Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, ranks 71 in QS Best Student Cities 2023. It hosts a variety of local universities and branch campuses of top-ranking international universities. Some of the best universities in Abu Dhabi are Khalifa University, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi University, and Zayed University. Leading universities that have set up campuses in this city are New York University Abu Dhabi, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, INSEAD Abu Dhabi, etc. They all offer courses in the English language in a variety of subjects like medicine, business, engineering, arts, law, etc.
The QS survey of 2023 suggests that Abu Dhabi ranks 78th on the desirability index, 89th on the employability rank, and 67th on the affordability rank. This city is thus highly desired by students and is an up-and-coming destination for international students. In this article, we have compiled information about the best universities in Abu Dhabi, including their ranking, type of programs offered, fees, etc.
Highlights of Best Universities in Abu Dhabi
| University type | Local universities and branches of leading global universities |
| Best local universities | Khalifa University, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi University, and Zayed University |
| Best international universities with branches in Abu Dhabi | New York University Abu Dhabi, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, INSEAD Abu Dhabi |
| Average annual tuition fees (local universities) | 40,000-100,000 AED (undergraduate) and 40,000-90,000 AED (postgraduate) |
| Average annual tuition fees (international universities in Abu Dhabi) | 100,000-300,000 AED |
Why Study in Abu Dhabi?
World-class universities: Four of Abu Dhabi’s local universities rank globally in the QS World University Rankings (2023). In addition to these local ones, the city houses several branches of top-ranking international universities.
Multicultural city: Expats and international students make up a huge population in Abu Dhabi. The city is extremely diverse, with 46% of overseas students having multiple nationalities and backgrounds.
Stunning landscapes and skyscrapers: Incredible architecture, both classic and modern, overlooks a stunning coastline in Abu Dhabi. The stunning skyscrapers in Abu Dhabi also attract many tourists to this city.
Best city to live and work in: The city of Abu Dhabi ranks 2nd in the InterNations’ Expat Essentials Index 2022 which makes it a great place to live in. It is also a hub for business and economic activities, making it ideal for graduates to find a job.
If you are planning to study in Abu Dhabi, contact us. Our one-stop admissions platform, Gyanberry, will make your admissions easier, and you will be assigned a dedicated admission expert who will ensure you get into one of the best universities in Abu Dhabi. Book a free appointment today!
Global Ranking of Best Universities in Abu Dhabi
Local Universities
| University Name | QS Ranking 2023 | THE Ranking 2023 | QS Arab Region Rankings 2023 |
| Khalifa University | 181 | 351-400 | 7 |
| Al Ain University | 601-650 | – | 28 |
| Abu Dhabi University | 651-700 | 301-350 | 31 |
| Zayed University | 701-750 | 501-600 | 20 |
International Universities with Campuses in Abu Dhabi
| University Name | US News Ranking 2023 |
| New York University | 31 |
| Sorbonne University | 48 |
| INSEAD | 730 |
Local Institutes in Abu Dhabi
Khalifa University
Ranked internationally at 181 (QS Ranking 2023), Khalifa University (Khalifa University of Science and Technology) is the top-most university in Abu Dhabi. It is considered among the top 5 Engineering universities in Abu Dhabi. The university’s history dates back to 1989, but it came into existence as Khalifa University after the amalgamation of Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research, the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, and The Petroleum Institute. It has two fully equipped campuses in Abu Dhabi – the Main Campus and the Sas Al Nakhl Campus. Khalifa University offers programs at undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels covering a broad range of disciplines in science, engineering, and medicine.
| Course Type | Yearly Tuition Fees in AED |
| Undergraduate | 116,655 |
| Masters | 90,000 |
| Doctoral | 99,990 |
Abu Dhabi University
Also abbreviated to ABU, Abu Dhabi University is one of the largest private universities in the city of Abu Dhabi. It has multiple campuses located in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, and the Al Dhafra Region. It was established in 2003 and currently has a population of 7,577 students. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the humanities, law, education, business, management, engineering, and sciences. Abu Dhabi University is one of the best universities for Software Engineering in UAE.
| Course Type | Yearly Tuition Fees in AED |
| Undergraduate | 43,200-56,700 |
| Masters | 42,600-69,300 |
Zayed University
Founded in 1998, Zayed University is one of the best public universities in Abu Dhabi. It has two modern, well-equipped campuses in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. There are seven university colleges. Both undergraduate and postgraduate programs are available at the university in disciplines like arts, business, communication, the humanities, and health science. It harbors over 7,748 students, 139 of whom are international students. Scholarships like the “Undergraduate Merit Scholarship” are available to international students pursuing a bachelor’s degree at the university. Zayed University offers one of the best Psychology courses in UAE.
