The United Arab Emirates has quickly become a top choice for Indian students. The desert nation offers world-class education, a mere three hours of flight time away from Mumbai and Delhi.
Global university campuses, a very high safety record, a booming job market, and arguably the most glamorous city east of Europe all come together to attract thousands of Indian students each year.
However, before you pack up your bags and head to Dubai or Abu Dhabi, the big question is, “What is the cost of studying in the UAE for Indian students?”
This post will clarify all of your questions. We will explore tuition fees in the UAE for international students, living costs, and visa costs for studying in the UAE. Let’s begin.
Undergraduate tuition fees in the UAE
Undergraduate tuition fees in the UAE vary widely. It depends on the university, course, and city. Tuition fees for international students in the UAE are definitely lower than in the US or UK but higher than in Singapore.
“Our goal is to make Dubai a destination for outstanding students from around the world and an incubator for innovation.” – Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (June 2025)
Generally, undergraduate tuition in the UAE ranges from AED 35,000 to AED 100,000 per year. Three courses—medicine, engineering, and computer science—are at the upper end of the scale. Whichever stream you choose, GradRight provides you complete guidance and support for studying in the UAE.
The table below offers a clearer picture and breaks down the cost of studying in the UAE for Indian students.
Undergraduate Tuition Fees at Popular UAE Universities
| Institution type | Typical annual tuition range (AED) | Approximate annual tuition range (₹) | Example universities |
| Public universities | 30,000–60,000 | ₹735,000 – ₹1,470,000 | – United Arab Emirates University
– Zayed University – Higher Colleges of Technology |
| Private universities | 40,000–100,000 | ₹980,000 – ₹2,450,000 | – Abu Dhabi University
– University of Dubai – American University in Dubai – Canadian University Dubai |
| International branch campuses | 45,000–120,000 | ₹11,00,000 – ₹2,940,000 | – Heriot‑Watt University Dubai
– Middlesex University Dubai – University of Birmingham Dubai |
If you are looking for less costly options, several private Indian universities have a campus in the UAE.
| University Name | Annual Tuition (AED) | Annual Tuition (₹) |
| BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus | 32,000 – 58,000 | ₹7.8 Lakh – ₹14.2 Lakh |
| Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Dubai | 27,000 – 53,000 | ₹6.6 Lakh – ₹13.0 Lakh |
| Amity University Dubai | 35,000 – 65,000 | ₹8.6 Lakh – ₹15.9 Lakh |
Postgraduate tuition fees in the UAE
Universities in the UAE offer excellent courses for postgraduate Indian students. Some of the more popular include MBA, MS in Engineering, MS in Artificial Intelligence, and MS in Finance.
As is usual across the world, PG programs often cost more per year but are shorter in duration. Annual tuition fees for postgraduate programs typically range from AED 40,000 to AED 80,000. The total cost of PG study is quite affordable compared to North America and the UK.
Postgraduate Tuition Fees at Popular UAE Universities
| University | Programme | Annual Fee (AED) | Annual Fee (₹) | Duration |
| University of Birmingham Dubai | MSc | 168,600 | 4,132,200 | 1 Year |
| University of Birmingham Dubai | Master’s Programs | 150,200 | 3,681,250 | 1 Year |
| Khalifa University | MSc | 150,000 | 3,676,350 | 1 Year |
| University of Birmingham Dubai | Master’s Programs | 123,000 | 3,014,600 | 1 Year |
| Heriot-Watt University Dubai | MBA | 109,000 | 2,671,500 | 1 Year |
| Middlesex University Dubai | MBA | 107,600 | 26,37,150 | 1 Year |
| Heriot-Watt University Dubai | MSc | 92,000 | 2,254,850 | 1 Year |
| Middlesex University Dubai | MSc | 74,200 | 18,18,550 | 1 Year |
| Heriot-Watt University Dubai | Master’s Programs | 60,000 | 1,470,550 | 1 Year |
| Ajman University | Master’s Programs | 57,700 | 14,14,150 | 1-2 Years |
| American University in Dubai | MSc | 14,040 (per credit) | 344,100 (per credit) | Variable |
For a Master of Science (MSc) or Master of Arts (MA), fees usually range from AED 50,000 to AED 80,000 (approximately ₹11.3 Lakh to ₹18 Lakh). MBAs and medical degrees are the most expensive.
