According to the latest data from the Ministry of Education’s All-India Survey on Higher Education, the UAE has become the second-largest contributor of international students to India. Out of the 58,134 foreign students enrolled in Indian colleges and universities during the 2023-24 academic year, seven percent hailed from the UAE, trailing only Nepal. This trend is largely attributed to the robust Non-Resident Indian (NRI) population in the Emirates, as many families opt to send their children back to India for their higher education. Other nations contributing significantly to this student demographic include the US, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe, with Karnataka emerging as the top host state for these learners.

Despite these figures, India continues to seek ways to bolster its appeal to the global student community, aiming to host 200,000 international students by 2030 through the 'Study in India' initiative. This push coincides with a recent downward trend in the number of Indian students traveling abroad for education, which has dropped from over 900,000 in 2023 to roughly 625,000 in 2025. Factors such as stricter migration policies, the rising costs of international tuition, and limitations on dependents have prompted many students to reconsider traditional destinations like the US, Canada, and the UK, leading them to explore alternatives in Europe and beyond. To remain competitive, India has begun allowing foreign universities to establish campuses within the country, including specialized operations in Gujarat’s GIFT City.