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

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. Listed below are the programs offered by universities in UAE:  

Courses	Count of UAE Universities Offering the Course
BBA	68
BE/B Tech	63
MBA/PGDM	62
MS	44
MIM	40
BA	39
BSc	37
BJMC	29
MA	27
LLM	23

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Top Universities in UAE 

As per the table listed below, it can be observed that Khalifa University is the top-ranked university in UAE and is also among the top 200 global universities. Metrics on which universities are ranked are Academic Reputation, Employer Reputation, Faculty/Student Ratio, Citations per faculty and International Faculty Ratio.    

Best 10 Universities & Colleges in UAE 

As per the QS Rankings 2026, Khalifa University stand out in the top position among UAE universities. International students can check the table below for the list of top universities in UAE by Shiksha Popularity Ranking 2026 along with QS World Ranking 2026:   

University	QS World 2026	Shiksha Popularity Ranking
Khalifa University	#177	#1
United Arab Emirates University	#229	#2
University of Sharjah	#328	#3
Abu Dhabi University	#391	#4
American University of Sharjah	#272	#5
Ajman University	#440	#6
Zayed University	#595	#7
Al Ain University	#558	#8
American University of Ras Al Khaimah	#591	#9
Canadian University Dubai	#604	#10

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 for Engineering 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

Admission Requirements in UAE for International Students 

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

Entrance Exams Accepted by Universities in UAE 

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	3
GMAT	6

English Language Exams Accepted 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	104
TOEFL	65
PTE	37
Duolingo	12

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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 year tuition fee is INR 30 Lakh - INR 40 Lakh. 

First-Year Tuition Fee Range	No. of Universities
Free	1
Max INR 10 L	45
Max INR 20 L	89
Max INR 30 L	95
Max INR 40 L	97
INR 40 L+	15

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.  

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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 and make studies accessible to all. Mentioned below are some special scholarships 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 Undergraduate 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

Job Opportunities after Study 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, etc. The average salary in UAE ranges between INR 12 L-INR 45 L per year, with IT professionals in high demand. Listed below are some of the best paying jobs in UAE: 

Job titles	Average Salary in AED	Average Salary in INR
Project Manager	AED 211,921	INR 54.22 L
Finance Manager	AED 173,579	INR 44.41 L
Operations Manager	AED 146,809	INR 37.56 L
Registered Nurse	AED 73,571	INR 18.82 L
Electrical Engineer	AED 61,856	INR 15.82 L
Mechanical Engineer	AED 59,750	INR 15.28 L
Civil Engineer	AED 53,892	INR 13.78 L
Accountant	AED 49,285	INR 12.61 L
Graphic Designer	AED 49,259	INR 12.60 L