In Dubai, English is taught at private language institutes operating under permits from KHDA, the emirate's education regulator. In 2026 a 15-lesson semi-intensive week at ES Dubai costs $225–340 and a 30-lesson intensive week $385–550, while a month of 20-hour intensive study at Speak English Institute costs $1,242 (AED 4,560). Visa-free or visit-visa entry is meant for visits rather than study: the Russia–UAE visa waiver, for example, covers stays of up to 90 days in 180 for people who do not intend to study, work or live in the UAE. The safer route for any course is a visa sponsored by the school; at ES Dubai a 180-day student visa costs $500 and a six- or twelve-month residence visa starts at $710.
| At a glance | Rules and prices checked on 2 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Visa-free entry | Depends on nationality; for Russian citizens up to 90 days in 180, but the waiver excludes study, work and residence |
| Visa for study | Sponsored by the school; at ES Dubai from age 16 |
| Visas through ES Dubai, 2026 | 180-day student visa $500; residence visa $710 for 6 months or $1,365 for 1 year, plus $150 insurance |
| Course price, 2026 | ES Dubai: 15 lessons $225–340 a week, 30 lessons $385–550; Speak English: 20 hours $255–310 (AED 935–1,140) |
| School housing | Hotel apartments: $220–265 for a shared room, $450–530 for a private one per week |
| Regulator | Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Dubai |
Who Dubai suits
Dubai's strengths are logistics: direct flights from many countries, no consular stage, since the school applies for the study visa, and a short path from decision to first lesson. English is the shared language of a very international city, so you will use it outside class every day, though with a wide range of accents. A course also fits well with a university search, since British, American and Australian universities run campuses in the city.
There are limits. The UAE is not an English-speaking country, so you will not get the immersion of London or Toronto. From June to September the heat pushes life indoors, and housing is expensive. A student residence visa through a language school is full residency with a medical test and an Emirates ID, not a formality.
For universities, costs and student life, see Study in the UAE. If English is a step towards a degree, read our overview of universities in the UAE and the guide to studying in Dubai.
Course types
| Format | Workload | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-intensive | 15 lessons of 45 minutes or about 10 hours a week | People who work or combine study with city life |
| Intensive | 20–30 lessons, about 4 hours a day | Fast progress, students on a student visa |
| Evening course | 2–3 evenings a week | Residents who already live and work in Dubai |
| IELTS preparation | 15–30 lessons, usually capped at 6–12 weeks | University admission or emigration to an English-speaking country |
| Business and academic English | 15–30 lessons | Professionals and future students |
Courses start every Monday after a placement test. At ES Dubai the IELTS, business and academic courses have a maximum length of 6 to 12 weeks, after which students continue with general English. Students get two weeks of holiday for every 12-week term; a longer break counts as a course pause.
How to check a school
Private training centres in Dubai operate under a KHDA permit. Ask the school for its permit details and check its name in the education directory on the KHDA website before paying. If the school offers a student visa, confirm that it is the sponsor itself, because the same sponsor must cancel the visa when you leave or stop attending.
What courses cost: two official 2026 price lists
ES Dubai (USD, VAT included)
Lessons last 45 minutes, and the minimum age is 16.
| Length | Semi-intensive, 15 lessons, per week | Intensive, 30 lessons, per week |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 weeks | $340 | $550 |
| 4–8 weeks | $310 | $520 |
| 9–12 weeks | $290 | $480 |
| 13–16 weeks | $270 | $460 |
| 21–24 weeks | $240 | $420 |
| 31–44 weeks | $225 | $385 |
Registration is $115, a coursebook $65 and a one-way airport transfer $110. The prices apply to courses starting in 2026. Card payments carry a 3% charge and bank transfers $50.
Speak English Institute (Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah)
| Programme | 4 weeks | 8 weeks | 12 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intensive, 20 hours a week | $1,242 (AED 4,560) | $2,211 (AED 8,120) | $3,055 (AED 11,220) |
| Semi-intensive | $771 (AED 2,830) | $1,372 (AED 5,040) | — |
| Evening course | $270 (AED 992) | — | — |
A one-off registration fee of $41 (AED 150) and materials of $41 (AED 150) are added. Classes average seven students, with a maximum of twelve.
A four-week budget at ES Dubai
| Scenario | Course, registration and book | Housing for 4 weeks with booking fee and transfer | Total before flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semi-intensive, shared room in a hotel apartment | $1,420 | $1,180 | $2,600 |
| Intensive, private room in a shared hotel apartment | $2,260 | $2,140 | $4,400 |
Add the visa the school arranges: $500 for a 180-day student visa, or from $710 for a six-month residence visa plus $150 compulsory insurance.
Accommodation
ES Dubai houses students in four-star hotel apartments and premium residences. Prices are per person per week and include internet, utilities and transport to school.
- Shared hotel apartment. Private room $450–480, shared room $220–240, depending on length.
- Private apartment. $500–530 for one person, $250–265 each for two.
- Studio in a premium residence. $505–545 for one person.
- Meals. Breakfast $85 a week, breakfast and dinner $195 (at one hotel only).
Check-in is on Saturdays or Sundays and the booking fee is $110. The school does not allow mixed-gender apartments. You can rent independently, but the school still needs your address for a student visa.
