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Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Raising children in the Gulf: What every expat family should know
Gulf-based expat families navigate cultural values, schooling, and identity challenges while raising children in the region/Representative Image TL;DR: Parenting in the GCC as an expat comes with both privileges and pressures Key concerns include education, language, faith, and legal guardianship rules Countries like the UAE and Qatar offer expat-friendly policies and global schooling options Family life is generally safe and culturally rich, but adapting takes effort For millions of expat families across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, spanning the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait; parenting comes with a unique set of questions. How do you balance cultural integration with preserving your child's identity? What schools offer the best globally recognized curriculums? And how do local laws affect your rights as a guardian? Unlike traditional migration destinations in Europe or North America, the Gulf's expat population lives within systems where citizenship is rarely offered, local languages dominate public services, and family sponsorship is tightly regulated. However, many GCC countries are making visible progress in becoming more accommodating to diverse parenting needs. Education: More Than Just Academics One of the biggest concerns for expat parents is schooling. Fortunately, GCC countries offer a wide variety of international curricula. In the UAE alone, there are over 200 private schools in Dubai offering British, American, Indian, IB, French, and other programs, according to the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indonesia: New Container Houses (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Undo Qatar and Saudi Arabia have also expanded their private education sectors to meet expat demand. According to Oxford Business Group (2024), Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 aims to increase private education enrollment from 14% to 25% by the end of the decade, creating more choices for expat families. Still, costs are high, particularly in the UAE where fees for international schools can range from AED 12,000 ($3267) to over AED 100,000 ($27225) annually. Parents are encouraged to compare accreditation, student-teacher ratios, and language support before enrolling. Language and Identity: Navigating Cultural Fluidity Raising bilingual or even trilingual children is common in the GCC, where English is widely used in private schools and workplaces, but Arabic dominates government services and media. Many families struggle with ensuring their children retain their native tongue while becoming proficient in both English and Arabic. Cultural integration also plays a major role. Children often grow up in multicultural classrooms but may have limited engagement with local communities. Some parents enroll their kids in Arabic classes outside school, while others participate in national festivals and community events to help children understand their host country. Legal Awareness: Know Your Rights as a Parent It's critical for expat families to understand the legal framework around custody, guardianship, and residency. In the UAE and Saudi Arabia, children's visas are linked to a parent's work permit—usually the father's. Mothers can now sponsor children in many cases, provided they meet certain income thresholds. In the event of a divorce or death, guardianship rules in the Gulf can differ drastically from Western norms. For instance, personal status laws based on Sharia may prioritize a male relative for custody, though recent reforms in the UAE and Bahrain have made room for more equitable interpretations. Parents are advised to maintain up-to-date legal documents, including custody agreements notarized in both their home country and host nation, and consult lawyers familiar with family law in the GCC. Healthcare and Safety: A Regional Strength Healthcare access for children is generally excellent across the Gulf, especially in the UAE and Qatar, which have invested heavily in world-class public and private hospitals. Expat families are typically required to carry health insurance as part of visa conditions. As for safety, the GCC consistently ranks among the safest regions globally, with very low violent crime rates. A Numbeo 2025 mid-year safety index placed Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Sharjah among the world's top 15 safest cities. This has allowed families to enjoy a lifestyle with frequent outdoor activities, mall outings, and community events, often with dedicated family-only zones. Building Support Networks: You're Not Alone Parenting as an expat can be isolating, especially when you're far from extended family. Many turn to expat parenting forums, local meetup groups, and school-based communities for support. Platforms like Internations, ExpatWoman, and Mumsnet UAE provide practical tips, while cultural centres and embassies often host events to keep children connected with their roots. Raising children in the Gulf as an expat is not without its challenges, but it also offers an unparalleled opportunity to raise globally minded, culturally fluent individuals. With the region becoming more inclusive through educational reform, legal updates, and community infrastructure, families are finding it easier to plant roots, even temporarily. Still, the onus remains on parents to remain informed, culturally respectful, and proactive about legalities, schooling, and integration. In a region where transitions are frequent and diversity is the norm, parenting becomes an exercise in flexibility, empathy, and long-term planning.
What's On
6 days ago
- What's On
UAE reveals key dates for the 2025-2026 academic school year
Mark your calendars, here's when UAE schools open, close, and break for the holidays. If you're a parent, teacher, or student in the UAE, it's time to start planning ahead. The UAE's Ministry of Education has officially announced the academic calendar for the 2025-2026 school year, including term dates and holidays across both public and private schools that follow the ministry's curriculum. According to the announcement, students will return to school on Monday, August 25, 2025, after a long summer break. Teaching staff and administrators will resume a week earlier, on Monday, August 18, 2025. The calendar sets a minimum of 188 school days for the year, broken down into three terms: The school year will begin on August 25, 2025. The calendar sets unified dates for the start of the academic year, end of the three terms, and end of term breaks. For schools operating on the September-start calendar, the schedule for the 2025–2026 academic year is as follows: Start of the academic year: Monday, 25 August 2025 End of first term and start of winter break: December 8, 2025, to January 4, 2026. Classes resume on January 5, 2026. Start of spring break: March 16-19, 2026. Schools resume on March 30, 2026. For private schools in Sharjah: spring break from March 16 to 22, 2026. Classes resume on March 23, 2026. As usual, the exact end-of-year date will depend on how each school completes its academic requirements and exams, but July 3 is the cut-off. The announcement applies to schools under the Ministry of Education curriculum, including many public schools and some private institutions. International schools that follow other curricula (such as British, IB, American, or Indian) may have slightly different schedules and should refer to the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai or ADEK in Abu Dhabi for specific term breakdowns. The advance release of the calendar is meant to help families plan vacations, travel, and childcare around the school year more effectively. It also ensures consistent academic instruction across the UAE. > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
India Today
09-07-2025
- Business
- India Today
Indians make up 42% of Dubai's student base, tech and business top picks: Survey
Dubai is rapidly emerging as a preferred international study destination for Indian students. According to the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Indians now represent 42% of the international student population in Dubai's private higher education institutions for the academic year marks a significant shift in mindset amongst Indian families, who increasingly view Dubai as a serious alternative to traditional destinations such as the US, UK, and emirate currently has 42,026 students enroled across 41 private higher education institutions, 37 of which are international university campuses. The overall student enrolment saw a sharp growth of 20.4% in 2024-25 -- an increase from the 12.3% growth recorded the previous LEAD DUBAI'S GROWING INTERNATIONAL STUDENT BASE The study also reveals that the number of international students in Dubai has steadily increased. In just one academic year, their share rose from 25.3% to 29.4%. Indians are at the forefront of this trend, driving the city's transformation into a higher education academic interests closely align with Dubai's economic sectors. Among international students, 54% are enrolled in business programmes, while 11% each study information technology and engineering. Other popular fields include media and design (6%) and humanities (3%).The majority of international students in Dubai pursue bachelor's degrees (53%), followed closely by master's degrees (37%). These figures reflect growing confidence in the academic value and career outcomes of Dubai-based connection between Indian students and Dubai extends beyond enrolment. Nearly 29% of the faculty in Dubai's licensed higher education institutions are of Indian origin, strengthening familiarity, cultural alignment, and IMMIGRATION PATHWAYS ADD TO APPEALWhile Dubai does not offer traditional post-study work visas, the UAE government has introduced long-term residency options, including jobseeker visas, freelancer permits, and the highly sought-after Golden a recent development, the UAE launched a new nomination-based Golden Visa scheme, allowing Indian and Bangladeshi nationals to obtain long-term residency without needing to invest in property or hold a trade pilot programme opens up opportunities for professionals across sectors -- scientists, educators, digital creators, and maritime new visa requires only a one-time fee of AED 100,000 (approximately rs 23.3 lakh or USD 27,000), significantly lower than the earlier AED 2 million investment requirement.- Ends
Time Out Dubai
02-07-2025
- Business
- Time Out Dubai
University in Dubai: 3 new international campuses coming to the UAE
