MBA in UAE: Colleges, Fees 2026, Eligibility, Requirements

Study MBA in Dubai: Students wanting to study MBA in a foreign country may not have UAE on the top of their minds, however, it is a destination you cannot ignore. The UAE follows an education system that is greatly influenced by western higher education methods, meaning at the end of the term, candidates would graduate with an internationally recognized degree. The programmes taught in the country and businesses conducted are in the English language to cater to the incredibly diverse population of Dubai.

While Dubai is known around the world for welcoming a multitude of tourists every year, the UAE is also positioning itself to be a serious study abroad destination for international students who are looking to study abroad. For the unversed, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is made up of seven emirates – Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain. The UAE’s higher education institutions are largely concentrated across its two largest emirates, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

MBA Colleges in Dubai Highlights

Particulars	Stats
Total number of MBA Colleges in Dubai	Approximately 10+ MBA colleges
MBA cost in Dubai	Cost of studying for MBA in Dubai: INR 15 Lakhs (approx.) Cost of living in Dubai: INR 6 Lakhs for a year on average.
Top Specialisations	General Management, Supply Chain, Human Resources, International Business, and Business Analytics among others.
Admission Process (Subject to university)	Bachelor’s Degree + GMAT/GRE scores + IELTS/TOEFL score + work experience

UAE (Dubai) has experienced major growth in recent years and has been able to position itself as a strong international market for generating employment opportunities. To attract international students, the UAE government has also introduced the ‘Golden Visa Scheme for Talented Students’ – where eligible students and their families can apply for a golden visa which would entitle them to a 10-year resident visa.

Tax-free salaries and a thriving ex-pat community have resulted in the creation of many exciting job opportunities for graduates across various industries including the energy, finance and property sectors – mainly in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Related Reads

Exams required to study in UAE	UAE Student Visa requirements and application process
Know all about UAE Visas	Checklist for students heading to UAE

Best MBA Colleges in Dubai

MBA colleges in Dubai for Indian students: In this section, we are going to be talking about MBA colleges in Dubai. While various organizations publish ranks every year, we have for our benefit taken the QS Global MBA Rankings – 2022 and the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2022 by Subject: Business and Economics.

University	QS Global MBA Rankings - 2025	THE World University Rankings 2024 by Subject: Business and Economics
Abu Dhabi University	151	101
United Arab Emirates University College of Business and Economics	131	NA
The American University of Sharjah	151	301
American University in Dubai	251	NA
The University of Sharjah	151	301

Top MBA Specialisations in Dubai

Here is a list of top MBA Specialisations in Dubai for Indian students looking to study in the country.

• General Management 
• Supply Chain 
• Human Resources
• International Business 
• Project Management
• Business Analytics 
• Healthcare Management

Cost of studying for MBA in Dubai (Tuition + Living Cost + Dubai Study Visa)

MBA in Dubai fees: In this section, we are going to be discussing the tuition fee for studying MBA in Dubai and the cost of living in the country. The average first-year tuition fee for studying MBA in Dubai is INR 15 Lakhs. The average cost of living in Dubai for a single year is around INR 6 lakhs. Here is some information on the estimated cost of living in UAE (data has been sourced from Numbeo):

Head	Details
Single-room apartment in City Centre	AED 4,432.92 per month
Single-room apartment outside of the City Centre	AED 3,211.86 per month
Meal at an inexpensive restaurant	AED 30
Travel pass	AED 262.23 per month
Basic utilities	AED 622.55 per month
Mobile	AED 217.38 per month
Internet	AED 363.02 per month
Gym + recreation	AED 297.11 per month
Total	AED 9,437.07 per month (INR 2.14 lakhs)

