Why overseas students flock to Dubai in thousands to learn English

“Today, students from around the world see Dubai as a premium destination to study English,” said Montserrat Taylor. The Colombian expat is the CEO and founder of English Studies (ES) Dubai, which alone has attracted more than 9,000 foreign students since 2020.

Curiously, Dubai wasn’t even a blip on the radar when Taylor (pictured below on the right) moved to Dubai in 2010 and launched the institute with younger brother Daniel Rodriguez.

“Back then, there were no visa provisions for short-term students. Student visas were only granted to those pursuing higher education,” recalled Taylor. “The concept of students from key international markets, such as Brazil, Colombia, Turkey, Thailand and Vietnam coming to study in Dubai was completely unheard of. There was a gap in the market; we were perfectly positioned to fill it.”

Co-founder and marketing director Rodriguez recalled how people baulked at their idea when they decided to open an English learning school in Dubai. “They thought we were crazy. They would look at us incredulously and say, ‘Who would want to go to Dubai to study English?’ Now they know better.”

Today, it sprawls across three entire floors at BB1 Mazaya Business Avenue in Jumeirah Lakes Tower.

Courses are offered for every skill level — from beginner to proficient. Students are also prepared for IELTS, CELTA (Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults) exams, and ACCP (Advance College Credit Programme), which allows learners to begin their university studies well ahead of their peers.

Jake Borland, who co-founded Speak English Institute with Richard Lewis in 2013, said their initial clients were mainly Dubai residents.

“However, the Covid-19 pandemic changed the English language learning landscape in Dubai. Suddenly, we saw a huge shift in our clientele,” said Borland.

“As borders stayed closed in English-speaking countries, such as the UK, Australia, and Ireland, people started looking at Dubai as a destination to study English. We adapted to this shift. Now we welcome anywhere between 15 and 40 international students every month. We also provide them with student visas. A majority of our overseas students come from Japan, Colombia, and Brazil. Of late, we have also started getting students from Italy, Spain and France.”

Encouraged by the response, Speak English Institute has branched out to Ras Al Khaimah.

Swiss International School Dubai, which has 1,850 students from over 100 nationalities, said they have seen a significant increase in the interest and demand, not only for day school places but also for boarding places, from families across Europe and Asia in the last two years. “Families are looking for quality educational options for their children, primarily to support their learning of English. As a bilingual and language-focused school, students often come to the school with French or German mothertongue, and a desire to learn English,” said Alison Roberts, head of marketing and admission.

The school offers boarding places for students from age 11 onwards. “This is an ideal way to immerse a student into an English environment, and inherently accelerate the language learning,” said Roberts.

The newest entrant in the market is English Path. It is a part of the Global Education Group, which includes GBS — one of the most prestigious higher education colleges in the UK. Since opening in Dubai in 2021, GBS and English Path have been attracting students from all over the world, including countries like Russia, Turkey, Japan and South America.

“Our courses are designed to help students develop their language proficiency in a variety of contexts and situations, such as everyday communication, academic writing, and Business English,” said Gareth Smith, centre manager, English Path

The school also offers courses for English language exams, such as IELTS.

mazhar@khaleejtimes.com