Dubai student becomes Neet’s highest-ranked candidate from outside India

Mangalore Today News Network

Dubai, Jul 18, 2026: An 18-year-old student from Dubai has emerged as the highest-ranked candidate among those who appeared for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2026 from examination centres outside India.

Sankalp Sandeep Naik, a student of JSS Private School and Dubai-based coaching institute Ascentria, scored 650 out of 720 marks, securing an All India Rank (AIR) of 1,398. He also topped the ’Outside India’ category in the National Testing Agency’s state-wise toppers list with an overall percentile of 99.9253.

Sankalp said the postponement of the NEET examination was the most challenging phase of his preparation.

"When the exam was postponed, I completely lost interest and even thought of giving up. But my parents and brother kept motivating me, and I continued my preparation. I am grateful for their constant support," he said.

He joined Ascentria during Class 12 and initially focused on his CBSE board examinations before dedicating the final five months entirely to NEET preparation.

"I wasn’t performing well in the initial mock tests because I was concentrating on my board exams. Once I shifted my complete focus to NEET, my performance improved significantly. The regular tests and guidance at the institute helped me a lot," he said.

According to Alka Malik, founder of Ascentria, Sankalp’s achievement reflects his dedication, supported by his teachers and family.

Behind the success was the unwavering support of his family. Sankalp shared a room with his brother, who shifted to the living room every night so he could study without disturbance. His father also took leave from work on several occasions to support him during the crucial months leading up to the examination.

To stay focused, Sankalp gave up several personal activities, including regular cricket practice, and even spent his 18th birthday studying, as it fell just days before the originally scheduled examination.

Reflecting on his preparation, he said the biggest challenge was adapting to a disciplined lifestyle.

"People only see the score. They don’t see the sacrifices. Going from having fun all the time to studying six or seven hours every day is difficult. But once you get into the routine, everything becomes easier," he said.

He advised future NEET aspirants to prioritise revision over covering more topics.

"It is more important to revise the same material multiple times than to study many chapters only once," he said.

Sankalp, whose father is an engineer, said he has aspired to become a neurosurgeon since childhood. He now plans to complete his admission formalities before returning to Dubai in August, with AIIMS Nagpur as his preferred choice for pursuing his medical education.