Study in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

About Dubai

Dubai is the capital of the emirate of the same name, the second largest of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE government portal estimates the emirate's population at about 3.76 million. The city grew around its historic creek, which divides the older districts of Deira in the north and Bur Dubai in the south, and its economy now relies heavily on trade, services and finance.

Arabic is the official language of the UAE, but road signs and shop signs are in Arabic and English. Across the UAE, expatriate residents outnumber UAE nationals, and international students study alongside classmates from many countries.

Studying in Dubai

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is the Dubai government authority responsible for the growth and quality of private education, including universities. At federal level, the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research keeps a register that shows whether an institution is active, inactive or on probation; institutions it lists as active in Dubai include the American University in Dubai and Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University. Public institutions in the UAE are primarily for UAE nationals and children of Emirati mothers; other students should check each university's admission terms.

The American University in Dubai (AUD), the university in our directory, was established in 1995 and was licensed by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in 2000. It describes itself as a private institution providing an American education and has more than 2,000 students of over 100 nationalities. AUD is permitted by the KHDA and accredited in the United States by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award bachelor's and master's degrees; its civil, computer, electrical and mechanical engineering programmes are accredited by ABET. Its bachelor's programmes include Architecture, Business Administration, Game Design and Development, Interior Design and International Studies, and students who need to improve their English can start with the English Bridge Program.

Fees, visas and housing

Fees vary by institution. At AUD, undergraduate tuition for a full load of 12 to 16 credits is AED 53,025 per semester, or AED 108,050 per year including the services and technology fee (according to AUD's current fee page; fees include 5% VAT where applicable). AUD's optional student housing costs AED 17,000 per year for a shared room and AED 28,000 for a single room.

International students who do not already live in the UAE need a UAE residence visa. Students are usually sponsored by their accredited university or college, or by a parent resident in the UAE, and the application needs a certificate from the university stating the length of the studies. AUD, for example, sponsors student visas, which include medical insurance; processing usually takes three to four working days once documents and fees are in order. AUD lists a visa fee of AED 2,000, a refundable passport deposit of AED 3,000 and mandatory health insurance of AED 3,200 a year. The UAE also grants a Golden visa to outstanding students.

Getting around and daily life

The currency is the UAE dirham (AED), pegged to the US dollar at 1 USD = AED 3.6725. Dubai International Airport (DXB) is linked to the city by the Dubai Metro Red Line from Terminals 1 and 3, and public transport is paid with a Nol card, available as Silver and Gold cards. Intercity buses to Abu Dhabi cost AED 25. The UAE has a desert climate, warm and sunny in winter and hot and humid in summer, and the working week runs from Monday to Friday.

The KHDA also runs an online service for attesting higher education certificates, which students may need for employment or further study in Dubai.

Frequently asked questions

Are there public universities for international students in Dubai?

Public institutions in the UAE are primarily for UAE nationals and children of Emirati mothers. Other students should check each university's admission terms; universities such as AUD are private.

How much does it cost to study at a university in Dubai?

Fees vary by institution. At the American University in Dubai, a full undergraduate year costs AED 108,050 including the services and technology fee, and a shared room in student housing costs AED 17,000 a year.

Do I need a visa to study in Dubai?

Yes, unless you already live in the UAE. Most students get a residence visa sponsored by their university, which issues a certificate stating the length of the studies.

How do I check that a university in Dubai is recognised?

Check the CAA register of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and, for private institutions in Dubai, the KHDA.