ABSTRACT
Many countries in the MENA region continue to implement internationalization as an important dimension of higher education (HE) and to invest in the development of the sector; the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are no exception. While mainly focusing on the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, and Kuwait, the chapter argues that despite its continuously changing landscape, internationalization of HE in the region has sometimes fallen short of expectations and often failed to address the aspirations of both policymakers and younger generation. The purpose of this chapter is to go beyond a simple description to analyze its major components, aims, outcomes, and mainly its unintended consequences. This is done through a review of the major trends and discussion of some of the political, legal, economic, and socio-cultural challenges from a policy perspective in the three member states. Based on this comparative analysis, policy recommendations and suggestions for future studies are offered.
