International students study at both private and public universities in the UAE, but they pay tuition everywhere, including at federal universities, which are free only for Emirati citizens. As of 29 September 2026, the register of the federal Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) lists 103 institutions with an active licence, and more than half of them are in Dubai. Your choice comes down to four types: federal universities, research universities in Abu Dhabi, local private universities and branch campuses of foreign universities. For 2026/27, a year of undergraduate study costs from $17,580 (AED 64,557) at Middlesex University Dubai to $68,574 in tuition alone at NYU Abu Dhabi.
| At a glance | Details |
|---|---|
| Institutions with an active licence in the CAA register | 103 (checked 29 September 2026) |
| Where they are | Dubai 55, Abu Dhabi 30, Sharjah 12, Ras Al Khaimah 5 (multi-emirate institutions counted in each) |
| Who licenses them | Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) and the CAA; in Dubai's free zones, also KHDA |
| Language of instruction | English at most universities; most bachelor's programmes at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi are taught in French |
| Bachelor's tuition, 2026/27 | $17,580–30,190 a year at private universities and branch campuses; $68,574 at NYU Abu Dhabi |
| School certificate | recognised through an equivalency certificate from the UAE Ministry of Education |
The four types of university in the UAE
The type of institution decides whose degree you receive, who assures programme quality and how your school certificate is assessed. A name is not a guide: American University of Sharjah is a local university built on the US model, while Middlesex University Dubai is a campus of a British university.
| Type | Examples | Degree awarded by | What matters for international students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal universities | United Arab Emirates University (Al Ain), Zayed University, Higher Colleges of Technology | the UAE institution | terms for international students vary: UAEU publishes a per-credit rate for them; the language is stated for each programme |
| Research universities in Abu Dhabi | Khalifa University, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence | the UAE institution | demanding maths and science requirements, competitive scholarships |
| Local private universities | American University of Sharjah, American University in Dubai, Abu Dhabi University, Ajman University | the UAE institution | US-style credit system, four-year bachelor's |
| Branch campuses | NYU Abu Dhabi, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, Heriot-Watt, Middlesex, Birmingham, Wollongong, RIT in Dubai | the home university (US, UK, France, Australia) | home-campus curriculum; UK-style degrees take three years |
Federal universities charge international students. United Arab Emirates University sets a rate of $720 (AED 2,661) per credit hour for international undergraduates admitted from 2026/27, so a 120-credit business or science degree costs $86,950 (AED 319,320) in total and a 132-credit engineering degree $95,640 (AED 351,252).
Branch campuses cluster in two places. In Dubai they sit in the Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park free zones and hold a KHDA permit. In Abu Dhabi, NYU and Sorbonne award the degrees of their home universities and teach their home curricula.
Who oversees universities: CAA, KHDA and the 2026 national rules
The key test is whether the institution has a federal licence and whether your specific programme is accredited. In the UAE these are separate.
Institutional licence. MoHESR grants it and the CAA reviews quality. The CAA register shows each institution's status: "A" means an active licence, "X" means the licence was revoked or the institution closed, and "T" means student admissions are suspended. Former universities stay in the register with the note "Licensure revoked", so check any name you find in an old ranking.
Programme accreditation. A licence does not allow a university to enrol students on any programme it likes. In September 2026 the ministry reminded institutions that a programme may not be advertised or open for enrolment before CAA accreditation. The violations regulation in force since 12 September 2026 allows the ministry to stop admissions and order refunds in such cases.
Dubai free zones. Cabinet Resolution No. 104 of 2026 created a single national licensing framework in force since June 2026. It covers free-zone institutions too: a local permit comes first, then the federal licence. KHDA still publishes the directory of approved institutions and programmes in Dubai, attests degrees of international branch campus graduates and uses a validation model to check that Dubai programmes match the home campus.
Heriot-Watt University Dubai shows how the dual status works. It received its MoHESR licence in January 2023, its programmes are CAA-accredited, and as a free-zone institution it renews its KHDA permit every year. Its graduates can have their degrees recognised by the ministry, for example to continue at a CAA-accredited university.
Why this matters to you: status affects recognition of your degree inside the UAE, eligibility for the graduate Golden Visa and admission to a local master's programme. For use outside the UAE, the awarding institution matters most, and at a branch campus that is the home university.
