Sakshi Chandak, 18, hopes the new government understands the importance of bringing international students to the country. Reem Mohammed / The National
Sakshi Chandak, 18, hopes the new government understands the importance of bringing international students to the country. Reem Mohammed / The National
Sakshi Chandak, 18, hopes the new government understands the importance of bringing international students to the country. Reem Mohammed / The National
Sakshi Chandak, 18, hopes the new government understands the importance of bringing international students to the country. Reem Mohammed / The National

UAE students hope Biden’s win makes it easier to study and work in the US


Anam Rizvi
  • English
  • Arabic

UAE residents who study at US universities said they were relieved and happy after Joe Biden won the presidential election.

Students from the Emirates hoped that the president-elect will reverse President Donald Trump’s anti-immigration policies and that getting visas to study in the US will become easier.

Biden's policies are more immigrant-friendly and he wants people to come to the US.

Dubai resident Sakshi Chandak, 18, an Indian second-year psychology student at Arizona State University, said: “I was elated when Biden won. I think he will be an amazing president.

“It was a historic moment with Kamala Harris becoming Vice President-elect. The glass ceiling has been shattered.

“She looks like me. The feeling of seeing someone like you in that position makes you feel that maybe you could be up there.”

Ms Chandak said it was a big day for people who struggled under Mr Trump’s administration.

Shehryar Haris, a student at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in the US, said he was relieved Joe Biden is the next president. Shehryar Haris
Shehryar Haris, a student at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in the US, said he was relieved Joe Biden is the next president. Shehryar Haris

Students suffered under the Trump administration’s immigration policies and strict post-study work visa rules.

The government made it harder for international students to get visas and limited their time in the US after they graduated.

In July, students enrolled at American universities were told they would be deported or transferred to different institutes if their classes remained online in the autumn semester.

Sidhant Mathur said he did not feel welcome in the US under the Trump administration. Pawan Singh / The National
Sidhant Mathur said he did not feel welcome in the US under the Trump administration. Pawan Singh / The National

For international students, the chances of getting a work visa may not change immediately, but they are hopeful a Biden administration would adopt policies that were more migrant-friendly.

“Donald Trump did not realise the impact of migrant workers, but Joe Biden understands the importance of bringing international talent to the country,” Ms Chandak said.

“I don’t know a single international student who wanted Trump as president.

“Now, students would not have to worry about having a president who will send them back or deport them for no reason.”

For Sidhant Mathur, a fourth-year economics student at the University of California, a Biden administration will mean more security and stability.

“I felt relieved,” he said.

“In the last four years, there has been aggression toward minorities and international immigrants.

“I did not feel welcomed here.”

Mr Mathur hopes the country will offer more employment opportunities to international students.

Shehryar Haris, a Pakistani student of international economics and finance at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, has lived in the US since 2016.

“The people have chosen their leader and this was the best choice,” said Mr Haris, who grew up in the UAE and whose parents live in Dubai.

“It was good to see democracy in action.

“With a president like Joe Biden, you know what to expect. There isn’t that sense of uncertainty.”

Mr Haris lives in Washington and the city voted decisively for Mr Biden.

“I came to know Biden had won when my building erupted into celebration and I heard people chanting and screaming in celebration.”

He said people came out on to the streets to celebrate.

How it works

1) The liquid nanoclay is a mixture of water and clay that aims to convert desert land to fertile ground

2) Instead of water draining straight through the sand, it apparently helps the soil retain water

3) One application is said to last five years

4) The cost of treatment per hectare (2.4 acres) of desert varies from $7,000 to $10,000 per hectare 

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Seemar’s top six for the Dubai World Cup Carnival:

1. Reynaldothewizard
2. North America
3. Raven’s Corner
4. Hawkesbury
5. New Maharajah
6. Secret Ambition

VEZEETA PROFILE

Date started: 2012

Founder: Amir Barsoum

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: HealthTech / MedTech

Size: 300 employees

Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)

Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC

Start times

5.55am: Wheelchair Marathon Elites

6am: Marathon Elites

7am: Marathon Masses

9am: 10Km Road Race

11am: 4Km Fun Run

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

CHELSEA SQUAD

Arrizabalaga, Bettinelli, Rudiger, Christensen, Silva, Chalobah, Sarr, Azpilicueta, James, Kenedy, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic, Saul, Barkley, Ziyech, Pulisic, Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Werner, Havertz, Lukaku. 

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

The Written World: How Literature Shaped History
Martin Puchner
Granta

The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km

Price: Dh133,900

On sale: now 

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

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%3Cp%3EArtist%3A%20Kokoroko%3Cbr%3ELabel%3A%20Brownswood%20Recordings%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

How to help

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200

Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20myZoi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Syed%20Ali%2C%20Christian%20Buchholz%2C%20Shanawaz%20Rouf%2C%20Arsalan%20Siddiqui%2C%20Nabid%20Hassan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2037%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Initial%20undisclosed%20funding%20from%20SC%20Ventures%3B%20second%20round%20of%20funding%20totalling%20%2414%20million%20from%20a%20consortium%20of%20SBI%2C%20a%20Japanese%20VC%20firm%2C%20and%20SC%20Venture%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The%20Sandman
%3Cp%3ECreators%3A%20Neil%20Gaiman%2C%20David%20Goyer%2C%20Allan%20Heinberg%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Tom%20Sturridge%2C%20Boyd%20Holbrook%2C%20Jenna%20Coleman%20and%20Gwendoline%20Christie%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE squad

Humaira Tasneem (c), Chamani Senevirathne (vc), Subha Srinivasan, NIsha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Esha Oza, Ishani Senevirathne, Heena Hotchandani, Keveesha Kumari, Judith Cleetus, Chavi Bhatt, Namita D’Souza.

The specs

Engine: 2x201bhp AC Permanent-magnetic electric

Transmission: n/a

Power: 402bhp

Torque: 659Nm

Price estimate: Dh200,000

On sale: Q3 2022 

THE SPECS

Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
Price: Dh230,000
On sale: now

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)

Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt

Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure

Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers

Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised

Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels

Company profile

Name: Fruitful Day

Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie

Based: Dubai, UAE

Founded: 2015

Number of employees: 30

Sector: F&B

Funding so far: Dh3 million

Future funding plans: None at present

Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries