The city of Dubai has been an increasingly popular destination for international students over the past few years- with many opting to pursue higher education within its boundaries. With unprecedented growth in job opportunities- excellent infrastructure and a booming economy- Dubai has become one of the most attractive places for students hoping to gain a world-class education. This article highlights some of the best universities in Dubai for international students.


The University of Dubai offers a wide range of educational programs and is one of the most prestigious universities in Dubai.

American University in Dubai is a private- non-religious university offering a range of programs from undergraduate to doctoral levels- with a strong emphasis on liberal arts education.

The Emirates International University (EIU) is a forward-thinking institution offering a unique blend of international and regional education.


Dubai is known to the world for the endless opportunities it offers everyone from job seekers to higher-study aspirants. This city is not just a mere holiday destination but a place where you can pursue your dream of continuing higher studies and building a fabulous career anywhere in the world.

Thanks to all those global universities with their upscale campuses in Dubai-international students are rushing into the city to enjoy wonderful campus life. This article is going to tell you about the best universities in Dubai for international students. Let’s start with the list.

Also read: DUBAI VS AMERICA EXPLAINED – WHICH ONE IS BETTER FOR EXPATS?

Top 10 Universities in Dubai


1. University of Dubai

The United Arab Emirates is going a great job to maintain the high standards when it comes to their education system. University of Dubai is a living example of what we just said. Offering a massive variety of traditional as well as new-age courses-this university is the most favourite and affordable institute to pursue both undergraduate post-graduate programmes.

Run by government funds and authority-the University of Dubai comes with three colleges – College of Engineering & IT-College of Law and Dubai Business School. So-it is not hard to get that this place is excellent for law-engineering-IT and business study courses.  

At the University of Dubai-students are offered attractive scholarships along with special discounts on tuition fees through a merit-based selection procedure. Higher study in Dubai is a costly affair but it is not the same when you are at University of Dubai.

As per records-the university is nurturing a pool of students of more than 37 nationalities. Isn’t this enough to gauge why this is the right place for international students to study in Dubai?

The University of Dubai is a highly respected and well-known institution of higher learning that offers a variety of programs in business, law, engineering, and information technology. The school is also LEED certified and net-zero energy, meaning it is environmentally friendly. The faculty and staff are top-notch, and the school has a great atmosphere for studying. The student body is also quite diverse, which is great for networking.

Students of University

Location

Academic City Emirates Roads-Exit 49-Dubai-United Arab Emirates

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Tuition Fees

Tuition Fees depend on the course you opt for. It can range anywhere between AED 230-000 / AED 320-000 per year. Scholarships can slash this cost measurably.


2. Dubai’s Zayed University

When you are aiming to fly with the best facilities and faculties by your side-Zayed University is one of the ideal places in Dubai to get yourself enrolled. Established in 1998-this is one of the three eminent UAE government colleges that offers an excellent academic platform for local and international students.


At this University, you can choose from undergraduate and postgraduate courses in arts-humanities-media-business and health sciences. Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA), Zayed University pass outs are well appreciated across the world.
International students prefer to study here because of the global exposure and support they receive from the authority in building a solid future.

Although Zayed University is a public institute-it offers financial assistance and merit-based scholarships.

Overall, Students seem to think highly of Zayed University. They appreciate the staff, the campus, and the technology available to students. There are some concerns about public transportation to and from the university, but overall reviewers think it is a great institution.

Student Reviews

Location

Zayed University Dubai Campus-Academic City-Dubai-United Arab Emirates

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Tuition Fees

Tuition fee ranges from AED 84000 to AED 128000 for one academic year. They also offer financial help and scholarship grants to assist meritorious but needy students.


3. American University in Dubai (AUD)

Awarded with top positions in world university rankings conducted by global independent agencies-American University in Dubai is undoubtedly one of the best educational hubs in the city for international students. Their wisely curated curriculum aims to educate and inspire students to challenge their limitations. No wonder-why students from AUD excel academically-professionally and personally because Education is a life lesson here.
This university was founded in 1995 as a private-non-sectarian institute for higher studies in Dubai.

AUD is mainly preferred by students willing to get the best chance to excel in business courses. This is why their 2-year MBA and executive MBA programmes are eyed by thousands of students.


American University in Dubai has set up different colleges to cater to various streams, including engineering-Arts-Science-Designing-Architecture-Communication and Education. Courses are available in both undergraduate and post-graduate formats.