Universities by emirate
Abu Dhabi has 30 institutions in the register, including the research and public universities: Khalifa University, United Arab Emirates University (Al Ain campus), Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and Zayed University. NYU Abu Dhabi and Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi are the foreign campuses. The private Abu Dhabi University runs campuses in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Dubai.
Dubai has 55 institutions and most branch campuses: Heriot-Watt, Middlesex, University of Birmingham Dubai, University of Wollongong in Dubai, RIT Dubai, Murdoch, Curtin, Amity and BITS Pilani. Local private universities include American University in Dubai and Canadian University Dubai.
Sharjah has 12 institutions; the best known internationally is American University of Sharjah in University City.
Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have one to five institutions each, including American University of Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman University. Programme choice is narrower.
Comparing universities: tuition and entry with a national school certificate
Fees come from official 2026/27 fee schedules unless stated; conversions use the fixed rate of $1 = AED 3.6725.
| University | Emirate, type | Bachelor's per year | Entry notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex University Dubai | Dubai, UK branch campus | $17,580 (AED 64,557), 3 years | school leavers from Russia, Azerbaijan and Central Asia enter via the foundation year (IFP), $13,700 (AED 50,301) |
| Heriot-Watt University Dubai | Dubai, UK branch campus | listed on each programme page | Russian certificate: grade 5 in relevant subjects for Year 1, grade 3 and above for foundation |
| Khalifa University | Abu Dhabi, research | about $22,120 (AED 81,250), university estimate for autumn 2026 | Russian certificate: maths and one science in grade 11 with at least 4.0 |
| United Arab Emirates University | Abu Dhabi, federal | $720 (AED 2,661) per credit hour | assessed per programme |
| American University of Sharjah | Sharjah, local private | $30,190 (AED 110,876) | Russian certificate: average of 4.0 in grade 11 or the best two years, Ministry equivalency |
| American University in Dubai | Dubai, local private | $29,420 (AED 108,050) including services fee, autumn 2026 schedule | assessed per programme |
| Abu Dhabi University | Abu Dhabi, local private | $440–570 (AED 1,620–2,085) per credit hour | assessed per programme |
| Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi, French branch campus | $58,570 (AED 215,100) for 3 years, schedule of 8 May 2026 | equivalency; French at B2 for French-taught programmes |
| NYU Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi, US branch campus | tuition $68,574; full-year estimate $90,434 | highly selective, need-based financial aid |
If rankings matter to you, Khalifa University is the highest-placed UAE institution in the QS World University Rankings 2027, at 147th. It is followed by United Arab Emirates University (217th), American University of Sharjah (258th), University of Sharjah (283rd), Abu Dhabi University (348th) and Ajman University (397th); 12 UAE universities are ranked in total. Branch campuses are not ranked separately: the position of NYU, Sorbonne or Heriot-Watt belongs to the whole home university, not its UAE campus. For the graduate Golden Visa, what counts is the ministry's own list and classification, not a QS position.
Detailed profiles: University of Wollongong in Dubai, NYU and its Abu Dhabi campus, Sorbonne, studying in Dubai. There are also profiles of Khalifa University, American University of Sharjah, American University in Dubai and Middlesex University Dubai.
How to check a university and programme before paying a deposit
- Find the institution in the CAA register and confirm status "A". If it was renamed, search for the former name shown in brackets.
- Check the programme itself in the CAA list of accredited programmes. For Dubai free-zone campuses, also use the KHDA directory.
- Confirm who awards the degree and what the certificate states: the home university, the place of study and the mode.
- Match the entry rules to your school system. Some universities admit 11-year school leavers straight into Year 1; others require a foundation year. See our guide to applying to UAE universities.
- Budget the whole year, not only tuition: fees, deposit, visa, insurance and housing. Figures are in our guide to the cost of studying in the UAE.
After graduation, UAE-issued degrees are recognised through the ministry. Under Cabinet Resolution No. 103 of 2026, the application fee for recognising a qualification is $14 (AED 50).
