India-UAE Education Linkup

India-UAE Higher Education Partnership

Students and academics now have the opportunity for increased mobility through the newly established India-UAE Educational Cooperation Agreement. The cooperation binational between the two countries will foster enhanced exchanges of students and provide for cooperative research efforts between the countries. This agreement was signed during UAE President Sheikh Mohamed's January 2026 visit to Delhi. The benefits of this cooperation will extend beyond the borders of the two nations. Individuals from India interested in pursuing advanced degrees will no longer be constrained by traditional limitations associated with studying abroad, including obtaining student visas or transferring academic credits.

Think about how things have changed. If you were an engineering student from Mumbai looking to pursue your master's degree in Abu Dhabi, it has been very difficult to obtain a student visa and then transfer credits earned in Abu Dhabi to your institution in Mumbai. Now, under this agreement, there will be fast-track visa processing and the ability to obtain academic credits from institutions located in the UAE while studying in India.

Joint Degrees & Research: Joint, dual, and "sandwich" degrees (where students divide their time between institutions in India and the UAE) will all provide an opportunity for students to obtain degrees from both nations. Institutions like the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi & the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad already have campuses in the UAE. This level of collaboration will open many doors for cooperation in the areas of AI and sustainable technology research.