Students can read about the Costs of Studying MBA in UAE

Study MBA in Dubai: First Year Tuition Fee

University	First-Year Tuition Fee and Other Expenses
MBA at BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus	Tuition Fee: INR 7,46,880 Other Expenses: INR 7,70,220
Master of Business Administration (Construction Project Management) at Amity University, Dubai Campus	Tuition Fee: INR 11,55,330 Other Expenses: INR 8,51,910
MBA in HR & Organizational Psychology at Westford University College, Dubai	Tuition Fee: INR 7,46,880
MBA at Middlesex University,  Dubai School of Business	Tuition Fee: INR 21,78,900 Other Expenses: INR 5,20,425
General MBA at Manipal Academy of Higher Education - Dubai Campus Dubai, UAE	Tuition Fee: INR 19,23,216
MBA Global Business at Manipal Academy of Higher Education - Dubai Campus	Tuition Fee: INR 11,76,336 Other Charges: INR 8,31,954
Master of Business Administration at the University of Wollongong, UAE, Dubai	Tuition Fee: INR 15,68,005 Other Charges: INR 1,07,154
Masters in Business Administration (MBA) at IMT Dubai	Tuition Fee: INR 8,72,916 Other Charges: INR 7,49,214
Global Master of Business Administration at SP Jain School Of Global Management, Dubai Campus	Tuition Fee: INR 27,52,254 Other Expenses: INR 1,54,332
Global One-Year MBA at Hult International Business School UAE, Dubai	Tuition Fee: INR 65,58,540 Other Expenses: INR 1,94,656

Dubai Study Visa

To be able to study in a foreign country, every candidate would require a study visa. In this case, candidates wanting to study in MBA colleges in Dubai would be required to get a Dubai Study Visa to enter the country. The Dubai Study Visa is normally valid for one year and renewable for a similar period upon official proof of continuation of a study issued from the relevant higher educational institute in the UAE where the student is admitted. The Dubai Study Visa cost is about AED 100 for first time issuing and renewal.

Introduced in October 2018, outstanding students can apply for a long-term visa of five years if only the student has graduated with a grade of at least 95% from secondary schools whether public or private OR the students must graduate with a distinctive GPA of at least 3.75 from universities within and outside the country.  

Candidates looking to apply for a freshman student’s visa must obtain an official admission letter from the university he is studying at and for older students, a certificate of continuation of study is needed to reissue their existing visa. Candidates looking for assistance with applying to Universities in Dubai can also get in touch with our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors on the same. 

Eligibility Criteria to Study MBA in Dubai

Candidates looking to study in Dubai are required to fulfil these primary requirements. Candidates are advised to meticulously go through the MBA Admission Process of specific universities in detail before applying.

• Candidates looking to study MBA in Dubai must have an accredited Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with a minimum GPA of 2.5 (out of 4.0)
• For pursuing MBA in Dubai candidates must have sufficient proficiency in English, and students must appear in English proficiency tests such as IELTS or TOEFL.
• Most universities require GMAT/GRE scores for admission
• Candidates will also be required to have a minimum of 2-3 years of work experience (subject to the university admission criteria) for applying to MBA programmes across universities in Dubai. Pursuing programmes such as Full-Time MBA, Executive MBA or Global MBA would require work experience as part of the admission process.

MBA Scholarships for Dubai

Scholarships to Study in Dubai: One of the major drawbacks of studying abroad is the high cost of studying combined with exorbitant living expenses on a day to day basis. However, candidates who are unable to cover the entire cost of studying abroad can look to scholarships and education loans to finance their education. While there are several merit-based scholarships on offer on the official websites of individual universities for applicants. Candidates can also check out a comprehensive list of scholarships on our website.

Education Loan for Dubai: Not everyone would qualify for a scholarship. So what do you do then? Candidates can apply for an education loan to make their dreams of studying abroad a reality. Candidates can check out our Education loan finder to understand more about education loans for studying in Dubai.

Also, Read

Application Process and Criteria for UAE Universities	Living in UAE as an international student
All about Engineering from UAE	Study at the University of Birmingham Dubai Campus

Work Permit after studying MBA in Dubai

When we talk about part-time work opportunities for international students going to study in Dubai on a study visa. They should note that the study visa does not allow them any such benefit. Candidates who want to work part-time during their term are required to apply for a UAE Work Permit. This would allow students to work up to four consecutive hours. This is a relatively new decision as previously, foreign students were not allowed to work at all, except in internship programs authorized by their school.

