Graduates can be well paid in the UAE

▶ By following expert advice, students from all fields can clear debt and start saving in no time

The Arab world’s academics have for centuries offered students lessons on how to lead a fulfilled, scholarly life. Ibn Al Haytham, pioneer of the scientific method, taught his followers as early as the 11th century the need for scepticism: “The duty of the man who investigates the writings of scientists, if learning the truth is his goal, is to make himself an enemy of all that he reads.” These ideals remain important for today’s students, but other, more worldly priorities are on their minds, too. As Ibn Al Haytham advises, students should be sceptical when it comes to ideas; but in the 21st century, they would do best not to make themselves enemies of the jobs market.

Graduates are right to consider future earnings when making degree choices. Even in the richest countries, fear of graduate unemployment, often combined with heavy student debt, is well-founded.

This week The National spoke to university teachers about degrees that lead to the best-paying jobs in the UAE. Some observations were unsurprising. “People very rarely have difficulty in finding employment as a result of having done a business degree,” said Dr James Trotter, dean of Murdoch University Dubai. It is to be expected then that the subject is “by far the most popular” in a country that has put commerce at the centre of its development. And, as skyscrapers and modern industries rose to accommodate the new economy, engineering has also become a top choice. Qualifications in IT, artificial intelligence, robotics and nanotechnology are increasingly in demand, a reflection of the impetus the Emirates places on creating an economy based on future-focused industries.

For students who would rather pursue other studies there are still many options. “There’s almost an ever-increasing need for highly skilled employees,” Dr Trotter also says. While he regards a decline in popularity for arts subjects as “unfortunate”, he expects they might bounce back. After all, the type of worker the UAE is trying to attract through its Golden Visa programme – an indicator of which sectors the government most wants to grow – is artistic and creative, too.

In another sign that the humanities are not being disregarded, the Mohamed bin Zayed University for Humanities in Abu Dhabi announced this week that it will award full scholarships to 100 students for the next academic year. Prof Ammar Kaka, provost of Heriot-Watt University Dubai, also noted the popularity of “upskilling”, further specialising in a field, and “reskilling”, which involves learning about a new area later on. There is also growing recognition that the path to profitable graduate careers does not start at university. A key labour reform in recent months allows those over the age of 15 in the UAE to get part-time jobs. These are likely to be in customer-facing, practical fields, excellent to build the work ethic in preparation for better-paid jobs. After all, for many, the first pay packet is often the most memorable. While some sectors might be more profitable than others, the impression from experts is that, whichever field a student chooses, with the right attitude and skills, much is possible.