Statistics

Population: 2,600,000 *
GDP per capita: US$45,200 *
Literacy: 76.1%*
Higher Education Students: 68,182**
Australian Student Enrolments: 997

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

Click on map for country statistics and news

News from UAE

9 SEPTEMBER 2007: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INVITATION
On Sunday, 9 September, Professor George Earl, Head of Bond University Mirvac School of Sustainable Development is giving a public talk at Sheraton Jumeirah Beach in Dubai on sustainable development. It will focus 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.

Join him for drinks and informal discussion
Date: Sunday 9, September, 2007
Time: 4.00 – 5.00 pm - Presentation
5.00 – 6.30 pm Drinks and informal discussion
Venue: The Ballroom, Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Resort & Towers
RSVP: Wednesday 6 September, 2007
Sally Viney at email: sviney@bond.edu.au

26 & 29 April QUT SEMINAR SERIES in Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Interested in understanding the power of university-community partnerships in research and teaching? Want to know what university study and research are like in Australia? Queensland University of Technology's (QUT) Seminar will give you an insight into the education and research advantages of QUT’s ‘living laboratory’ connections with industry, government and community organisations. It will show you how QUT assists graduates to achieve high impact careers in diverse professions and in research. For more information incl. dates and venues, print out this flyer and contact Jason Legatt if you would like to attend.

3 FEBRUARY 2007: MEGAA PICNIC
MEGAA members, including partners and family are invited to attend the MEGAA picnic on Saturday 3rd of February 2007 at the Creek Park in Dubai. Enter near Gate 5 (near Dubai Courts & opposite Rashid Hospital). Kick off from 11am. Location within the park is yet to be confirmed. Come along and join in on the fun and games including sporting and children activities as well as networking with other Alumni members. All MEGAA members will receive a free MEGAA t-shirt. Please bring your own food and drinks. See map and attached MEGAA Picnic flyer. For bookings email Nada and/or see MEGAA Blog

20 JANUARY 2007: MEETING TO PLAN MEGAA PICNIC
MEGAA members are invited to come to Dubai Creek Park, Gate 1 at 11am, to help organise the picnic. Please email Nada and/or log onto MEGAA Blog

FEBRUARY 2007 INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CONFERENCE
This conference will be held in Abu Dhabi in February 2007 (United Arab Emirates). Education Without Borders is a biennial international student conference that creates networks across cultures. The third conference in 2005 attracted students and academics from 90 countries internationally.

NEW CONSUL APPOINTED
Steve Garret is the new Consul for Education, Science and Training. Steve has extensive experience in education, in both academic and leadership positions in Australia and overseas. He leads the AEI Middle East team at the Australian Consulate in Dubai. Read More

19 NOVEMBER 2006: NEW DUBAI CONSULATE OFFICES OPEN
Opening of Consulate The Australian Government Minister for Trade, Warren Truss, opened new and expanded offices for the Australian Consulate General in Dubai. Australia’s rapidly growing trade and investment links with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the wider Gulf region resulted in the need for larger facilities. Mr Truss said that in 2005-06, Australia’s export to the UAE grew by almost 30%, while the value of two-way merchandise trade reached $2.3 billion.

STUDY IN AUSTRALIA ROADSHOW 18-28 NOVEMBER 2006
Austrade launched 'Study in Australia' Middle East Road show. It is Austrade's third Study in Australia Middle East Road show and traveled through five countries from 18 to 28 November 2006.

VICTORIA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF SHARJAH WILL OPEN IN SEPTEMBER 2007
A new international school offering an Australian curriculum and qualification in Sharjah is scheduled to open in September 2007 to provide quality education to both international and Emirati students. The school will provide a great opportunity for young people living in the UAE to gain a world-recognized Australian education, and Australian students will be able to continue their Australian education while living in the UAE. Construction is scheduled for completion by May 2007. When the school opens in September next year, grades Prep to 9 will be offered with grades 10, 11 and 12 being added in successive years, eventually caring for up to 3000 students from kindergarten to year 12. Read more about the school, or email Victorian Government Business Office or check StudyMelbourne web site

18 NOVEMBER 2006: FIRST MEGAA MEETING IN ABU DHABI
Abu Dhabi members were particularly delighted to have their first MEGAA meeting (18th). A similar meeting was held in Dubai (16 Nov). These meeting helped us fine tune the MEGAA web site, and plan the BBQ in January. The outcomes can be found on MEGAA Blog, under 'MEGAA Meeting'. Check out the photos from Abu Dhabi meeting in Gallery 4.

30 OCTOBER 2006: AUSTRALIAN CONSULATE GENERAL (DUBAI) NOW LOCATED AT BURJUMAN OFFICE TOWERS
The Australian Consulate General in Dubai has relocated to Level 25 at the Burjuman Office Tower on Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Road, Dubai. See Contact

12 OCTOBER 2003: IFTAR DINNER
Iftar Dinner for MEGAA Network members in Dubai was a roaring success! Thank you to everyone who came. Rema, a reporter from Gulf News, was there for interviews and you will be able to view the articles in this Sunday's "Gulf Notes" lift out section of Gulf News. If you'd like to view photographs Jo took at the event you'll find them here in Gallery 2.

21 - 28 SEPTEMBER 2006: QUT VISIT
QUT group During September 2006, a group of final year students from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT; www.qut.edu.au) visited the UAE.

The study tour included 20 final year QUT students studying Engineering, Town Planning, Architecture, Quantity Surveying and Construction Management and two senior professors from the university who co-ordinated and led the tour.

The tour was conducted as part of the subject “International Construction” with the purpose of exposing students to international construction, methods, processes and cultural issues. As Dubai is the pinnacle of construction and development in the world at the moment – it seems like the best place for these students to visit. Don’t you think?

QUT group AEI Middle East assisted in the organisation of the tour by providing briefings, contacts and meetings with construction departments. A MEGAA member who works for Dubai Festival City (DFC) arranged for the study group to visit the construction site at DFC, a highlight of the group’s visit. Another highlight was standing on the 74th floor of Burj Dubai!

LEA SUBLETT (CONSUL) LEAVES DUBAI
Ms Lea Sublett, Consul – Education Science and Training, Australian Education International, is leaving the Middle East in September to return to Australia to continue her career there. Ms Lea Sublett has worked in the higher education sector for many years and was appointed as Consul (Education, Science and Training) Dubai in December 2003.

Consul for Education, Science and Training (Middle East)