- Applications from Indian and neighboring country students to study in Dubai surge 40x, driven by affordability, proximity, and globally recognized programs.
- Dubai’s higher education ecosystem expands with world-class partnerships, research-led programs, and strong career pathways, making it a mainstream choice.
- Gulf’s investment in STEM, innovation, and international collaborations reshapes West Asia as a preferred alternative to Western study destinations.
Applications from Indian students and learners from neighboring countries for higher education opportunities in Dubai have increased manifold, going up by as much as forty times compared to last year, states new data released by Leverage Edu. The study-abroad platform said interest in Dubai and other West Asian education hubs is accelerating at an unprecedented pace led mostly by the increasing investments the region is making toward global education, innovation, and research-oriented programs.
Of late, Dubai has been growing as one of the fastest international education destinations for Indian students. What earlier was perceived as a niche or a second choice has now become a mainstream preference, with students citing affordability, geographical proximity to India, a multicultural environment, and globally recognized academic programs amongst the major draws. The report goes on to highlight the metamorphosis in Dubai's higher education that now boasts partnerships with world-class universities, an expanding array of academic offerings, and enhanced career pathways through a thriving international job market.
A key driver of increasing interest is the broader transformation sweeping the Gulf. Countries like Saudi Arabia are investing heavily in STEM-focused and research-led initiatives through development plans like Vision 2030, which looks to a diversified economy with less reliance on oil. This long-term commitment to excellence in education, innovation ecosystems, and knowledge-based growth is now reworking the perception of West Asia among South Asian students. With world-class campuses, state-of-the-art research facilities, and learning models integrated into industry, the region is turning out to be a strong alternative to conventional Western study destinations like the United States, the United Kingdom, or Australia.
Edu's platform data reflect a year-on-year increasing trend. The applications to institutions in Dubai saw an eightfold increase in 2024 and further continued their steep rise in the year 2025 with a fivefold year-on-year growth. If aggregated from 2023 to 2025, this amounts to an extraordinary increase of forty times, underlining the momentum Dubai has picked up in attracting international students. This also falls in line with a larger shift toward students' preferences, particularly those of students seeking quality education sans the heavy cost associated with Western universities.
Also Read: Understanding Educational Quality and Access in the Philippines
As per the platform, counselling interactions have played a key role in revealing this sentiment change. Dubai features prominently now in nearly every second counselling session with students considering international study options. The city seems to score off all points, balancing academic rigour and lifestyle benefits with affordability, which seems to appeal very strongly to young learners and their families, many of whom are becoming more cautious about the rising cost of global higher education.
The founder and CEO of Leverage Edu, Akshay Chaturvedi, called the surge a reflection of changing priorities among students. He said the growth of 40x in applications is testament to growing student confidence in Dubai's education ecosystem. "Students today are looking for destinations that offer a mix of quality education with career relevance and financial feasibility-three areas where Dubai has made some strong progress", he explained.
Chaturvedi emphasized that the rapid progress the city has made in building an academically relevant environment is now clearly visible in student choices and mobility trends. With the Gulf countries continuing to expand their educational infrastructure and international collaborations, Dubai's emergence as a favored global study destination seems to continue unabated. The latest data indicates that the region is not only an economic powerhouse but is also gradually turning into a pulsating hub for academic excellence, research, and innovation-a factor that makes it very attractive to Indian students for future-ready global careers.
