Cost of Studying MBA in Dubai in 2025: Fees, Cost of Living, Requirements

Cost of Studying MBA in Dubai in 2025: Fees, Cost of Living, Requirements

Edited By Piyush Kohli | Updated on Dec 10, 2024 06:14 PM IST

Dubai, one of the most luxurious places to be in the 21st century, is famous for its skyscrapers, world-class shopping malls, and oil reserves. It has led to a massive increase in the inflow of international students to the country for higher education purposes.

One of the most popular courses in Dubai is MBA for Indian students. The average MBA in Dubai fees start from Rs. 15 lakhs and vary depending upon factors such as university, specialisation, province, and personal expenses.

Some of the top-ranking MBA universities in Dubai include London Business School, Hult International Business School, Zayed University, and many more. This reflects that management is one of the most popular courses in Dubai. Being one of the most sought-after destinations for an MBA, there are ample reasons that favour the city as an education hub. Let us understand the cost of doing MBA in Dubai in this article.

Cost of Studying MBA in Dubai in 2025: Fees, Cost of Living, Requirements
Cost of Studying MBA in Dubai in 2025: Fees, Cost of Living, Requirements

Why study MBA in Dubai?

Being one of the most sought-after destinations for an MBA, there are ample reasons that favour the city as an education hub:

  • Dubai has many international campuses in the country, such as the London Business School, Cass Business School, Amity University, Manipal University, and others.
  • The UAE is a rapidly growing economy and the government is investing in various areas such as trade, commerce, education, and health care.
  • The UAE is a major economic centre for many countries around the world.
  • People of different nationalities live in the United Arab Emirates, and international students have the opportunity to interact with a wide variety of people.
  • The cost of MBA in Dubai will be highly compensated by job opportunities and high salaries available in UAE.

Cost of Living in Dubai

Accommodation: Cost of studying MBA in Dubai for Indian students comprises expenditures like accommodation, travel, and food, among others, of which accommodation is the most vital part of your cost. Students, who want to cut their costs of living in Dubai, can share a room or apartment. When applying for a student visa, MBA in Dubai for Indian students fees must take into account all these costs.

If you are planning to pursue an MBA in Dubai, you can also choose whether you wish to stay at accommodations provided by the university or on your own. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city is around AED 70,000 to 85,000 per month, while the rent for a 3BHK apartment is approximately AED 140,000 to 190,000. However, if you share the 3BHK apartment your rent could come down by notches.

If you wish to stay at the university itself, your cost could be somewhere around AED 22,000 to 55,000 depending on your accommodation and university. Single students can reduce accommodation costs by choosing to share accommodation with fellow students and graduate with the cheapest MBA in Dubai.

Travel: Another expenditure that is going to add to your cost of studying MBA in Dubai is travel expenses. You can travel by taxi, bus, metro, water boats, and even a rental car since petrol is comparatively cheap compared to western countries.

For a student, metro and bus will be the safest bet that will not burn a hole in his pocket as the cost of a one-month public transport ticket is AED 250. Working individuals or students with families can spend around AED 2000 and lease a car in the city. Transportation costs are one area to reduce MBA in Dubai fees considerably.

Health Care: If you are planning to pursue an MBA in Dubai, getting health insurance should be your first step. A health insurance plan is a part of your cost of studying MBA in Dubai. MBA tuition fees in Dubai universities do not necessarily include health insurance.

It depends on the university whether it wants to offer health insurance or not. However, if the university does not offer a health plan, students will have to get their own insurance from private parties.

More often than not, students can purchase medical health insurance from the university itself at the time of admission. In universities like American University in Dubai, students have access to UAE Coverage Private Health Insurance. However, students with valid private health insurance need not opt for the plan.

Apart from these expenses, there are other minor expenses included in the cost of studying MBA in Dubai like food, phone bills, and personal expenses, among others.

Lifestyle choices are impacted by MBA in Dubai fees. Dubai is inherently a costly city. By choosing to live on a budget, and earn through part-time jobs, MBA in UAE fees can be covered with less effort until achieving job offers

MBA Programs in Dubai in 2025

Before we understand the cost of studying in Dubai for Indian students, let us look at the following list of the top MBA programs in Dubai in 2025.

