- JICE strengthens its support for Emirati students pursuing higher education in Japan, as interest in Japanese universities continues to rise.
- Through year-round counseling, cultural programs, university outreach, and internships, JICE deepens UAE–Japan educational ties.
- The Japan Pavilion at NAJAH Abu Dhabi 2025 showcased top universities and boosted awareness of English-taught programs, further expanding opportunities for UAE students.
The Japan International Cooperation Center deepens its long-standing commitment to supporting Emirati youth seeking higher education in Japan. Interest in Japanese academic and research institutions is growing steadily in the UAE. By combining educational guidance, cultural exchange, institutional outreach, and internship opportunities in a multifaceted approach, JICE strengthens an important bridge between the UAE and Japan toward human-resource development.
Currently, as of May 2025, 57 Emirati students are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs across Japan, reflecting a growing desire for international experiences among UAE students and Japan's reputation for academic excellence, technological innovation, and cultural depth. Since the opening of its Abu Dhabi office in 2013, JICE has been instrumental in solidifying avenues through which UAE students can seek educational and professional opportunities in Japan.
It offers consultations on Study in Japan throughout the year to students and parents, coordinates with schools and universities across the UAE to promote Japanese language and culture, participates in major education fairs to represent Japanese universities, and organizes summer internships that enable Emirati university students to experience life inside a Japanese company or public institution. These initiatives, along with student exchange and cultural immersion programs targeted at high school students, aim to cultivate globally-minded leaders while reinforcing bilateral ties.
A recent example of JICE's active engagement was the coordination of the Japan Pavilion at NAJAH Abu Dhabi 2025, the UAE's largest annual higher education exhibition. The Pavilion, which featured six major Japanese universities along with the Japan Student Services Organization, or JASSO, attracted thousands of visitors.
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Students had the rare opportunity to meet university representatives directly, discuss academic programs, and receive personalized guidance on studying in Japan. Participating institutions noted that although Japanese universities are increasingly offering English-taught degree programs, awareness of these options within the UAE remains relatively low. The exhibition served as an important platform for raising visibility, highlighting affordability, and encouraging stronger cooperation between Emirati and Japanese institutions to facilitate student mobility.
Mr. Tokuya Kanamori, Managing Director of JICE Abu Dhabi, commented further that JICE was proud to support the widening horizons of students in the UAE with Japanese language classes, tailored one-to-one counseling on studying in Japan, cultural exchange programs, and wide-ranging outreach into the University sector. He added that learning Japanese was on the rise in the UAE due to the first-ever Japanese Language Proficiency Test, which will be held in the UAE this coming December.
Mr. Kanamori stressed that JICE will continue to enrich its programs, diversify partnerships, and nurture the next generation of UAE-Japan talent, as more young Emiratis explore Japan as their higher education destination.
