Dubai gives you a safe, ultra-modern city with a genuinely global student body, everything in English, and world-class infrastructure from the metro to the airport. Branch campuses of Western universities cluster in dedicated academic zones, the beaches and desert are on hand, and few places are better connected for travel. The obvious catch is cost: this is by far the most expensive city in the region.

• Almost everyone speaks English, and the city runs on a huge international expat community.
• Dubai International is one of the world's best-connected airports for cheap travel.

Daytime social life gravitates to the beaches and cafes of JBR and Dubai Marina, while universities keep student life concentrated in the academic zones. Costs can bite, so students get creative.

• Beach clubs and cafes along JBR and Dubai Marina are the daytime social hub.
• Universities cluster in Academic City and Knowledge Park, keeping student life concentrated.
• Ask the Dubai group on Studcasa how students keep costs down in an expensive city.

Dubai is by far the most expensive city in the region, driven by rent and going out. Budget roughly 6,000 to 9,500 dirhams a month (about 1,500 to 2,300 euros), and share to keep it down.

• A shawarma or a meal in Karama is 15-30 dirhams, but Marina brunches run well over 150 dirhams.
• A shared room can be 2,500-4,500 dirhams a month, so most students share to cut rent.
• Nearly everything is cashless; set up a local bank card and use Careem or Uber for transport.

Shared apartments are the norm, and choosing a cheaper district or one near your campus makes a big difference. The two big property portals list almost everything.

• Dubizzle and Bayut are the main sites for shared apartments and rooms.
• Cheaper areas include International City, Al Nahda and Karama, while Academic City is closest to many campuses.
• Ask the Dubai group on Studcasa for flatmate leads, as splitting rent is how most students afford the city.

Dubai's driverless metro and Marina tram cover the main corridors, backed by cheap ride-hailing for everything else. A monthly pass keeps public transport affordable.

• The Metro Red and Green lines and the Marina tram cover the main corridors; tap in with a Nol card.
• Careem and Uber are widely used and reasonable when shared.
• A monthly Nol travel pass is around 350 dirhams for unlimited public transport.

Dubai hosts branch campuses of respected UK and Australian universities, delivering the same degrees in English within dedicated academic clusters. That makes it a familiar, well-supported setting for exchange students.

• Branch campuses like Heriot-Watt, Middlesex, Wollongong and Birmingham deliver UK and Australian degrees in English.
• Most sit in Academic City, Knowledge Park or Dubai International Academic City.

For study, your nationality affects the short-stay entry but not the core requirement: almost all exchange students need a student residence visa sponsored by the host university. Many nationalities (EU, UK, US, and others) get a free visa on arrival for tourism, but to enrol and stay for a semester you must switch to the sponsored student permit, which the university's admissions office typically arranges once you are accepted.

Expect to provide your admission letter, passport copies, photos, proof of funds and, importantly, a medical fitness test (including a chest X-ray and blood test) done inside the UAE, plus Emirates ID registration and mandatory health insurance. Start the process with your host university early, as it involves several in-country steps after arrival.

• Student residence visa is sponsored by your host university, they handle most of it
• Many nationalities enter on a visa on arrival, then convert to the student permit
• A medical fitness test (X-ray + blood test) is required in-country
• You will need an Emirates ID and mandatory health insurance
• Begin the process early with your university's admissions office

Beyond the glossy fine dining, Dubai's best value and character are in the older, food-packed districts. The city's mix of nationalities means every cuisine is well represented.

• For value, head to Karama, Deira and Satwa; Ravi is the legendary Pakistani spot.
• Sample Emirati dishes such as machboos and luqaimat at spots like Al Fanar.
• Global Village, open in winter, is a sprawling world of street food and stalls.

Dubai ranges from the glossy Downtown and beachy Marina to the older, cheaper districts of Deira and Bur Dubai. The metro links the main areas.

• Downtown, around the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall, is the glossy centre.
• Dubai Marina and JBR are the young, beachy, high-rise districts students favour.
• Deira and Bur Dubai are the older, cheaper, more characterful side of the city.

Dubai is a perfect base for the rest of the Emirates and beyond, from mosques and museums to mountains and dunes. A desert safari is the classic first weekend.

• Abu Dhabi, with the Sheikh Zayed Mosque and the Louvre, is about 1.5 hours away.
• Hatta's mountains and Ras Al Khaimah's Jebel Jais offer hiking and via ferrata within a couple of hours.
• A desert safari with dune driving and a camp dinner is the classic weekend outing.

Dubai is easy to live in but easy to overspend in, and the heat and local etiquette both need respect. Plan your budget and your seasons.

• Budget carefully, as Dubai can drain money fast through rent, brunches and taxis.
• Summers are punishing, so life moves indoors and outdoor plans wait for winter.
• Dress is relaxed but modest in malls and public areas, and alcohol is served only in licensed venues.