UAE students attending universities in the UK are concerned the rising number of Covid-19 cases will lead to the grounding of flights again and prevent them from returning to the Emirates over the Christmas holiday.
The students, whose families live in the UAE, told of a "very different" and unexpected start to university life with the cancellation of orientation weeks and the majority of lessons being held online.
There have been more than 500,000 virus cases and more than 40,000 deaths recorded in the UK. The rising figures have prompted concerns the country could be headed towards another lockdown.
The National spoke with students in the UK about their university experience so far as well as the challenges posed by moving countries in the midst of a pandemic.
Restrictions at student accommodations
Thousands of students at UK universities are self-isolating in their halls after Covid-19 outbreaks were reported at more than 50 campuses across the country.
International students from the UAE had to self-isolate for two weeks after entering the UK.
Aditya Dewasthalee, an 18-year-old Indian citizen, travelled from Dubai to the UK to pursue a mechanical engineering degree at Lancaster University.
“Those 14 days were really painful. I was alone in a flat, which is supposed to accommodate eight people. My flat mates decided to wait a few weeks before travelling,” he said.
This is not how I imagined my first year to be…That's for sure
It was the first time Mr Dewasthalee had travelled out of the Emirates alone and he said he was keen to see his family again at the end of term.
Ritvik Ramnath, 19, an Indian from Dubai, is studying economics at the London School of Economics.
He said restrictions at his university accommodation had recently tightened with no gatherings allowed in the kitchen.
Students are required to wear masks in communal areas and anyone found breaking the rules are subject to disciplinary hearings.
“Campus life has been much more different than I expected, with no big lectures, events, society socials, club nights and, much less social scene," said Mr Ramnath.
Fears of lockdown over Christmas
The UK’s Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said students would be able to return home for Christmas but many are still concerned this could change.
Universities have been told they can finish in-person classes early so students can isolate before travelling. More than 44,300 international students have enrolled at UK universities this year.
“I am worried that I won't be able to go back home to Dubai in December if there's a lockdown," said Mr Ramnath, whose mother lives in the emirate.
Nandini Shivakumar, an 18-year-old Indian first-year student attending Lancaster University, said tensions among students was high as cases began to increase across the UK.
She said students wanted to go back home for Christmas and were making sure not to meet unless necessary.
“My parents are in Dubai and I definitely want to travel to the UAE to see my family," she said.
“If the worse happens and I am unable to travel, I have a back-up plan and may have to stay with an uncle in the UK.
“A lot of my friends are eager to go back home as it is their first Christmas after moving away from family and they do not want to miss out."
Her mother, Chitra Krishnan, said she was looking forward to her daughter visiting Dubai at the end of term and did not want her to be in halls alone.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Ms Krishnan was unable to take her daughter to university, which was a big setback for her.
“This was something I was looking forward to. Now, I am really hoping that she can come back in December," she said.
Majority of classes being held online
International students, who pay significantly higher tuition fees compared to the £9,250 ($11,910) per year paid by local students in the UK, have had the majority of their classes held online.
Mr Ramnath said around 70 per cent of his classes were conducted virtually, while a student at Lancaster University said all his lectures were online.
Mr Dewasthalee said all his lectures are pre-recorded with the onus on students to study independently. The mechanical engineering student said lab work would commence in the third week.
“We voiced our concerns and we were told from the beginning that the class would be blended,” said Mr Dewasthalee.
“Tutorials and seminars have not started yet as they are still wary because the number of cases are rising in the UK.”
Alvis Huijsmans, a British student whose family lives in Abu Dhabi, started his undergraduate physics degree at The University of Warwick this year, and said he was happy to have 50 per cent of face-to-face classes.
The former Cranleigh pupil said the university planned for some in-person events but had to cancel these due to a spike in cases in Coventry.
“With society events cancelled, it wasn’t a normal first year of experience but it was not all bad.”
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Results
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The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 380hp at 5,800rpm
Torque: 530Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Price: From Dh299,000 ($81,415)
On sale: Now
Q&A with Dash Berlin
Welcome back. What was it like to return to RAK and to play for fans out here again?
It’s an amazing feeling to be back in the passionate UAE again. Seeing the fans having a great time that is what it’s all about.
You're currently touring the globe as part of your Legends of the Feels Tour. How important is it to you to include the Middle East in the schedule?
The tour is doing really well and is extensive and intensive at the same time travelling all over the globe. My Middle Eastern fans are very dear to me, it’s good to be back.
You mix tracks that people know and love, but you also have a visually impressive set too (graphics etc). Is that the secret recipe to Dash Berlin's live gigs?
People enjoying the combination of the music and visuals are the key factor in the success of the Legends Of The Feel tour 2018.
Have you had some time to explore Ras al Khaimah too? If so, what have you been up to?
Coming fresh out of Las Vegas where I continue my 7th annual year DJ residency at Marquee, I decided it was a perfect moment to catch some sun rays and enjoy the warm hospitality of Bab Al Bahr.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
Fourth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit
As he spoke, Mr Aboul Gheit repeatedly referred to the need to tackle issues affecting the welfare of people across the region both in terms of preventing conflict and in pushing development.
Lebanon is scheduled to host the fourth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit in January that will see regional leaders gather to tackle the challenges facing the Middle East. The last such summit was held in 2013. Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki told The National that the Beirut Summit “will be an opportunity for Arab leaders to discuss solely economic and social issues, the conference will not focus on political concerns such as Palestine, Syria or Libya". He added that its slogan will be “the individual is at the heart of development”, adding that it will focus on all elements of human capital.
Rajasthan Royals 153-5 (17.5 ov)
Delhi Daredevils 60-4 (6 ov)
Rajasthan won by 10 runs (D/L method)
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
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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
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
HOW TO WATCH
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
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
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
THE APPRENTICE
Director: Ali Abbasi
Starring: Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 3/5
