Universities in the UAE are slashing fees and offering Ramadan discounts to attract students and ease the financial burden on families.
Last year, higher education institutions delivered significant discounts to mitigate the impact of the outbreak and this trend has continued in 2021.
Some have restructured their entire fee models this year, while others offer discounts of 50 per cent.
Here is a snapshot of what's available.
Heriot-Watt University Dubai
Heriot-Watt University Dubai has launched a new scholarship scheme which is running during Ramadan.
Under the HWUD Community Award, students will have their first year's fees reduced by Dh8,000.
This scholarship is aimed at new students applying for the September term and the deadline for applications is May 15.
“We hope to help aspiring students achieve their academic potential through this scholarship and bring them one step closer to their desired future,” said Claire Roper-Browning, regional director of admissions at Heriot-Watt University DubaI.
To secure the scholarship, students must pay 10 per cent of their tuition fees as a non-refundable, advance payment against their tuition fees.
The award amount will be distributed equally across the installment plan for the first year of study.
Murdoch University
Earlier this year, Murdoch University Dubai announced it would restructure course fees for the 2021-22 academic year in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The university said the new fee model would help lift the pressure on students as well as their families.
The reduced fees will be applied to new and returning students across all undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in 2021.
Scholarships with up to a 50 per cent discount are available for the first year of undergraduate courses with academic merit scholarships of up to 40 per cent available in the second year onwards.
The university's foundation and MBA programmes have a guaranteed 50 per cent and 20 per cent scholarship respectively for 2021.
“We are aware of the financial challenges for our postgraduate students, many of whom pay for their education themselves while working," said Mark Brown, general manager of the university’s Dubai campus.
Under the revised fee structure, all undergraduate courses are priced at Dh155,000 for the entire course, while previously students had to pay Dh172,200.
Canadian University Dubai
Canadian University Dubai has announced a 20 per cent fee reduction across all undergraduate and graduate programmes for students joining in the summer and Autumn semesters.
This is applicable to all new and returning students.
Annual fees at the college range from Dh65,000 for a bachelor’s degree in psychology to Dh97,000 for a master's in business administration.
Ajman University
Ajman University also announced an early-bird discount for admission to its undergraduate and graduate courses.
Undergraduate students who return for their masters will get a 50 per cent discount for the first year of their graduate programmes.
The university is also offering a 25 per cent discount on some undergraduate courses.
Those looking for early admission could also find fees reduced if registered by May 6.
Students at Ajman University's College of Medicine pay Dh82,500 in their foundation year, while first-year fees are Dh121,000.
Middlesex University
Middlesex University in Dubai has recently announced that all high-school leavers in the UAE are eligible for a 15 per cent discount.
But high-achieving applicants in the UAE who match the criteria set by the university can get discounts of 50 per cent on their entire course of study.
The annual fee for a bachelor's degree in business management at the university is Dh55,700, but those with top marks would have to pay only Dh27,850.
The discounts are applicable to new undergraduate students, Emiratis and expat residents.
International students are eligible for country-specific grants.
Birla Institute of Technology and Science
In March, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani's campus in Dubai said it would offer merit scholarships worth Dh5 million to students applying for admission in September 2021.
Prof R N Saha, director of the Dubai campus, said that 80 per cent of the students could get merit scholarships at least for their first year of study.
New York University Abu Dhabi
At NYUAD, all students are automatically considered for merit-based support.
Merit-based fellowships may only cover a portion of the total cost of attending the university.
The Abu Dhabi government provides fellowships to all Emiratis admitted to NYU Abu Dhabi through the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed NYUAD Scholarship for Exceptional Emirati Students.
University of Birmingham Dubai
The university will offer a Chancellors Academic Merit Scholarship to every student joining in September.
New and current students can get scholarships of up to 30 per cent for every year.
The university has a limited number of scholarships offering 50 per cent off to outstanding applicants for all years of study.
"We believe in offering the scholarship upfront, from day one for their entire time with us, we can help families plan financially, in such an uncertain period," said Chris Taylor head of Student Recruitment and Marketing at University of Birmingham Dubai.
Students who pay their deposit by July 31, can get an advanced award of an additional 10 per cent.
Rochester Institute of Technology Dubai
New or current students can get up to Dh125,000 worth of scholarships throughout their four-year programmes at RIT Dubai.
"As a non for profit university, a significant portion of our net-income is reinvested back in scholarships which can be in the form of a merit based scholarship, financial aid and alumni scholarships," Hameed Al Obaidi, senior admissions counselor at RIT Dubai, said:
All new and current students have the option to apply for scholarships throughout their studies at RIT Dubai.
Zayed University
Undergraduate studies at the university are free for Emiratis at Zayed University.
The seat of learning also offers a number of scholarships for outstanding non-Emirati undergraduate students.
The Undergraduate Merit Scholarship offers up to a 50 percent cut on tuition fees. It does not cover additional costs such as laptop, food, housing, or transport.
To be eligible to receive this award, the student must gain admission at the university and have a minimum average of 95 percent or equivalent in the last year of high school. The student has to demonstrate proficiency in English, submit an essay and a recommendation letter.
Students may be able to maintain the undergraduate merit scholarship beyond the first year if they have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5.
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MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Russia v Scotland, Thursday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
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FIXTURES
Thu Mar 15 – West Indies v Afghanistan, UAE v Scotland
Fri Mar 16 – Ireland v Zimbabwe
Sun Mar 18 – Ireland v Scotland
Mon Mar 19 – West Indies v Zimbabwe
Tue Mar 20 – UAE v Afghanistan
Wed Mar 21 – West Indies v Scotland
Thu Mar 22 – UAE v Zimbabwe
Fri Mar 23 – Ireland v Afghanistan
The top two teams qualify for the World Cup
Classification matches
The top-placed side out of Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong or Nepal will be granted one-day international status. UAE and Scotland have already won ODI status, having qualified for the Super Six.
Thu Mar 15 – Netherlands v Hong Kong, PNG v Nepal
Sat Mar 17 – 7th-8th place playoff, 9th-10th place playoff
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Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
Results
5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,600m, Winner: Panadol, Mickael Barzalona (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)
6.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m, Winner: Mayehaab, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
6.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Monoski, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
7.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,800m, Winner: Eastern World, Royston Ffrench, Charlie Appleby
7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Madkal, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
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Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
The Travel Diaries of Albert Einstein The Far East, Palestine, and Spain, 1922 – 1923
Editor Ze’ev Rosenkranz
Princeton
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
SPECS%3A%20Polestar%203
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELong-range%20dual%20motor%20with%20400V%20battery%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E360kW%20%2F%20483bhp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E840Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20automatic%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20touring%20range%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20628km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E0-100km%2Fh%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.7sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20210kph%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh360%2C000%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeptember%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
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If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
The biog
Family: wife, four children, 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren
Reads: Newspapers, historical, religious books and biographies
Education: High school in Thatta, a city now in Pakistan
Regrets: Not completing college in Karachi when universities were shut down following protests by freedom fighters for the British to quit India
Happiness: Work on creative ideas, you will also need ideals to make people happy
Motori Profile
Date started: March 2020
Co-founder/CEO: Ahmed Eissa
Based: UAE, Abu Dhabi
Sector: Insurance Sector
Size: 50 full-time employees (Inside and Outside UAE)
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Safe City Group
The specs: 2018 Genesis G70
Price, base / as tested: Dh155,000 / Dh205,000
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New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
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