Cheap Universities in Dubai are a relief for international students who want to pursue higher education in this global city. Dubai has been a prominent destination for international students because of its many developed cities, top-tier colleges, and cutting-edge infrastructure. Students from all over the world are coming to the city as a study abroad option to finish their higher education in the United Arab Emirates.
In Dubai’s designated higher education “free zones,” universities from 12 different countries—including the UK, US, Australia, India, Austria, and Russia—operate campuses.
In Dubai, there are now 62 higher education institutions, including both local and foreign branch campuses. According to UNESCO In 2016, there were 60,300 students enrolled in total among those schools, including 33,600 international students.
With its best institutions and modern facilities, Dubai is a great choice for international students interested in studying at the top universities in the UAE. However, it is crucial to remember that many of the colleges in the city have quite expensive tuition. For instance, postgraduate degrees cost between 45,000 and 125,000 AED per year, whereas undergraduate programs cost between 37,500 and 120,000 AED per year. Thankfully, we can look at various cheap universities in Dubai.
List of Most Affordable Universities in Dubai
Below you can find some of the cheapest universities and colleges in Dubai, listed in increasing order of average annual tuition fees charged.
| University Name | Average Tuition Fee in AED* |
| Manipal Higher Education Academy | 37,000-50,000 |
| Amity University Dubai | 40,000-60,000 |
| American University in the Emirates | 42,000-84,000 |
| Islamic Azad University U.A.E. Branch | 45,000-90,000 |
| The British University in Dubai | 56000-63000 |
| University of Wollongong Dubai | 57,000 – 98,000 |
| American University in Dubai | 94,250 –112,500 |
*Fees do not include 5% UAE VAT
Manipal Higher Education Academy
One of the Cheapest Universities in Dubai is Manipal Higher Education Academy. Undergraduate and graduate degrees are available at this University in a variety of disciplines, including engineering, business, media, and design. The institution offers outstanding education with cutting-edge facilities, knowledgeable teachers, and industrial collaborations, and it boasts a diverse student body. Manipal Higher Education Academy is one of the finest places to study architecture in the UAE.
With Forbes Middle East ranking Manipal Higher Education Academy’s MBA program as the third best in the Middle East, the university has received noteworthy praise for it. In the QS University Rankings for Asia 2016, the university was also ranked among the top 200 universities in Asia. The institution, which is steadfastly committed to academic quality, seeks to set the bar in the UAE by nurturing, distributing, and applying knowledge and intellectual values to equip its student body for the fast-paced and constantly-evolving global economy.
| Popular Programs Offered | Average Annual Tuition Fee in AED |
| Undergraduate:
Architecture Interior Design Fashion Design Design Management Psychology Media and Communication Business Administration |
37,275- 45,510 |
| Graduate:
MBA International Logistics and Supply Chain Management Business Administration |
36,520- 50,400 |
Amity University Dubai
One of the cheapest universities in Dubai is Amity University. Amity University Dubai was founded in 2011 and includes campuses in Dubai, London, New York, San Francisco, Singapore, Amsterdam, Uzbekistan, Kenya, and several more cities around India. It is one of the top international universities in the United Arab Emirates.
Amity University Dubai provides more than 30 programs that extend across many industry areas, including foundation courses, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and Doctorate programs. Leading professional organizations including CIPD, ACCA, CPA, AHRI, CIM, CIMA, CIPS, EFQM, and ACS formally recognize these degrees.
| Popular Programs Offered | Average Annual Tuition Fee in AED |
| Undergraduate:
B Comm Business Administration Finance Forensic Science Law, Fashion Design Journalism Hotel Management Aerospace Engineering. |
40,000-64,575 |
| Graduate:
Master of Business Administration Applied Psychology Interior Design Forensic Science |
45,000- 49,500 |
American University in The Emirates
The American University of Emirates, sometimes known as AUE, was established in 2006. With its 7 colleges, this private university in Dubai International City provides a range of programs. Business administration, law, education, design, computer information technology, security & global studies, and media & mass communications are some of these disciplines.
AUE also offers distinctive master’s degrees in fields including knowledge management, sports law, and sports management (equine track). Postgraduate courses in business administration, security & strategic studies, diplomacy, and arbitration are also available. AUE has received accreditation from the Computing Accreditation Committee and AACSB International for its business programs (for its IT courses).
| Popular Programs Offered | Average Annual Tuition Fee in AED |
| Undergraduate:
Network Security Interior Design Digital Forensic Fashion Design Graphic Design Special Education Law International Relations Accounting Disaster Management, BBA |
42,430- 48,000 |
| Graduate:
Sports Law Intellectual Property Law Criminal Science Arbitration Knowledge Management Security Studies and Information Analysis Sports Management MBA |
60,000 -84,000 |
Islamic Azad University
The Islamic Azad University (IAU) system, one of the biggest university systems in the world, has a branch campus in Dubai called Islamic Azad University (IAU Dubai). One of Dubai’s cheap Universities is IAU. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs in a number of disciplines, including engineering, business, and law. The university is located in Dubai International Academic City.
The institution is recognized by the Ministry of Education of the United Arab Emirates and provides a variety of programs with skilled instructors and cutting-edge facilities. Moreover, it collaborates on research projects with a number of foreign colleges and organizations.
| Popular Programs Offered | Average Annual Tuition Fee in AED |
| Undergraduate:
Business Management Architecture Engineering |
42,066- 96,224 |
| Graduate:
Law Business Administration Architecture |
45,000-60,000 |
The British University in Dubai
The British University in Dubai (BUiD) is a research-based organization that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of fields, including business, engineering, and education. It has agreements with various UK universities and is approved by the UAE Ministry of Education. BUiD is a research- and innovation-focused institution with top-notch infrastructure and a diverse student body.