Candidates looking to stay and work in Dubai after completing their studies are required to apply for a Dubai Work Permit. Candidates looking to work in Dubai after completion of their studies are required to apply for a Dubai Work Visa which is also referred to as the ‘Residence Permit for Employment.’ Here applicants aspiring to work in Dubai in the private sector can stay up to three years.

MBA Jobs & Salaries for Dubai

Dubai has over the years emerged as one of the leading employment providers. The economy is fast growing and as a result, jobs are being created daily. In this section, we are going to be looking at top industries, popular occupations and salaries that one can expect while working in Dubai. 

Industry	Popular occupations	Salary range
Education	Assistant/Associate Professor, Academic Advisor, College Director, Dean, English Teacher, Education Lead, Education Consultant, Faculty, Graduate Student Recruitment Specialist, Primary Teacher among others.	AED 15K to AED 200K
Engineering and Construction	Architect, Architectural Designer, Accountant Construction Industry, Construction Supervisor, Cost Manager Construction Workers, Consultants and Senior Consultants – Construction Claims Quantity, Construction Foreman among others.	AED 50K to AED 300K
Healthcare	Healthcare Consultant, Medical Nurse, Medical Advisor, Medical Representatives, General Practitioners, Cardiologist, Neurologists, Health Physicians and Dental Assistants among others.	AED 50K to AED 300K
Hospitality	Restaurant Manager, Housekeeping Supervisor, Laundry Attendant, Spa Attendant, Bartender, Guest Relations Executive, Front Office Receptionist, Chef, Revenue Manager among others.	AED 50K to AED 200K
Information Technology	IT specialist, iOS developer, Network engineer, QA engineer, Project manager, System analyst, Software developer, Java and angular developer, Network administrator, Python developer, among others.	AED 42K to AED 300K
Marketing and Advertising	Marketing Executive, Digital Marketing Executive, Advertising Sales Executive, Digital Analyst – Performance Advertising, Marketing and Business Development Manager, Digital Marketing Assistant, Strategy Planner – Advertising, Brand Manager, among others.	AED 50K to AED 250K
Oil and Gas	Gas plant operator, Sales executive- Oil and Gas, Senior process safety engineer, Commissioning Mechanical engineer, Planning engineer, Petroleum engineer, Field engineer, Production operator, among others.	AED 24K to AED 350K
Retail	Retail Store Manager, Retail Sales Associate, Retail Administration Manager, Retail Field Supervisor, Sales Executive – Retail Division, Retail & Digital Marketing Officer, among others.	AED 25K to AED 200K
Steel Industry	Purchasing manager, procurement manager, business development manager, Sales manager, Steel structure fabrication supervisor, Steel fixer, and Quality manager, among others.	AED 25K to AED 200K

Top Recruiters for MBA in Dubai

In this section, we are going to be discussing the top employers based in each university who are looking out to offer MBA graduates from Dubai work opportunities upon completion of their MBA programme in the country.

BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus	Apple | Daikin | Schneider Electric | Siemens | Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited | Petrofac | Unilever | Johnson Controls | McDonald's
Middlesex University Dubai	Western Union | Cisco Systems | Emirates | Oracle | Kimberley Clark | IBM | Petrofac
University of Birmingham Dubai	Microsoft | PWC | Atkin Global | Accenture | Rolls Royce | Cogent | Google | HSBC | Apple | Jaguar | Goldman Sachs
Manipal Academy of Higher Education - Dubai Campus	Emirates | NDTV | HSBC | Alliance Global | Hindustan Times | Barclays Bank | Larsen and Toubro | HDFC Bank | CITI Bank | IFFCO
University of Wollongong - UAE	Deloitte | IBM | Microsoft | HP | Etihad

Tasneem Hoda08-13-2025 17:36