provost and vice principal:
We were the first university to set foot in Dubai International Academic City in 2005, and today we proudly serve about 4,000 students from around the world, who have joined us in pursuit of a prestigious British qualification.
This growth alone is a testament to our tremendous success and our strong reputation as a well-respected British university in the UAE.
Being a globally connected university, our Dubai campus delivers the equivalent level of academic experience as well as identical standards and learning outcomes as our UK campuses.
With our new digitally enabled campus at Dubai Knowledge Park, we look forward to welcoming our future students in a more stimulating and supportive learning environment.
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: CVT auto
Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km
On sale: now
Price: from Dh195,000
Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance: the specs
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plus rear-mounted electric motor
Power: 843hp at N/A rpm
Torque: 1470Nm N/A rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.6L/100km
On sale: October to December
Price: From Dh875,000 (estimate)
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Marathon results
Men:
1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13
2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50
3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25
4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46
5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48
Women:
1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30
2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01
3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30
4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43
5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01
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Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
About Housecall
Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
'Avengers: Infinity War'
Dir: The Russo Brothers
Starring: Chris Evans, Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Robert Downey Junior, Scarlett Johansson, Elizabeth Olsen
Four stars
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
