Tuesday, June 6 2006 11:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dubai: With over a million Indians residing in the UAE, there is need to set up more Indian institutes of higher education in the emirates, Human Resources Development Minister Arjun Singh has said.

"We will fully cooperate in the endeavour to open more Indian institutes," the Minister told a meeting of Indian business and professional community here yesterday.

Singh said Dubai has emerged as a truly global city as well an education hub in the region, thanks to initiatives like the Knowledge Village and the Dubai Academic City.

A large number of Indian institutes including Birla Institute of Technology and Science, SP Jain Centre of Management, Mahatma Gandhi University and Manipal University from India have bases in Dubai Over 90,000 students study in Central Board of Secondary (CBSE) schools in the UAE.

Earlier addressing the principals of Indian schools in Dubai, the HRD minister praised the excellent results achieved by them.

More than 50 principals from various Indian curriculum schools across the UAE attended the meeting.

At a separate meeting with the Muslim Education Society, Singh said an Arab cultural centre will be set up by the Jamia Milia University. It will be funded by the University Grants Commission.