Flights had been canceled, itineraries mostly postponed. Regional conflict in the Middle East made their journey uncertain. Yet in March, a family from the United Arab Emirates — four adults and three children — stepped off a plane at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, ready to begin the educational tour they had long planned.

"I was honestly worried they might cancel," said Lilian Hu, general manager of Ufox Travel, who led the team receiving the family. "But they were resolute; nothing was going to stop them from coming."

During their seven-day stay in Shanghai and Hangzhou, the family explored China's educational landscape with an eye toward their children's future studies. Visits included Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the New York University Shanghai Campus.

The parents, who run a supermarket chain in the UAE, also met with representatives of local food export companies in Hangzhou in East China's Zhejiang province, arranged by Hu's team.

The journey was a high-end, tailor-made experience. Comfort and exclusivity were priorities: business-class flights, premium hotels, and VIP access at Shanghai Disneyland. The seven-day itinerary, which covered accommodations, flights, and customized activities, cost roughly 300,000 yuan ($41,000), Hu said.

Before this family visit, Ufox had also been commissioned by officials from Abu Dhabi's education authority to organize one of the region's few privately funded educational tours to China, hosting 41 students from Al Yasat Private School.

New choice

Industry observers said that Middle Eastern families traditionally chose the United Kingdom and the United States for overseas study tours.

But in recent years, China has emerged as a new destination of interest, with families seeking to explore schools, technology, and business opportunities firsthand.

"Greater exposure to Chinese products and the promotion of Chinese-language education have heightened local parents' interest in China," said Scarlett Yin, founder of Abu Dhabi-based DT House. "This could lead more UAE students to consider studying in China."

China's educational influence in the region is not new. Since 2019, the UAE's "Hundred Schools Project" has expanded Chinese language education to 171 schools and 71,000 students, according to the People's Daily. Saudi Arabia has also recognized Mandarin as a third language in its school system, alongside Arabic and English.

China has also started a visa-free trial in 2025 for Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Combined with earlier reciprocal visa agreements with the UAE and Qatar, China now effectively allows visa-free access to all six Gulf Cooperation Council nations.

Economic ties are strengthening alongside educational exchanges. GCC countries' investment in China is projected to reach $20 billion to $25 billion in 2025, accounting for roughly 10 percent of their total annual overseas investment.

Zhu Zhaoyi, executive director of the Institute of Middle East Studies at Peking University's HSBC Business School, told Securities Times that Gulf capital is emerging as a long-term growth source for Chinese markets and a key component in the region's post-oil economic strategy.

Reflecting on her experiences living in Dubai, Hu said: "After the outbreak of conflicts in the Middle East, many of her friends immediately pivoted to business in China. Some opened restaurants in Guangzhou or started ventures in Yiwu and Beijing."

"China's rapid development has changed perceptions — Middle Eastern families no longer see it as distant or mysterious but as a place worth learning from, investing in, and visiting," Hu said.