Which type suits which goal
| Your goal | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A British degree at lower cost than in the UK | Heriot-Watt, Middlesex, Birmingham in Dubai | home-university curriculum, three-year bachelor's |
| Engineering and science with research | Khalifa University, United Arab Emirates University | strong maths requirements, labs, merit scholarships |
| US-style education with electives | American University of Sharjah, American University in Dubai | credit system, four years, general education core |
| Lowest price per credit | Abu Dhabi University, especially in Al Ain | lower rates than branch campuses |
| A top-tier university with strong results | NYU Abu Dhabi | high sticker price, need-based aid |
| A French degree | Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi | Sorbonne programmes, price fixed for the whole degree |
Common mistakes
- Trusting "American" or "British" in the name. Check who awards the degree.
- Checking only the institutional licence. A new programme may not be accredited yet, and enrolment on it is prohibited.
- Using old prices from rankings sites. Credit-hour rates change every year; United Arab Emirates University even publishes separate tables for students admitted before and from 2026/27.
- Assuming federal universities are free. Free tuition applies to Emirati citizens.
- Leaving the certificate equivalency to the end. Without it, American University of Sharjah allows only conditional registration for the first semester.
How StudyU helps
Programme shortlisting based on CAA and KHDA status, entry-requirement checks for your certificate or degree, budgeting and document preparation are provided under an agreement with StudyU. Admission decisions are made by the university, school certificate equivalency by the UAE Ministry of Education, and residence visas by the emirate's immigration authority. For a country overview, see studying in the UAE.
FAQ
No. Free tuition at federal universities is for Emirati citizens. International students pay published rates, for example $720 (AED 2,661) per credit hour at United Arab Emirates University for 2026/27. Scholarships or university discounts can reduce the cost.
The CAA register listed 103 institutions with an active licence on 29 September 2026, including sector academies and military colleges. The remaining entries are closed institutions, revoked licences and institutions with suspended admissions. Checking the status of your programme matters more than the total.
It depends on the institution and programme. Branch campuses award the home university's degree. Recognition inside the UAE depends on the MoHESR licence and CAA programme accreditation, and graduates of free-zone campuses also attest their degrees through KHDA.
Mostly English, so you will need IELTS or TOEFL. Some programmes are in Arabic, and most bachelor's programmes at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi are in French with a B2 requirement; physics and mathematics there are taught in English.
Among the 2026/27 fee schedules we checked, Abu Dhabi University has low rates: from $440 (AED 1,620) per credit hour in Abu Dhabi and less in Al Ain. Among branch campuses, Middlesex University Dubai starts at about $17,580 a year.
At some universities, yes. Khalifa University accepts a Russian certificate with maths and a science in the final year and an overall grade-11 result of at least 4.0, American University of Sharjah with an average of at least 4.0, and Heriot-Watt Dubai admits to Year 1 with grade 5 in relevant subjects. Middlesex University Dubai places school leavers from Russia, Azerbaijan and Central Asia in its foundation year.
Sources
- CAA: register of institutions and status — checked 29 September 2026
- CAA: licensure and accreditation system
- Khaleej Times: UAE universities in the QS World University Rankings 2027 — checked 30 September 2026
- Khaleej Times: Cabinet Resolutions No. 92, 103, 104 and 143 of 2026 — 11 September 2026
- Gulf News: MoHESR on programme accreditation before enrolment — 9 September 2026
- KHDA: FAQs on universities in Dubai
- Heriot-Watt University Dubai: MoHESR licence FAQ and international entry requirements
- United Arab Emirates University: rates for international undergraduates
- Khalifa University: undergraduate admissions and fees
- American University of Sharjah: 2026/27 fees and requirements
- American University in Dubai: tuition and fees
- Middlesex University Dubai: 2026/27 fees and foundation programme
- Abu Dhabi University: 2026/27 rates (PDF)
- Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi: fees and language of instruction
- NYU Abu Dhabi: 2026/27 cost of attendance
- UAE Government portal: equalising high school certificates
- Currency: the UAE dirham is pegged at $1 = AED 3.6725; amounts under $100 are rounded to $1, larger ones to $10.
During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step. Apply
Next steps
- Applying to UAE Universities: Entry Requirements, Documents and Deadlines
- Cost of Studying in the UAE in 2026/27: Tuition, Housing, Visa and Budget
- American University in Dubai (AUD): Programs, Fees and Admission
- American University of Sharjah (AUS): Admission, Fees and Scholarships
- Study in Dubai in 2026: universities, costs and visas
- Studying in the UAE for international applicants
