DUBAI // Ireland is becoming an attractive study destination for Emirati medical students.
During the last academic year, 269 Emirati students were enrolled at the country’s higher-education institutions, mainly medical schools including the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI).
The UK and US have long been popular places to study, but the director of Education Ireland, Terry McParland, admitted his country only started marketing efforts in 2000.
Before then, being a country with a large young population, it had been difficult to offer many places to international students at the six medical schools. But Mr McParland said economics and international rankings had made it essential.
“All higher education institutions need to be internationalised so home students get exposed to people from different backgrounds, religions and cultures. They need to have an international outlook,” he said.
But “there is no doubt a revenue aspect to this”, he admitted.
For international rankings, an international student body is vital.
“At the moment, 12 per cent of our students are international,” Mr McParland said, although he is hoping to increase that number.
Abdulla Alfzari, 19, from Abu Dhabi, is in his pre-medical year at the Royal College.
Like most Emiratis in Ireland, he has a scholarship from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
He said Ireland was a destination of choice for medicine, and the lack of distractions made it ideal for study. “The system of their medical schools helps to get into medicine easier than in other countries,” he said.
People considering other careers such as engineering or business might “consider other countries like the US or the UK to be the destination for their higher education”, he said, as he did not believe Ireland could rival those countries in those fields.
Mohammed Ahmed Almahboobi Alshehhi, 21, from Ras Al Khaimah, said Emirati students in Ireland mostly focused on medicine, with a few studying business.
“I can’t say that studying in Ireland is easier than in another English-speaking country at any scale, but it could be easier for medical students because there is a big number of them here and they can help each other as an integrated family throughout their studying journey,” he said.
Sarah Al Motawa, 20, from Fujairah, is also taking the pre-medicine course at the RCSI on a ministry scholarship.
“Studying in Ireland was a challenging adventure academically and personally,” she said. “I had the opportunity to travel with my friends. The good things are developing my critical thinking, problem solving, independence and self-confidence, teamwork and communication.”
She believes many more Emiratis will go to Ireland, especially as more look to study medicine.
“Some students come to Ireland to be with their sisters or brothers so they can study in the same country,” she said. “In recent years many Emirati students have started choosing Ireland to study in, so other students feel comfortable when they know that many students from their nationality are studying in the same country.”
Reem Abdullah Aman, 20, from Dubai, is in her second year of medical school at the RCSI.
Safety was a big factor in her parents’ decision to allow her to study abroad and her ending up in Ireland. Her three years there have not been without challenges.
“It was all about accommodating to great levels of change,” she said. “This in turn has built in me a defined sense of maturity and taught me the true meaning of independence and responsibility.
“Coming from Dubai, adjusting to Ireland and its lifestyle was quite challenging. If a person is used to and prefers a busy and a fast-moving country, Ireland perhaps might not be the ideal destination. However, Ireland provides a low level of distraction, making it the right country for students with a focused goal and aim.”
She said more young Emiratis were considering Ireland as a study destination, although when it came to tourism, Ireland was not on the radar of Emirati travellers.
“It is clear that students enjoy their time in Ireland and once done, they would recommend the experience to their siblings and friends,” she said. “Recently the UAE launched its embassy in Dublin, which is focused on gathering students around Ireland and facilitating communication between them, thus making students feel more at home.”
She also enjoys the support of fellow GCC students, not least at times such as Eid.
“It does reduce homesickness,” she said.
mswan@thenational.ae
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Pakistan Super League
Previous winners
2016 Islamabad United
2017 Peshawar Zalmi
2018 Islamabad United
2019 Quetta Gladiators
Most runs Kamran Akmal – 1,286
Most wickets Wahab Riaz –65
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Jebel Ali Dragons 26 Bahrain 23
Dragons
Tries: Hayes, Richards, Cooper
Cons: Love
Pens: Love 3
Bahrain
Tries: Kenny, Crombie, Tantoh
Cons: Phillips
Pens: Phillips 2
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
The biog
Prefers vegetables and fish to meat and would choose salad over pizza
Walks daily as part of regular exercise routine
France is her favourite country to visit
Has written books and manuals on women’s education, first aid and health for the family
Family: Husband, three sons and a daughter
Fathiya Nadhari's instructions to her children was to give back to the country
The children worked as young volunteers in social, education and health campaigns
Her motto is to never stop working for the country
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India squad
Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, K.L. Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Chahar, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, second leg:
Liverpool (0) v Barcelona (3), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Game is on BeIN Sports
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Company%C2%A0profile
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PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)
West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)
Sunday
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)
KINGDOM%20OF%20THE%20PLANET%20OF%20THE%20APES
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THE 12 BREAKAWAY CLUBS
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
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How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