Dubai has added three top international universities to its higher education offering in time for the next academic year. The Knowledge and Human Development Authority has revealed that the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad from India, the American University of Beirut and Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences will all open Dubai campuses for the 2025/26 academic year. With vibrant nightlife, amazing weather and some of the world's top universities hosting campuses in the emirate, Dubai has everything a student could possibly want. Dubai currently has 41 international higher education providers, 37 of which are international brand campuses, which offer a diverse range of academic programmes to meet the needs of learners. The IIM Ahmedabad's business and management programme is ranked 27th in the global QS World University Rankings by subject, while the American University of Beirut ranks 237th overall. Prestigious universities such as The University of Manchester, University of Birmingham and Curtin University all have international branches based in Dubai. The city aims to become one of the world's top 10 global cities, with plans in place to have international students comprise 50 percent of the total number of students in higher education by 2033. Three new international universities are set to open campuses in Dubai during the 2025-26 academic year, Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) said. The universities confirmed to begin operations include the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad from… — Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) July 2, 2025 Higher education institutions saw a record 20 percent increase in overall student enrolment and a 29 percent increase in international student enrolment in the last academic year. A total of 42,026 students are now enrolled at 41 private higher education institutions in Dubai – the highest number to date. You may like: Everything you need to know about the UAE student visa Dr. Wafi Dawood, CEO of the Strategic Development Sector at KHDA expanded on the aims of the Education 33 strategy. He said: 'This initiative aligns with the social and economic goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, and the Education 33 Strategy, which represents a transformative vision for Dubai's education system. 'Our aim is to enhance the global competitiveness of Dubai's graduates, increase educational tourism tenfold by 2033, integrate a new generation of Emiratis into the workforce and future sectors, and contribute to doubling Dubai's economy over the next decade, positioning the city among the world's top three economic hubs.' In other Dubai news Dubai Summer Surprises 2025 official dates revealed Big sales, fun concerts and so much more 14 cool things you can do in Dubai for 10 Dirhams (or less) Low on dirhams? No problem How to get 30% off taxi fares in Dubai Available in over 6,000 cabs
What's On
02-07-2025
- Business
- What's On
3 new universities to set up Dubai campuses
Dubai is raising the bar yet again, but this time in education. The city is set to welcome three prestigious international university campuses during the 2025-26 academic year, further cementing its reputation as a global education hub. Announced by Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), the new arrivals include some serious heavyweights in higher education: Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad , currently ranked 27th globally for Business and Management in the QS World University Rankings by subject. American University of Beirut (AUB) , ranked 237th globally Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences from Saudi Arabia, known for programmes in health and medicine. And that's not all, KHDA says several more top universities are in talks to open campuses in Dubai, with approvals currently in the pipeline. Dubai is already home to 41 private higher education institutions, including 37 international branch campuses. Many of these names are no strangers to top rankings. The University of Manchester Dubai and University of Birmingham Dubai both have parent campuses ranked in the global top 100, while Curtin University Dubai and University of Wollongong in Dubai sit comfortably in the top 200. Dubai's global university attraction project is aiming high: by 2033, the city wants international students to make up 50% of the higher ed population and contribute a whopping Dhs5.6 billion to GDP. The goal? Make Dubai one of the top 10 cities in the world for university education. And it seems to be working. The 2024-25 academic year saw a 20% jump in overall student enrolment, and a 29% surge in international students. Right now, there are more than 42,000 students studying across Dubai's private higher education sector—its highest number ever. With over 700 academic programmes on offer across key future industries, it's clear Dubai is not just attracting universities—it's shaping the future of education itself. If you haven't been to university in Dubai, or the UAE, you'll need to get your degree attested. It's now an easier process as the UAE introduced a new policy for recognising foreign degrees. Image: Archive > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