Visas for language courses
What visa-free entry covers
Entry rules depend on nationality: some passports enter visa-free, others need a visit visa arranged in advance. Under an agreement in force since 17 February 2019, Russian citizens may stay in the UAE without a visa for up to 90 days in each 180-day period, but the Russian Foreign Ministry's notice on the agreement limits the waiver to people who do not intend to work, study or live in the UAE. For a language course, even a short one, the safer status is one the school sponsors: at ES Dubai, a 180-day student visa for $500 when applied for from abroad. Whether a short course is acceptable during a visa-free stay is for the UAE immigration authorities to decide, not the school, so ask the school which status it requires before you pay. At the border you need a passport valid for at least six months, a return ticket and your address. Kazakh and other CIS citizens have different entry terms, so check yours on the UAE government portal.
Student visas and residence visas through the school
For study the institution acts as sponsor; UAE rules require a certificate from the school or university stating the length of study. ES Dubai sponsors student visas from age 16 and charges:
| Visa | Applied from outside the UAE | Applied inside the UAE (change of status) |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year student residence visa | $1,365 | $1,760 |
| 6-month student residence visa | $710 | $1,235 |
| 180-day student visa | $500 | $700 |
| Compulsory insurance for 6- and 12-month visas | $150 | $150 |
A UAE residence visa involves a medical test and an Emirates ID under the general residence rules. The school must know your exit date and cancels the visa if you stop attending; overstaying leads to fines. More on student residence rules is in our guide to the UAE student visa.
Can you work?
A student residence visa does not by itself allow work; any job in the UAE needs a separate work permit arranged by the employer. Plan to fund the whole course in advance.
Paying the school
ES Dubai prices are in US dollars and are paid by bank transfer or card. Keep receipts, since the visa process relies on proof of payment. If you pay from Russia, use only legal routes, as described in how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.
Timeline
- 2–3 months before. Decide on the length: up to 180 days on the school's student visa, or longer on a six- or twelve-month residence visa through the school.
- 6–8 weeks before. Check the school's KHDA permit, compare the weekly rate for your length and book housing.
- 4–6 weeks before. Pay for the course and, if needed, the visa; send the school your passport copy and photo.
- On arrival. For a residence visa, complete the medical test and Emirates ID as the school instructs.
- Before leaving. Tell the school your exit date so the visa is cancelled on time.
Common mistakes
- Taking a course on visa-free entry. The waiver is not designed for study, and overstays are fined.
- Not checking the permit. A school without KHDA authorisation cannot legally run courses or sponsor students.
- Booking a long IELTS course. At ES Dubai IELTS preparation is capped at six weeks, followed by general English.
- Leaving without telling the school. An uncancelled visa causes problems next time you enter.
- Coming in summer for sightseeing. From June to September the heat limits life outside class.
FAQ
The weekly price depends on intensity and length: at ES Dubai it ranges from $225 for a long semi-intensive course to $550 for a short intensive one. Speak English Institute charges $1,242 (AED 4,560) for a four-week intensive package.
Visa-free entry depends on your passport, and for Russian citizens the 90-days-in-180 waiver covers trips without the aim of study, work or residence. For a course, the safer route is a visa sponsored by the school; the UAE immigration authorities decide on it, and the school only files the application.
At ES Dubai a 180-day student visa costs $500, a six-month residence visa $710 and a one-year visa $1,365 when applied for from abroad; residence visas also need $150 compulsory insurance. Changing status inside the UAE costs more: $1,235 and $1,760. The immigration authorities decide whether to issue it.
At ES Dubai students and student-visa applicants must be at least 16, and the school arranges tourist visas only for adults aged 18 and over. A minor also needs parental consent, and entry rules for minors should be checked in advance.
No, not on the student visa alone. Work requires a separate permit arranged by an employer and issued by the UAE authorities, so part-time work is not a realistic way to fund a course.
Most stay in hotel apartments booked by the school: a shared room costs $220–240 a week and a private room $450–480, with transport to class already included. Renting independently is possible but expensive.
Dubai needs no Schengen visa and the school arranges the study visa, but it is not an English-speaking country. Malta needs a Schengen visa for many applicants, while English there is an official language. Compare costs and visas in our guide to English courses in Malta.
Sources
- UAE Government portal: residence visa for studying, school or university sponsorship — checked 02.10.2026
- UAE Government portal: general residence provisions, medical test, Emirates ID — checked 02.10.2026
- Russian Foreign Ministry consular department: UAE visa waiver since 17.02.2019 and its conditions — checked 02.10.2026
- KHDA, Dubai's private education regulator — checked 02.10.2026
- ES Dubai: 2026 price list for courses, visas, housing and fees (PDF) — checked 02.10.2026
- Speak English Institute: course prices and 20-hour intensive course — checked 02.10.2026
ES Dubai publishes prices in US dollars. Dirham amounts are converted at the UAE Central Bank's fixed rate: $1 = AED 3.6725.
If you want to work through your route, send a request: document preparation and submission are provided under an agreement with StudyU, the school makes the enrolment decision and the UAE immigration authority decides on the visa.
During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.
Next steps
- Studying in the UAE for international applicants
- Universities in the UAE for International Students: Types, Emirates and Status Checks
- Study in Dubai in 2026: universities, costs and visas
- UAE Student Visa: How Universities Sponsor Residence, Timelines and Fees
- How to Pay for Studies Abroad from Russia: What Works in 2026
- English Language Courses in Malta: Licensed Schools, 2026 Prices and Visas
