Study in the UAE

The land of great opportunities

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United Arab Emirates

80K
International students
22
Happiness ranking
80%
Employment rate

Why study in the UAE

As a country with one of the fastest-growing economies, the UAE is a growing destination for international students. With an upward tick in English-taught courses, this is an excellent opportunity to kickstart your academic growth. Add to that, the student-friendly visa policies, multicultural society, part-time work opportunities, economic growth and safety.

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Popular programs

Known for science and technology, and for having a research-centric approach towards studies, the UAE is a fantastic place to pursue higher education. Whether you're interested in engineering, technology, or business, the universities here offer courses tailored to your career aspirations.

What sets the UAE apart

The UAE offers ample job opportunities for international students. This is true, especially in fields such as finance, technology and hospitality. Once you secure a job, you can apply for a work permit to live and work in the UAE. The best part of working in the UAE is, you’ll get the opportunity to connect with top companies from around the world. Not just that! When you work in the UAE, the government does not charge you tax on your income! This will help you significantly grow your financial status.

Student life

Known for its cosmopolitan life and splendid skyscrapers, you can experience world-class living in the UAE at an affordable rate. It is also one of the safest countries in the world. Everything you need to know to plan your student life in the UAE is below. Do check it out.

Max. allowed part-time work hours

15 hours a week

Cost of living

  • Accommodation: AED 2,000 to AED 7,500/month
  • Food: AED 1,000 to AED 1,800/month
  • Transportation: AED 250 to 400/month
  • Utilities: AED 500 to 800/month
  • Health insurance: AED 500 to 700/month

(Source: Numbeo.com as of Feb 2025)

Visa and work permit

Student visa

  • Eligibility: Enrolled in an accredited university or college in the UAE
  • Validity: Issued for 1 year with options to extend

Standard work visa

  • Eligibility: Requires employment by a UAE-based employer who will sponsor the visa

(Source: https://u.ae/en/ as of Feb 2025)

Employment opportunities

  • Information Technology: High
  • Engineering: High
  • Finance and Banking: High
  • Healthcare: Medium
  • Tourism and Hospitality: Medium

The UAE is home to people from 200 nationalities with expats outnumbering the Emiratis.
As the UAE is a desert country with very little rainfall, you won’t find any rivers or lakes!
It is also the third largest producer of oil in the world after Saudi Arabia and Russia.
The Burj Khalifa in Dubai, standing at 2717 ft, is the tallest building in the world.
Being in the desert, the country has some of the world’s largest sand dunes.
Although the official language of the UAE is Arabic, the most common one happens to be English.
The national dish of the UAE, khuzi, is made with roasted lamb served on rice with raisins, nuts and vegetables.
Yas Island, which is the second-largest man-made island in the world, is located in Abu Dhabi.

Based on the course and study level, your cost of studies can range between AED 37,500 and AED 85,000 (private universities) or AED 5000 to AED 50,000 (public universities) per year.

Once you get accepted into a recognised university in the UAE, you’ll need to register and submit the required documents on either the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) portal or the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affair (GDFRA) portal. Once approved, your visa will be issued by GDFRA. You’ll need to pay the required visa application fee and also take a medical test upon arrival.

Most universities in the UAE accept a study gap. However, the gap would need to be justified in case it’s more than 2 years.

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