Once you have your tuition sorted, you need to look at where you will stay and how much it will cost to live there. In the next section, we shall focus on living costs in the UAE.
At GradRight, we have seen that cost is often a barrier to education abroad.
Ashley Dean struggled to find lenders who matched her requirements. Through our loan bidding platform, she was able to compare options and secure the one best suited for her. Of course, she’s a representative example of thousands of other students with similar difficulties in identifying the lender that’s best for them.
Living expenses in the UAE
Your monthly living costs in the UAE will be one of your largest expenses.
The UAE is home to a huge number of South Asian professionals doing white-collar jobs and is not very costly to live in. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are more expensive compared to Sharjah and Ajman. The cost of studying in the UAE for Indian students depends on which city you live in and your lifestyle.
“Dubai offers career opportunities and a vibrant lifestyle, Abu Dhabi offers stability and a family-friendly environment, while Sharjah provides affordability and a quieter, more traditional way of life.” – Manoj Dharmani, CEO of MigrateWorld (October 2024)
On average, students need between AED 4,500 and AED 6,500 per month to cover accommodation, food, transport, and utilities.
UAE Student Monthly Living Costs
| Expense Category | Dubai/Abu Dhabi (AED) | Dubai/Abu Dhabi (₹) | Sharjah/Ajman (AED) | Sharjah/Ajman (₹) |
| Shared accommodation | 2,500 – 4,500 | 9,000 – 17,000 | 1,200 – 2,500 | 5,500 – 11,500 |
| Food and groceries | 800 – 1,200 | 7,000 – 12,000 | 600 – 1,000 | 5,500 – 10,000 |
| Transport | 100 – 300 | 2,500 – 5,000 | 80 – 250 | 2,000 – 4,000 |
| Utilities and internet | 800 – 1,500 | 3,000 – 6,000 | 700 – 1,200 | 2,500 – 5,000 |
| Personal expenses | 500 – 900 | 3,000 – 7,000 | 400 – 800 | 2,500 – 6,000 |
| Total Monthly | 4,500 – 6,500 | 25,000 – 47,000 | 3,000 – 5,000 | 18,000 – 36,500 |
Cooking at home and using student transport passes can reduce monthly spending significantly. Now let’s look at visa costs.
Student visa and related costs in the UAE
The UAE student visa cost includes multiple components that students must pay before or shortly after arrival. In most cases, the university sponsors the visa.
| Component | AED Range | INR Range | Notes |
| Visa application and processing | 1,000–3,500 | 24,650–86,275 |
|
| Medical fitness test | 200–500 | 4,930–12,325 |
|
| Emirates ID | 70–370 | 1,720–9,120 |
|
| Mandatory health insurance | 500–1,500 | 12,325–36,975 |
|
| Refundable security deposit | 0–3,000 | 0–73,950 |
|
Note that visa rules vary slightly by emirate, but the general structure remains similar. Most student visas are valid for one year and must be renewed annually.
A clear idea into tuition, living, and other expenses, as offered by GradRight, helps students avoid financial surprises.
Conclusion
The UAE offers Indian students high-quality education and global education at a huge discount compared to North American universities. The cost of studying in the UAE for Indian students is comparable to that in Australia but higher than that in Singapore.
On the plus side, the UAE offers easier admission and a truncated flying time. It’s quite easy to fly back and spend a week with your family. Should you want to explore further and find out more, reach out to us at GradRight. We are always available to help and support your education abroad.
