Higher Ed Chats
January 11th, 2026
19 minutes
Abu Dhabi and the UAE: A Rising Global Student Hub
With over twenty years of experience managing enrollment and student development across institutions in the United Kingdom, Morocco, and the UAE, Hassan brings a multicontinental perspective to recruitment strategy. Since joining Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi in 2021, he has guided the institution's international expansion, contributing to its growing reputation as a gateway to French excellence in education within the Middle East region.
Our conversation explores pressing questions about regional educational transformation: What drives Abu Dhabi's rapid rise as an education destination? How do transnational partnerships maintain academic standards across continents? What specific advantages does the UAE offer compared to established study destinations? Why has student diversity increased so dramatically in recent years? And fundamentally, what makes the Gulf region particularly well-suited for transnational education models?
Dr. Ammari shares his observations on how artificial intelligence investments and the UAE's 2031 vision are shaping educational offerings, research priorities, and the region's trajectory as a global knowledge economy competitor.
Who’s in the episode?
Scott Miller is the host of Keystone Higher Ed Chats and the Executive Director of Keystone's international division, bringing over 11 years of EdTech experience to conversations about global education.
After graduating from DePauw University, living and working in different cultures showed him that stepping outside your comfort zone doesn't just broaden your horizons; it reshapes them entirely. That belief in the transformative power of international experiences brought Scott to Keystone in 2010, where he's spent over a decade (and counting) helping higher education institutions reach students worldwide.
On Keystone Higher Ed Chats, Scott speaks with thought-leaders in the industry about what he's most passionate about: how education changes lives, how cultural experiences broaden perspectives at any age, and how Keystone's mission—connecting students with their ideal higher education institution—makes those life-changing moments possible.
Timestamps & Takeaways
Timestamps
01:12
Could you share a bit more about your journey in international higher education and how you became the Head of Student Recruitment at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi?
03:45
How closely do the Abu Dhabi and Paris campuses work together in terms of faculty collaboration, student mobility and curriculum?
06:15
Could you tell us more about the students you are attracting in Abu Dhabi? Are you seeing specific trends in terms of nationalities and program preferences?
08:33
What are some of the main challenges you face in recruiting students to Abu Dhabi?
10:30
What factors do you believe have been more critical in establishing Abu Dhabi and the UAE as an emerging global education hub over the last decade?
12:58
What makes the UAE an attractive destination for international students compared to traditional destinations like the US, the UK or Australia?
15:20
What are some of the unique advantages of the transnational education model, and why is it so popular in the UAE?
17:08
How do you see global higher education in the region evolving over the next five years?
Takeaways
Dual-institution transnational structure. Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi represents a 2006 partnership between Sorbonne Paris (delivering humanities and sciences) and Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas (delivering economics and law) with the Abu Dhabi government. The collaboration extends beyond typical partnership models—students simultaneously enroll in both Abu Dhabi and the corresponding Paris institution.
Leadership vision enabling strategic planning. UAE governmental vision frameworks (Vision 2031, Vision 2050) create stability, allowing higher education leaders to develop and execute multi-year plans with confidence. Political and economic stability, combined with clear directional guidance, differentiates the Emirates from markets experiencing policy volatility.
Safety as a fundamental recruitment advantage. Abu Dhabi's designation as the world's safest city for four consecutive years addresses primary parental concerns about international education. Safety perception, combined with lifestyle quality, positions the Emirates as a low-risk, high-reward destination.
Simplified visa processing compared to Western markets. Sorbonne Abu Dhabi sponsors international student visas internally, eliminating embassy queuing, extensive documentation requirements, and approval uncertainty characterizing US and UK processes. This bureaucratic reduction attracts both degree-seeking students and graduates pursuing postgraduate studies for integration into the UAE job market.
AI investment driving educational evolution. The UAE's trillion-dollar investments in AI, elite researcher recruitment, and research development support position the region for rapid educational transformation. Universities increasingly offer AI-focused, sustainability-centered, and data-driven programs mapped directly to job market diversification and global competitiveness objectives outlined in national frameworks.
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