Explore: Top Universities & Colleges in United Arab Emirates

The UAE is fast becoming a premier destination for higher education, attracting a vast number of international students with its welcoming culture and rich heritage. Currently, it hosts an impressive 219,000 Indian students. Concentrated in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, its higher education landscape boasts well-established institutions, including branches of globally renowned universities. This, coupled with a vibrant multi-cultural society where languages such as English, Arabic, Urdu, and Farsi are spoken, offers students a unique and diverse learning environment. The UAE's rapid modernisation has fostered the growth of international universities like the Canadian University of Dubai and the British University in Dubai, further enhancing its educational appeal.
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Overview

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the most popular study-abroad destinations for international students. The UAE’s rich cultural diversity, modern infrastructure, vibrant economy and excellent public transportation system make it an ideal place to study. The UAE has a highly developed higher education system that offers over 300 public universities and colleges. The country also has some of the world's best private universities. The quality of education in the UAE is often considered better than in other countries because of the high number of foreign students who come here to study. The government has also introduced several initiatives to encourage more foreign students to enrol at UAE universities and colleges in Dubai, including scholarships and fee waivers for those who qualify.

 

Global Ranking of UAE Universities

The ranking and recognition of the top universities in the UAE have been on the rise since 2011. The Higher Education Council (HEC) plays a key role in ensuring high-quality education, as well as promoting research and innovation for the benefit of society. UAE universities are well known for their quality, research and innovation. They have attracted international students from around the world for years and continue to do so today. Take a look at the global rankings of this list of universities in the UAE for international students by top-ranking platforms such as QS and THE Rankings -
 

University Name

QS Ranking 2023

THE Ranking 2023

Khalifa University

181

351 - 400

United Arab Emirates University

296

251 - 300

American University of Sharjah

369

601 - 800

Canadian University Dubai

541 - 550

301 - 400

AI Ain University

601 - 650

-

University of Sharjah

601 - 650

251 - 300

Abu Dhabi University

651 - 700

301 - 350

Ajman University

651 - 700

-

American University in Dubai

651 - 700

-

Zayed University

701 - 750

501 - 600


 

Admission Requirements of UAE Universities

In the United Arab Emirates, admission requirements vary from university to university. For instance, international universities in Dubai have different prerequisites when compared to those in Abu Dhabi. Admission requirements also differ between public and private UAE universities. Some universities require you to submit documents before they can issue an admission letter, while others may not require any documents at all. Here are some of the most common admission requirements in the UAE -

  • A fully-filled application form
  • Application Fees as specified by the university
  • High-School/University Certificates 
  • Official Academic Transcript of Records
  • Passport-sized Photos
  • A Valid copy of Passport/Personal ID
  • A motivation letter
  • English language requirements: IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE
  • Resume/CV if applicable
  • Extracurricular certificates - if required
  • Any other university-specific/course-specific requirements

 

Available Scholarships for UAE Colleges

There are a number of scholarships available to UAE students. If you’re an international student, you may also be eligible to apply for a scholarship through your country’s embassy or consulate in Dubai. There are many universities in Dubai for international students specifically that provide scholarships. You can also check with the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) for scholarships offered by their member institutions in the US and Canada. Some of the top scholarships to study in UAE universities for international students are listed below -

For UG Courses -

  • UG Merit Scholarship
  • Khalifa University’s President Scholarship
  • UAE University Full Scholarship
  • UG Scholarship for International Students

 

For PG Courses -

  • Graduate Merit Scholarships at Zayed University
  • Khalifa University TA Scholarship
  • UAE Government IRENA Scholarships
  • Bicentennial Award
  • Entrepreneurial Scholarship

 

Jobs & Salaries after studying in UAE Universities

Students who have completed their courses in any of the best universities in the UAE can expect to get jobs that pay anywhere between AED 10,000 - AED 20,000 per month as entry-level positions. The country’s economy is largely dependent on oil exports, but this has changed over time with more focus on tourism, banking and real estate industries. This has also led to an increase in job opportunities for ex-pats who are willing to make the move. The top jobs along with the respective salaries that graduates can expect are listed below -

  • Chief Marketing Officer - AED 468,000 to AED 552,000
  • Chief Financial Officer - AED 300,000 to AED 708,000
  • Actuarial Jobs - AED 257,400 to AED 456,000
  • Law Jobs - AED 218,400 to AED 754,800
  • Senior Human Resources Jobs - AED 216,000 to AED 297,000
  • Data Scientist Jobs - AED 216,000 to AED 588,000
  • IT Manager Jobs - AED 214,000 to AED 625,200