| Course Type | Yearly Tuition Fees in AED |
| Undergraduate | 75,000 |
| Masters | 48,006-64,005 |
Al Ain University
The history of Al Ain University or AAU dates back to 2004 in Al Ain, which then expanded to include a second campus in Abu Dhabi in 2008. The college now offers 22 undergraduate programs and six master’s programs across six colleges including
- Engineering
- Pharmacy
- Law
- Education
- Humanities, and Social Sciences
- Business and Communication and Media
The Engineering, Pharmacy, and Business colleges offer all programs in English, whereas others use a combination of English and Arabic as the language of instruction. There are over 1,037 students currently enrolled at AAU.
| Course Type | Yearly Tuition Fees in AED |
| Undergraduate | 45,937-58,800 |
| Masters | 43,312-56,700 |
International Universities in Abu Dhabi
New York University, Abu Dhabi
New York University Abu Dhabi is a private liberal arts institution and a gateway campus of New York University, which was opened in 2010 in Abu Dhabi. It offers 26 undergraduate programs, 2 master’s, and 11 global PhDs in the following subjects:
- Arts and Humanities
- Engineering, Science
- Social Science
| Course Type | Yearly Tuition Fees in AED |
| Undergraduate and masters | 110,976-211,324 or (USD 30,219-57,544*) |
Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi
The university was established in Abu Dhabi in 2006 after an agreement between Sorbonne University in Paris and the Government of Abu Dhabi. It has 10 departments that offer courses in the disciplines of Humanities, Sciences, Languages, and Social Sciences. The degrees are issued by the Sorbonne University and are recognized globally following the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). Sorbonne Abu Dhabi grants scholarships to international students based on academic excellence and special circumstances.
| Course Type | Yearly Tuition Fees in AED |
| Undergraduate | 215,100 (USD 58,615*) |
| Masters | 131,900-189,400 (USD 35,943-51,612*) |
INSEAD Abu Dhabi
In 2007, INSEAD, a non-profit graduate-only business school from France opened its campus in Abu Dhabi. It offers a suite of master’s programs like MBA, Executive MBA, and Specialized Master’s degrees (Executive Master in Finance, Executive Master in Change, etc.)
| Course Type | Yearly Tuition Fees in AED |
| Masters | 392,931 (EUR 97,000*) |
*The costs are converted based on the current exchange rate, i.e., 1 AED = 0.27 USD, 0.25 EUR. Exchange rates are subject to periodic change.
Cost of Living in Abu Dhabi
The city offers a moderate cost of living for international students. Tuition fees are also lower in comparison to the US and UK. A single person living in Abu Dhabi needs approximately to cover living expenses. These expenses include a rough estimate of rent, food, utilities, health insurance, and personal expenses. In comparison to Dubai, the housing rent in Abu Dhabi is 13% less. Here is the breakdown of yearly expenses for a single person living in Abu Dhabi.
| Type of Expense | Annual Cost in AED |
| Rent | 8,000-28,000 |
| Food | 5,000-6,500 |
| Transportation | 900-1,000 |
| Internet and mobile | 4,000-5,000 |
| Utilities | 6,000 |
| Health insurance | 6,000-6,500 |
| Total | 41,200 (11,219 USD*) |
*The costs are converted based on the current exchange rate, i.e., 1 AED = 0.27 USD. Exchange rates are subject to periodic change.
Careers in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi’s growing economy promises excellent job opportunities for graduates. It is also a hub for entrepreneurship and business development. The major industries where graduates can look for employment in Abu Dhabi are retail, finance, health care, petroleum, construction, manufacturing, and business services. Giant corporations like Huawei, Boeing, BP, Etoile Group, and Samsung Electronics have set up branches in the city. Although usual working hours are set at eight hours per day, folks get to work two hours less during Ramadan Kareem month!
Conclusion
Being located within a five-hour flight from half of the world’s population, Abu Dhabi bridges Asia to the rest of the world. This makes it one of the ideal places to study and work. Some of the best universities in Abu Dhabi are Khalifa University, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi University, and Zayed University. They offer a range of programs at the undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels. The great thing about these universities is that they offer scholarships and grants to international students. Their tuition fees range from 40,000 to 100,000 AED for undergraduate programs and 40,000 to 90,000 AED for postgraduate programs.
Abu Dhabi has some international universities with campuses set up in the city. The best among them are New York University Abu Dhabi, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, and INSEAD Abu Dhabi. They charge yearly tuition fees ranging from 100,000 to 300,000 AED. You can also read our blog on the best universities in UAE.