The American University in Dubai is a large, well-equipped university with a disciplined student body. It is located near major tech companies and has good security. However, it is expensive and some students find the professors inflexible.

Student Reviews

Location

Sheikh Zayed Road-Near Dubai Internet City-Al Sufouh-Al Sufouh 2-Dubai-United Arab Emirates

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Tuition Fees

Depending on the nature of the course and its level-you will need to pay around AED 143000 – AED 210000 as a tuition fee for one academic year.


4. Canadian University of Dubai (CUD)

If you dream of spending a good time in Canada through an academic channel-then, the Canadian University of Dubai is your best bet in the UAE. Each of their academic programs allows you to initiate your higher education in Dubai and then transfer the credits to one of their Canadian or other international partners. Isn’t it something extraordinary!


The Canadian University of Dubai has many undergraduate and graduate degree programmes that introduce students to a leading international curriculum. They offer teaching across disciplines like engineering-architecture-interior designing-media & communication-applied science-management-creative industries-social science, and many more.


The campus community at this Dubai-based university is genuinely diverse, with students of more than 120 different ethnicities. As an international student, you will always feel at home at the Canadian University of Dubai. In addition to this-studying at CUD comes with the dual benefit of enjoying the pulsating lifestyle of Dubai and obtaining a high-end Canadian education facility right in the UAE.

The Canadian University of Dubai has received mixed reviews. Some students feel that the administration is unhelpful and that the university does not offer enough extracurricular activities. Others have praised the faculty and the location of the university.

Students Review

Location

1st Interchange-Sheikh Zayed Road-City Walk-Al Wasl-Dubai-United Arab Emirates

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Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for a year start from around AED 70000 and go up depending on your course duration and course-related facilities offered to you.


5. The British University in Dubai (BUiD)

In collaboration with world giants like the University of Edinburgh-Univerrsity of Glasgow and the University of Manchester-UAE has an outstanding educational hub of its own, and it’s none other than the British University in Dubai (BUiD). This facility has earned a massive reputation as a research-based educational facility apart from offering bachelors-masters and PhD programmes.

For students who are willing to pursue their higher studies along with the urge to contribute to meaningful research works-BUiD is the right place to get the admission done. This university also conducts several scholarship programmes for bachelor-masters and PhD students who need financial support to move forward.

The student base of the British University in Dubai is a captivating blend of about 81 nationalities. With such a varied campus community-no, one feels outcasted or away from home. This is a big reason that international students choose to study at BUiD when they are in UAE.

Overall, Students had positive things to say about the British University in Dubai. They praised the staff, facilities, and location. However, some students noted that the university was less well-known than other universities in the area and that it was difficult to find parking.

Students

Location

Bloc 11-1st and 2nd Floor-Academic City-Dubai-United Arab Emirates

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Tuition Fees

Tuition fees can be anything from AED 55-000 to AED 75-000 per year when you are enrolled in BUiD.


6. University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD)

Sitting at a prime location in Dubai Knowledge Park-the University of Wollongong in Dubai is the first international Australian University in the UAE. Today they have expanded its academic sector with its four international campuses across the globe.

The University of Wollongong in Dubai allows students (including working professionals) to choose from over 40 internationally accredited degrees covering over 10 industry sectors. Every subject here is taught by highly qualified lecturers having at least a PhD degree in the respective field.

This university has curated a vast collection of bachelors-masters-doctorate-English testing and short courses to meet the need of all students around the world. They also flaunt a vital research segment to accommodate students willing to contribute through their acquired knowledge.

Business-computer science-engineering-health care-media-information technology-education-political science is among the best-taught courses at the University of Wollongong in Dubai. The student community at UOWD is really vibrant with a friendly multi-ethnicity culture, and their innovative campus design is something to die for!

Overall, Students seem to think highly of the university, praising its accessible campus, range of courses, and student-centred environment. However, some had negative experiences with the staff and facilities, finding them unprofessional and needing more recreational options.

Students

Location

UOWD Building-Al Sufouh-Dubai Knowledge Park-Dubai-United Arab Emirates

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Tuition Fees

Tuition fees at University of Wollongong in Dubai vary from AED 68-000 to AED 277-000 for a course.


7. Middlesex University Dubai

Middlesex University Dubai is the first international campus of the prestigious Middlesex University in London. This Dubai educational hub was opened in 2005 and, in this short time-they have created a massive group of about 4-000 students from more than 114 nationalities.

