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Higher Ed Chats

January 11th, 2026

19 minutes

Abu Dhabi and the UAE: A Rising Global Student Hub

In this episode of Higher Ed Chats, we welcome Dr. Hassan Ammari, Head of Student Recruitment at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, for an engaging discussion about the UAE's emergence as a premier destination for international higher education and the unique opportunities offered through transnational education partnerships. 

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?

Hassan Ammari_headshot
Dr. Hassan Ammari
Hassan Ammari is the Head of Student Recruitment at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi in the UAE, where he’s been leading their international recruitment efforts since 2021. Hassan has over 20 years of experience in enrollment and student development at universities in the United Kingdom, Morocco and the UAE, successfully executing regional and international expansion plans to enhance universities competitive positions. 
Scott Miller_headshot
Scott Miller

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. 

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