Universities and Colleges in UAE - Courses, Fees, Scholarships, Admission Requirements & Grades

Admission intakes in UAE universities are in January and February, etc. A few of the courses offered by the Universities and Colleges in UAE are MBA, BBA, BTech, MS, BS, etc. Some of the highlights for UAE Universities are given as follows:

Parameter	Statistics
No. of universities in UAE	54
Tuition fees of universities in UAE	Max INR 10 L: 23 Max INR 40 L: 52
English exams required	IELTS / TOEFL / PTE / Duolingo
Entrance exams required	GMAT / GRE

If you are an Indian student planning to study in Dubai, then this video will give you some interesting dos and don'ts, top Indian and international universities & their Dubai campus: 

Study Visa in UAE

To study in UAE for Indian students, students require a valid visa. The country gives a 1 year visa which can be renewed depending on the fulfillment of certain conditions.

Top Universities in UAE

Listed below are some of the best institutes in UAE:

University	QS World 2026	Shiksha Popularity Ranking
Khalifa University	#177	Unranked
United Arab Emirates University	#229	#1
American University of Sharjah	#272	#2
University of Sharjah	#328	Unranked
Abu Dhabi University	#391	#3
Ajman University	#440	Unranked
Al Ain University	#558	Unranked
American University of Ras Al Khaimah	#591	Unranked
Zayed University	#595	Unranked
Canadian University Dubai	#604	Unranked

Best Business & Management Universities in UAE

Listed below are the best universities in UAE for Business studies:

University	QS - Business & Management 2025
Abu Dhabi University	#201-250
American University of Sharjah	#251-300
United Arab Emirates University	#251-300
Ajman University	#301-350
Canadian University Dubai	#301-350
Zayed University	#401-450
Al Ain University	#451-500
University of Sharjah	#451-500
Khalifa University	#501-550

Best Engineering Universities in UAE

Some of the UAE Universities that are ranked in the QS Engineering rankings from the list of the universities provided by Shiksha Study Abroad are mentioned below:

University	QS Engineering & Technology 2025
Khalifa University	#107
United Arab Emirates University	#207
University of Sharjah	#292
Ajman University	#314
American University of Sharjah	#345
Abu Dhabi University	#386
Al Ain University	#401-450

Top Cities to Study in Universities in UAE

Three cities of the United Arab Emirates have found a place in the Best Student Cities rankings rolled out by QS for the year 2025. These are given below:

City	Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Best Student Cities 2025
Dubai	#72
Abu Dhabi	#91
Sharjah	#101

Top Courses in UAE

UAE is a popular study destination for Business, Engineering, and Vocational courses. The most popular disciplines in UAE are Business and Management and Engineering. Some of the popular course choices in the UAE include Tourism & Hospitality Management; Business & Management; Civil Engineering / Aerospace Engineering, etc.

Courses	Count of UAE Universities Offering the Course
BBA	39
MBA/PGDM	38
BE/B Tech	34
MS	24
MIM	24
BSc	17
BA	13
BJMC	13
LLM	11
MEM	10

Admission Requirements in UAE

Several exams are accepted by international students at UAE Universities. This includes standardized exams as well as English proficiency tests.

Entrance Exams Accepted

The American University, SP Jain School of Global Management – Dubai, and Manipal Academy of Higher Education – Dubai, are some popular names known to consider GRE or GMAT scores for admissions.

Exams	No. of Universities
GRE	2
GMAT	5

English Language Requirements by Universities in UAE

Students can submit IELTS and TOEFL test scores to be considered for admission at universities in UAE, the general test score requirements are given below:

Test	No. of Universities
IELTS	53
TOEFL	25
PTE	15
Duolingo	4

Documents required to Study in UAE

In order to study in UAE, international students are required to submit the following documents at the time of admission:

• Academic transcripts
• Valid id proof such as passport
• Resume / CV
• English language proficiency test score
• Statement of Purpose
• Letters of Recommendation (as applicable)

Cost of Studying in UAE

The cost of studying in UAE varies from university to university. Some of the UAE Universities that rank well in the world universities rankings are United Arab Emirates University, Abu Dhabi University, American University of Sharjah, etc. A majority of the UAE universities have the first tuition fee is INR 10 Lakh - INR 30 Lakh.

First-Year Tuition Fee Range	No. of Universities
Max INR 10 L	23
Max INR 20 L	44
Max INR 30 L	51
Max INR 40 L	52
INR 40 L+	3

Cost of Living in UAE

The cost of living in UAE will vary according to the lifestyle and accommodation chosen by students. Accommodation in UAE will cost students around INR 23.5 K-INR 60 K per month, per Fateh.

According to Numbeo.com, the monthly cost for a single person is INR 87k (without rent). Apart from accommodation, the cost of living will also have expenses for food, transportation, clothing, recreational activities, etc.  Check the estimated Cost of Living in UAE from here.

Moving to UAE for studies? Know what is Culture Shock and tips to reduce homesickness.

Scholarships to Study in UAE

A number of top universities in the UAE are known for offering scholarships to its students, to aid them in reducing their overall financial burden & make studies accessible to all. Mentioned below are some special scholarships available to study in UAE for international students planning to study abroad.

University Name	Name of Scholarship	Financial Aid
University of Wollogong, Dubai	Outstanding Academic Excellence Scholarships	10-20% of semester tuition fees
BITS Pilani, Dubai	Scholarships for UG Programmes	10-70% of yearly tuition fee
Khalifa University of Science & Technology	Master Research Training Scholarship	Monthly stipend worth AED 4,000 (INR 94.3 K)
Zayed University	Zayed University Undergradaute Merit Scholarship	50% of tuition fee
University of Wisconsin Stout	International Student Tuition Scholarship	USD 5,000 (INR 43.3 L) per academic year
Abu Dhabi University	HH Sheikh Hamdan Scholarships	Full coverage of tuition & administrative costs
Exeter College, University of Oxford	SKP Scholarship (Pathak Scholarships)	Covers tuition & living costs on a yearly basis

To know more, do check out: Scholarships in UAE for Indian students

Part-Time Work Options in UAE

International students studying at UAE Universities can work part-time. A number of UAE Universities offer on-campus job opportunities to international students. Students can find opportunities to work in university departments, admin work, libraries, etc. While studying at UAE Universities, international students can work up to 15 hours per week or 60 hours per month. Wages for part-time work in Dubai may range from AED 15 - AED 30 per hour. Also Check: Part-Time Work Options in UAE

Top Job Sectors & Economy in UAE

Some of the high in-demand skills in the UAE are Financial Analysis, Nursing, Social Media Marketing, Engineering, Nursing, etc. The top post-study work options in various fields in UAE are:

• Accountant
• Digital Marketing
• Electrical Engineer
• Biomedical Engineer
• Human Resources Management
• Teacher

Also Check: Popular Job Sectors in UAE for International Students 

Average Salary in UAE

The average salary in UAE ranges between INR 11.5 L-INR 41.25 L per year, with IT professionals in high demand, as per Payscale. Listed below are some of the best paying jobs in the country:

Job titles	Average Salary in AED	Average Salary in INR
Project Manager	AED 211,921	INR 50 L
Finance Manager	AED 173,579	INR 40.9 L
Operations Manager	AED 146,809	INR 34.6 L
Registered Nurse	AED 73,571	INR 17.35 L
Electrical Engineer	AED 61,856	INR 14.6 L
Mechanical Engineer	AED 59,750	INR 14 L
Civil Engineer	AED 53,892	INR 12.70 L
Accountant	AED 49,285	INR 11.6 L
Graphic Designer	AED 49,259	INR 11.6 L