Middle East rises in popularity as overseas study destination

Chinese influx

While still a relatively niche choice, the Middle East is attracting more Chinese students each year.

Since 2018, Zhou Xiao, CEO of Middle-East International Education, has helped hundreds of students plan and apply for full or high-value scholarships to universities across the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries.

Zhou's agency has offices in Changsha, Hunan province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, and Guangzhou, Guangdong province, though most students historically came from Changsha. "But since last year, I've noticed more students coming from Jiangsu (province), Zhejiang, Shanghai and Guangdong who are interested in studying in the Middle East," he said.

While more agencies were competing fiercely for universities in Europe and the United States, Zhou said he believes that the international education sector could serve ordinary families.

"I wanted a path that combined studying abroad with employment," he said. "Also, amid changing international relations, our exchanges with the Middle East were increasing."

The pandemic initially disrupted his Middle East programs, but demand surged by 2024.

"Previously, some students chose the Middle East as a more affordable alternative to Europe and the US, or their parents were doing business in Dubai. But by 2024, more parents from international schools or first-tier cities began considering the return on investment of studying abroad," he said.

"Many run their own businesses or are increasingly exposed to the UAE and Saudi Arabia, so the student group changed significantly," he added.

Undergraduates are attracted by high-value scholarships, the region's economic environment, safety and living conditions, while employment opportunities and income are also major draws, he said.

Zhou has visited numerous Middle Eastern universities, including local institutions and branch campuses of Western institutions.

"Schools are very welcoming to Chinese students. Chinese is a required subject in many schools, and there is a strong demand for Chinese teachers. Schools also want student diversity. In specialized fields like AI, low-altitude aviation and new energy, there is an urgent demand for Chinese research talent," he said.

Popular fields include logistics, business, AI and law, with top university choices including New York University Abu Dhabi, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in the UAE, the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia and KFUPM. Some Western branch campuses actively recruit in China and have even hired Chinese admissions officers.

"The growing demand is closely linked to China's Belt and Road Initiative," Zhou said.

Besides student numbers, tourism and real estate are also expanding, and the number of Chinese faculty members is increasing. After seven years, only two students placed by Zhou's company have returned to work in China; the rest found local employment.

Around 6,000 Chinese companies operate in the UAE, mostly concentrated in Dubai, according to Dubai Multi Commodities Centre data in 2024.

"Employment conditions have improved. Companies are more standardized, (they) consider long-term development, and highly educated people have better prospects and higher starting salaries," Zhou said.