BUiD has received several prizes and distinctions for its high-quality research and educational initiatives, including the coveted Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Business Innovation Award. The institution is well known for providing a diverse learning environment, supporting individuality, and advancing intercultural communication.
| Popular Programs Offered | Average Annual Tuition Fee in AED |
| Undergraduate:
Artificial Intelligence Software Engineering Accounting and Finance Law Electromechanical Engineering Business Management. |
56,520-62500 |
| Graduate:
Education MBA Project Management Construction Law Dispute Resolution Finance and Risk Management Informatics Engineering Management. |
64,000-70,000 |
University of Wollongong Dubai
The first international Australian university in the United Arab Emirates is the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD). UOWD offers more than 40 degrees from ten different industries that are all certified globally, all of which are taught by PhD-educated university teachers. According to QS Ranking, UOW is among the top 1% of institutions in the world. In addition, 83% of UOWD alumni find employment within six months after graduation.
The UOWD offers a wide selection of bachelor’s, master’s, professional development, and short courses that are all nationally and internationally certified. It also offers language training programs and English language tests.
| Popular Programs Offered | Average Annual Tuition Fee in AED |
| Undergraduate:
Business and Commerce Computer Science Engineering Healthcare Information Technology Media and Design |
57,551 |
| Graduate:
Business and Commerce Education Engineering Healthcare Information Technology Media and Design Political Science |
39,230-98,666 |
American University in Dubai
American University in Dubai is one of the cheapest universities in Dubai. The American University in Dubai is a private, intellectually diverse, and culturally inclusive institution of higher learning that provides a globally acclaimed American education. It continues to be the first university outside of the United States and Latin America to gain accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, and it presently teaches more than 2,000 students of more than 100 nationalities (SACSCOC).
American University offers a variety of business, engineering, communication, and arts disciplines. It offers a diverse learning environment, together with highly skilled staff, cutting-edge facilities, and first-rate student support services. Moreover, it provides chances for community involvement and internships, preparing students for prosperous careers in the international job market.
| Popular Programs Offered | Average Annual Tuition Fee in AED |
| Undergraduate:
Architecture International Studies Psychology, Business Administration Interior Design Visual Communication Biology Computer Engineering Civil Engineering |
48,888-107,887 |
| Graduate:
Intellectual Property and Innovation Management International Affairs MBA Education Construction Management Urban Design and Digital Environments |
73,332-112,500 |
Cheap Universities in the Rest of UAE
It’s not necessary to become bankrupt to attend a university in the UAE. There are many inexpensive institutions spread out around the remainder of the country, despite the fact that some universities may be notorious for their high living expenses. We’ll examine some of the affordable universities in the remaining UAE in more detail in this session.
| University Name | Location | Popular Programs Offered | Average Tuition Fee in AED |
| University of Sharjah | Sharjah | Undergraduate:
Arabic Language and Literature English Language and Literature Sociology International Relations French Language and Literature Accounting Finance Public Relations Digital Media Design Mechanical Engineering Interior Design |
42,915- 118,300 |
| Graduate:
Applied Sociology Translation Communication Computer Engineering Business Analytics Data Science Dental Medicine Civil Engineering Applied Nutrition Space and Law PharmaceuticalScience Biotechnology |
3045-4000 per credit hour* 170000-180000 (College of Dental Medicine) |
||
| Ajman University | Ajman | Undergraduate:
Management Pharmacy Data Analytics Biomedical Engineering |
34,000- 121,000 |
| Graduate: Law, Urban Design, Financial Management, Social work, Information Technology | 37,500-140,000 | ||
| Abu Dhabi University | Abu Dhabi | Undergraduate:
Mass Communication BBA Architecture Aviation Biomedical Engineering Chemical Engineering CybersecurityEngineering Information Technology Interior Design |
34500-62370 |
| Graduate:
Education Leadership Special Education MBA Project Management Civil Engineering Information Technology Mechanical Engineering |
25200-69300 | ||
| United Arab Emirates University | Al Ain | Undergraduate:
BBA Statistics and Data Analytics Accounting Economics Education Chemical Engineering Petroleum Engineering Food Science Veterinary Medicine Tourism Studies Social work Political science Biology Physics |
57,000- 1,14,000 |
| Graduate:
Architectural Engineering Civil Engineering Business Analytics Communication English Medical Sciences Private Law Public Health Chemistry Food Science Space Science Social work |
48,000- 65,016 | ||
| Khalifa University | Abu Dhabi | Undergraduate:
Aerospace Engineering Biomedical Engineering Civil Engineering Computer Science Physics Chemistry Molecular Biology |
99990-126654 |
| Graduate:
Aerospace Engineering Chemical Engineering Computer Science Engineering and Systems Management Cyber Security Nuclear Engineering Applied Chemistry Medical Physics Molecular Life Sciences |
75000-90000 |
*Most master’s degree programs require 30-34 credit hours to complete the course.
Conclusion
In conclusion, students seeking high-quality, reasonably priced educational opportunities will find paradise in the United Arab Emirates. Several of these colleges also provide a range of scholarships for overseas students in addition to reasonable tuition. Students can also take advantage of the several scholarship programs that help lower the cost of living and studying in the UAE.
Choosing a choice needs to take into account factors including cost, academic standard, and living costs. Many students have benefited from our admissions counseling services in getting into the colleges of their choosing. Please schedule a video chat with one of our specialists for further information.
