Newsletters & Statistics

Regional Statistics
Population: 337 million *
GDP per capita average: US$12,887 *
Literacy average: 78.3% *
Higher Ed Students: 7.8 million **
Australian Student Enrolments: 7,974

Source: *CIA World Factbook 2005/06 estimates, **UNESCO Global Education Digest 2005, AEI 2006

Click on map for country statistics and news

MEGAA Newsletters

Issue 3: Dec 06 MEGAA'zette
Issue 2: Sept 06 MEGAA'zette
Issue 1: June 06 MEGAA'zette

MEGAA'ZETTE CONTRIBUTION
If you would like to contribute any articles, funny stories or photos to the upcoming MEGAA newsletters, please email Jo.

Major News & Coming Events

4 Oct: Ski Dubai
How does Saturday afternoon, 4th October, sound for all the mad skiers amongst us, along with those who'd like to give it a go perhaps for the first time? Family and friends are most welcome.

Mid JULY: MEGAA Meeting
The meeting at the Consulate in Dubai was lively and interesting. We met with new members and some old hands. It was Margaux Mansour's first time to join us. Some outcomes of the meeting included the decision to continue to send out monthly enews; hold quarterly meetings in Dubai and Abu Dhabi; resume the publishing of our quarterly newsletter which Waleed Al Marzouqi has kindly volunteered to edit; include more events each year (in addition to and separate from the ones AEI sponsors).

29 FEBRUARY: SUNSET CHARITY DRUM CIRCLE 2008
Kempinski Hotel Ajman, Dubai Drums and others joined forces through Al Ihsan Charity Center to raise funds to send children back to school. It was an extravaganza of tribal drumming on a private beach to the glowing rays of the sunset.

8 FEBRUARY: AJMAN DESERT EXPERIENCE
This event was so amazing :-) The group was initially driven in 4x4 into the desert to a "camp site". From there they climbed a high dune to take in the view, went on long camel rides, watched Peregrine Falcon owners training their birds, listened to an astronomer point out the major stars and constellations, peered through a huge telescope at Mars, were entertained by a talented poet, enjoyed a delightful Arab feast, and were treated to fireworks! View the photo gallery.

DISCOUNTS FOR MEGAA AT AUSSIE BBQ, YALUMBA RESTAURANT
Yalumba Restaurant, LE MERIDIEN Dubai, have started a new promotion on Wednesdays called Aussie BBQ nights. MEGAA members will receive 20% discount upon presentation or mentioning that you are a MEGAA member. In addition, if you make a booking of 10 people of more you will receive 2 people FREE! To book call 04 217 0000

SCHOLARSHIP OFFER - GREAT OPPORTUNITY!
The Council for Australian-Arab Relations (CAAR) is sponsoring some short-term scholarships for current post graduate students from Arab League countries to study in Australia. It covers the costs of university course fees for Masters or PhD students for 3-6 months. It is very easy to be eligible and apply! Please do so as quickly as possible. Find out more from CAAR Scholarships web site or email CAAR.

GULF NEWS PROFILE INTERVIEWS
To showcase Alumni from Australian education, Rema from Gulf News is looking for three or four graduates. She will interview by email and follow up by telephone. It will be a great opportunity to promote Australian education and yourself! Please email Nada Salha

28 NOVEMBER: MEGAA SOCIAL EVENT WITH QUT
The dinner with MEGAA and visitors from Queensland University of Technology (QUT), including the two senior lecturers along with 20 construction students on tour in Dubai was great. Everyone enjoyed the full buffet with drinks at the Meridian (near Dubai Airport). Check out the gallery of photos from the event.

22 OCTOBER: CPA AUSTRALIA NETWORKING FUNCTION
Certified Practicing Accountants (CPA) Australia invites you to a networking evening at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai on Monday October 22nd at 6:30pm. CPA Australia Deputy President, Professor Richard Petty will be in Dubai to discuss CPA Australia's plans in the UAE market. Drinks and canapés will be served. RSVP email Yuki-Ann Worsch by 5 Oct

5 OCTOBER: MEGAA IFTAAR DINNER - Cancelled
So sorry, but our numbers are seriously depleted at the moment. Many are away with work or are on holidays, and have asked for another event next month, November. Therefore, we will make arrangements and will keep you informed.

8 SEPTEMBER: MEGAA SNOW FUN AT EMIRATES MALL
A group of MEGAA members went to the ski slopes of Emirates Mall in Dubai on Saturday 8 September. Please email if you're like more MEGAA ski events

9 SEPTEMBER: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INVITATION
On Sunday, 9 September, Professor George Earl, Head of Bond University Mirvac School of Sustainable Development gave a public talk at Sheraton Jumeirah Beach in Dubai on sustainable development. It focused on property development and investment, and recent developments in triple bottom line sustainable development in Australia linked to similar developments in the USA and Europe, including international green development tools such as LEED, BREEAM and the Green Building Council Australia star rating system.

Education News

VICTORIA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF SHARJAH WILL OPEN IN SEPTEMBER 2007
The Victoria International School with an Australian curriculum is scheduled to open in September 2007 in Sharjah, UAE. Read more

AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCES TWO YEAR VISA FOR GCC NATIONALS
The validity period for tourist visas and business visitor visas has been extended from one to two years for citizens of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait. Additionally, GCC natioanls can now obtain visas to travel to Australia without having a label placed in their passports. This can be done on line www.immi.gov.au or through a travel agent. These initiatives will greatly improve client service and processing times for families travelling from the Gulf. More information: Dept of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs

Announcements

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY
If you work for a company that may be interested in being a sponsor of the MEGAA network do let us know. MEGAA is currently seeking applications for Premier, Major and Support sponsors. Please email Margaux for details.

CALLING FOR PHOTOS
Do you like taking photos? Would you like to showcase them on our site and/or enter them to be chosen and displayed as Photo of the month? Remember docking your cap and proudly wearing the famous black cloak on your graduation day? We would also love to see your photo and/or include them on this site. Please email Jo

Previous news and announcements at News Archive