Commenting on the recent development, Professor Ammar Kaka, Provost and Vice Principal of Heriot-Watt University Dubai said, “We warmly welcome the changes in the residency and citizenship procedures in the UAE which now enable international students to sponsor their families if they are financially capable. Families coming in could mean that they seek employment and gain valuable experience here, possibly invest in property and stimulate economic growth, especially critical during the post-pandemic recovery stage. Most importantly, students and their families can now plan a long-term future here in the UAE and one that goes beyond just the duration of their study programme.
Thanks to the wise leadership of the UAE, we have recently witnessed several changes to local residency laws in the country, and this latest move will serve to increase the number of students who would consider higher education here. At Heriot-Watt University Dubai, international students already make up a sizeable segment of our overall student enrolment. We have students who travel from Africa, Middle East and South Asia to pursue higher education with us, across a variety of disciplines and we anticipate greater numbers now in the future.”
