The two-day Gulf News Edufair opened on Saturday at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Resort in Abu Dhabi and will continue through Sunday. The event brings together more than 20 universities, education providers and study-abroad advisers, giving students and parents a chance to explore courses, admission requirements and career pathways in one venue.
The fair was officially inaugurated by Dr Deepak Mittal, India's Ambassador to the UAE. Several university and institution leaders used the occasion to discuss how curricula are evolving to match shifting employer demands.
Dr Eesa Al Bastaki, President of the University of Dubai, spoke about the growing role of emerging technologies in higher education, noting that integrating artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity and digital leadership into academic programmes helps prepare graduates for the realities of today's job market.
Dr Mohamed Baraka of Batterjee Medical College said the institution is redesigning its health-professions education around the capabilities that employers and patients now expect from graduates. Meanwhile Xavier Augustin, CEO of Y-Axis and the fair's Platinum Sponsor, pointed to how quickly immigration policies are shifting, warning that a study-abroad route that worked for last year's intake may look entirely different for students applying today.
Gulf News Edufair is held annually in Abu Dhabi and has become one of the region's established events for study-abroad guidance, drawing families from across the UAE. With institutions spanning technology, medicine and business education represented under one roof, the fair gives visitors a chance to compare a wide range of academic options and speak directly with admissions teams before making decisions about where to study next.