This global university is committed to meeting the needs of a culturally and internationally diverse student community by designing unique-updated and challenging academic programs in various subjects. Middlesex University Dubai offers both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

For its unbridled commitment to preparing students for the modern and futuristic, the university has been awarded a 5-star rating across research-employability-facilities-internationalization-happiness-inclusiveness and wellbeing.

Overall, students have had mixed experiences at Middlesex University. Some students have enjoyed their time there, finding the faculty and staff helpful and the campus life enjoyable. Other students have found the university unprofessional and unresponsive, particularly in the student office. Some students have also found the university misleading, providing inaccurate information about scholarships.

Students

Location

Block 16-Dubai Knowledge Park-Dubai-United Arab Emirates

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Tuition Fees

The minimum Tuition Fee at this institute is around AED 50-000 and it can shoot up to AED 128-000 depending on the course type and duration.


8. American University in the Emirates (AUE)

The American University in the Emirates is a private university located at Dubai International Academic City in the UAE. AUE is an institute of higher education that shares its origin with the famous American University in Washington-DC. This academic institute aims to provide an integrated pathway for its students to become more effective-creative and productive in the community.

The American University in the Emirates offers various undergraduate and graduate degree courses backed by quality teaching-thoughtful research, and future service opportunities. The university comprises seven colleges focusing on information technology-business administration-education-design-law-security & global studies-media and mass communication.

Students from the AUE have enough scope to enjoy a blissful life in harmony and peace at the university campus. Doesn’t matter which nationality you flaunt- there is no issue with having loads of like-minded friends around you.

Overall, Students thought the atmosphere was terrific, and the staff was friendly. They liked that the university was located in Dubai academic city and was spacious. However, some students thought that the university was too expensive and that there was a lack of scholarships.

Students

Location

Dubai International Academic City-Block 6 & 7-Dubai-United Arab Emirates

Google Maps Location

Tuition Fees

The course fee starts from AED 36750 and reaches the mark of around AED 110000. Check out the tuition fee structure with university.


9. Al Falah University

Established in 2013-Al, Falah University is a centrally located higher education institute in Dubai. They are also one of the leading torchbearers of the global education system in the UAE. This good institute is known for its nurturing environment where students are motivated to understand the concepts-data and tools for more enhanced and productive skills.

Presently Al Falah University features four colleges and ten academic programs, including business administration-mass communication-law-arts, and humanities. Thanks to the 1:21 faculty, student ratio-receiving personal attention from the professors is not something abstract here.
International students can have a fair share of opportunities to spread their wings and fly high when they choose to study at AFU. The student community of the university is pretty habituated to multi-national cultures.

Location

Al Rebat Street-Al Garhoud Area-Deira-Dubai-United Arab Emirates

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Tuition Fees

Tuition Fee per credit hour at Al Falah University ranges from AED 10050 along with an admission deposit of about AED 30125. For a detailed fee structure-you can Visit the university.


10. London Business School Dubai

When you are looking for a world-class business school in Dubai-no one, beat the reputation of the eminent London Business School Dubai. As you can guess from the name-it is an international branch of the world-renowned London Business School in the UK.

Just like its parental organization, London Business School Dubai channelizes its resources to build solid academic knowledge and a global outlook for better and more inclusive business thinking. At this educational, hub-students are taught to transform their wisdom and careers to empower others to do business better.

London Business School Dubai is best known for its specialization programmes in marketing-finance-business administration and management. They offer the best Executive MBA programme in town (or maybe the world).

The state-of-the-art facilities available at the Dubai campus are simply extraordinary. There is a cosmopolitan vibe all around the area. Accepting students from different nations and ethnicities is a common practice here.

Location

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Gate Village 02-Sheikh Zayed Road-Trade Centre-Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Dubai-United Arab Emirates

Tuition Fees

The course fee is highly variable at London Business School Dubai and it depends on the nature of the course you have signed up for. Better to check out the official site to have a fair understanding of tuition fees and scholarships.


Conclusion

Dubai has already established itself as a prominent global educational hub in the Middle East. With so many reputed and prestigious international universities/colleges opening their campus in the city-opportunity to learn from the leaders is vast here. Our list includes only the 10 best universities in Dubai for international students because it is only possible to accommodate some of them in one article. You have plenty of options to pick from beyond our list.