Category: Student Life

The UAE is one of the most visited countries in the world in the last decade and counting. Cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi attract millions of visitors and tourists every year. These cities are extremely modern and beautiful with some of the most impressive technology ever created.

Towers and skyscrapers that are world-famous with many attractions such as one of the world’s largest mall, the world’s tallest most inhabited building, the biggest indoor aquarium and many more.

The country is bursting with many sights and activities and no visitor is lost for fun in this country. Students also enjoy the magnificent landscapes and the dynamic activities, from world stage concerts to dessert trips. Nightlife in the UAE is one of lights, people and many wonders.

We have to establish that public drinking and public sale and consumption of alcohol is highly prohibited in the UAE. Alcohol is only sold in the hotel, hotel bars, some restaurant bars, and night clubs. Many of these establishments are attached to a hotel as this is the only way they can be permitted to sell alcohol in the country. However, with a drinking license as a foreigner, you are pretty much covered.

Social life for a student can set you back at least 150 AED to 300 AED depending on the activity and if it involves casual drinking the money can go up 500 AED to 700 AED depending on the location and the hangout spot. There are many other activities like go-karting,sightseeing around the beautiful malls, visiting the cinema, skydiving, water sports and, falconry. New students enjoy a university organized tour across major emirate cities. The tour usually winds up with cultural performances and different foods.

Many venues across the city have concerts, awards, performances, and shows at different times in the year and quite often in the summer, the country welcomes many international acts that attract an international crowd. Also, brunches are very huge in the UAE, with many fun activities, unlimited food, and drinks that last the whole day into the early hours of the night.

The holiday period in the UAE is one of affluence and style as the streets are decorated in lights and psychedelic artistry. Buildings are also decorated in a very delicate but exquisite manner depicting the wealth and opulence that the country and its people embody.

The people of the UAE, Emirati as they are generally called, are a unique set of people, growing to become one of the modern islamic nations in the middle east. The country is reaching for the future but still maintaining a keen sense of its cultural values and customs.

Their customs are duly represented in aspects such as food, fashion, and how they greet themselves. There are different types of traditional foods akin to the UAE, some very popular meal options in the country include: Shawarma, this popular middle eastern kebab-style meal is very famous and widely eaten by the Emiratis and foreigners alike. Machboos is also a delicious Arab styled dish that is prepared in one pot combining rice, meat, onions, and many middle eastern spices.

As modernized as the UAE is their traditional clothes are proudly worn by the citizens, it is surely not out of place to find an Emirati man dressed in a Kandura; a full-length dress style outfit that comes in white and many other colors, with a headpiece, called the Gutra and a comfortable slip-on sandal called the Neaal.

The women can be seen wearing the Abaya, which a full-length dress styled gown in different colors and variations. The women and girls are also donned in a Hijab or Burqa in respect to their Islamic religion.

One very popular culture shock for non-arab foreigners in the UAE is that both the men and women greet each other by shaking hands and kissing each other on the nose as a sign of reverence and fondness. This practice is particularly significant to the Emiratis as their culture is very expressive and respectful. They also speak a unique type of the Arabic language called the Khaliji Bedouin Arabic.

Sporting activities that are widespread and generally practiced in the country are camel racing, horse riding, and falconry. Camel racing fondly called the sports of the sheiks is very huge in the UAE with thousands of players and huge amounts of money placed on bets.

The sports utilize young male children to ride these camels because of their size, but more recently human rights movements have kicked against this practice. The UAE in response has put in more efforts to phase out human jockeys and now utilize robots for the games.

The UAE is very favorable to students who seek for work alongside their studies, there are many part-time jobs and employment that pay really good with very considerable working hours.

The government of the UAE has made it a rule that every worker must have a day off and can only work 6 to 8 hours per day. Also noteworthy is the fact there is no official minimum wage and zero income tax on salaries in the country.

As a student in the UAE, in order to find part-time, work you must be 18 or over if younger than 18 there must be a notarized consent letter written by the student’s parents or wards.Part-time jobs in the UAE are readily available with over 150 areas of specializations and sectors that are human dependent and have various opportunities for employment.

One amazing thing in the UAE is that as a student you do not necessarily only work odd jobs but there are plenty of part-time career jobs in the country.Depending on student skills and interests, they can find suitable employment in many areas. Jobs in the UAE for students includes, but is not restricted to the following:

• Graphic design jobs
• Social Media expert jobs
• Content writing and development jobs
• Medical assistant jobs
• Translators
• Tour guides
• Restaurant servers and waiters
• Laundry and cleaning services
• Home tutoring jobs
• Substitute teacher roles
• Online jobs
• Sales management and monitoring jobs etc.

Useful Tips:

Most employers in the UAE require two main items which are;

A full-sized photograph or passport photograph properly showing the facial profile.

A well-written CV or Resume.

Another useful tip is to have proper or at least elementary knowledge of the Arabic language, this sets you apart in the eyes of the employer and sets you a few steps ahead. However, not every establishment requires this as many of them are international and have a need for English speakers alone.

The life of every student in the UAE is very exciting and immersive as the environment is very multi-cultural and inclusive. The country is sure to seize the interest of any individual seeking new experiences abroad with all the quirks and intricacies that come with learning a new culture and people.

As an education-driven nation with one of the highest literacy levels, the UAE continues to welcome a large number of foreign students from different parts of the world.

Students can find that whatever skills or interest that they possess, they are sure to find a corresponding program of study, and as such, they can fully function in their respective niche areas and get the best out of the education system in the country. Fields such as technology,business, and science are of keen interest to the country, as their system thrives very well in these areas.

Students can get involved in many career-driven activities organized by universities in the UAE. Higher institutions are generally inclined to assist students to reach their full potential with avenues such as internships and part-time jobs. Students can check with their international student body for many opportunities that make student life and education much easier. There are many networking events organized all year round to better foster student development and professionalism. Many of these events are organized in collaboration with foreign organizations
and world-famous innovators from various spheres of life, students receive first-hand exposure
to life after their studies.

Majority of the programs and institutions in the UAE use English as their language of instruction. But please do not expect that all aspect of university life is also ridden with western culture, as the Emiratis have their own culture and way of life. Despite the UAE being home to many foreign students from around the world, the institutions are also respectful of their Arab cultural practices. It is very important as a student in the UAE, to be respectful of their culture and maintain all the behavioral rules and decorum that is expected in the country.

The UAE people are respectful towards other cultures and lifestyles, but it is important to maintain discretion in all of your dealings while in the country and abide by the laws