  1. Full-time MBA
  2. Part-time MBA
  3. Executive MBA (EMBA)
  4. Online MBA
  5. Distance Learning MBA
  6. Global MBA
  7. Specialised MBA
  8. Dual MBA Program
  9. Accelerated MBA
  10. Flexible MBA
Study in Australia

Shortlist best ranked universities & get expert guidance

Study in Ireland

Want to study in Ireland? Explore Universities & Courses

Admission Requirements to Study in Dubai

There are several MBA colleges in Dubai with low fees, but you can only get admission in them when you meet the admission requirements. If you want to study in Dubai, but you are not a UAE citizen or do not belong to any of the 5GC countries (Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, or Oman), then you need to apply for a study visa.

Following are the documents required for a Dubai student visa.

  • A valid passport
  • Four passport copies
  • 12 passport-sized recent pictures with a white background
  • Admission offer letter of the university that you have applied for in the UAE
  • Bank statements to prove financial stability
  • Tenancy agreement
  • Tuition fee receipt copy for the current year of the chosen study program
  • Visa fee receipt copy for the current year of the chosen study program
  • If you're a postgraduate student, you need to give proof of your undergraduate degree
  • Medical test report of chest X-ray for HIV, hepatitis C, hepatitis B, leprosy, Syphilis and tuberculosis.

MBA in Dubai Fees

There are many factors to consider to know is it worth doing MBA from Dubai. The cost of studying MBA in Dubai is one of the key factors why international students prefer Dubai over countries like USA. Generally, the top MBA colleges come with hefty tuition fees. Luckily, that is not the case with the extravagant city that boasts of some top-ranking international university campuses.

The annual tuition fee at one of the top MBA colleges in Dubai, Manipal University, is AED 78,000, which is almost half of what you will be paying in the USA. MBA in Dubai for Indian students fees can be up to Rs. 15 Lakh. Amity University offers the cheapest MBA in UAE with only AED 49,500 fees.

However, the MBA fees in Dubai for Indian students may vary depending on the university and its programme. Some universities in Dubai do not offer full-time MBA programmes but offer Executive MBA or Part-time MBA programmes. For example, London Business School (LBS), Dubai, only offers an executive MBA programme while Alliance Manchester Business School’s Dubai campus just offers a part-time MBA course.

MBA in Dubai for Indian Students Fees 2025

University

Course

MBA in Dubai Cost

London Business School, Dubai

EMBA

AED 388, 872

Hult International Business School, Dubai

MBA

AED 289,000

Amity University, Dubai

MBA

AED 49,500

American University of Sharjah

MBA

AED 164,670

Zayed University

EMBA

AED 96,102

Cheapest MBA Universities in Dubai

How much does it cost to study in UAE? If you're planning to pursue an MBA abroad, then Dubai can be the perfect destination for an affordable MBA. The following table shows some of the cheapest MBA universities in Dubai.

Name of the University
Fees
Al Ain University
AED 2,500 per credit hour
Ajman University
AED 2,000 per credit hour
American University of Ras Al Khaimah
AED 90,720 for the full course
United Arab Emirates University
AED 5,900 per standard course
IMT Business School
AED 74,800 per year

Scholarships to Study MBA in Dubai

Is studying in Dubai expensive? Don't worry, as there are ample scholarships to help you manage the expenses. Check out the following list of top scholarships to study MBA in Dubai.

Scholarship Name
Awarded by
INSEAD MBA Scholarships
INSEAD Business School
Hult International Business School Scholarships
Hult International Business School
SP Jain School of Global Management Scholarships
SP Jain School of Global Management
The University of Sharjah MBA Scholarships
University of Sharja
Zayed University MBA Scholarships
Zayed University
Khalifa University MBA Scholarships
Khalifa University
UAE Government Scholarships
Ministry of Education (UAE)
Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus Scholarships
Heriot-Watt University Dubai
Emirates Aviation University Scholarships
Emirates Aviation University
Murdoch University Dubai Scholarships
Murdoch University Dubai

Highest Paying Jobs After MBA in Dubai

Dubai is a lucrative place for MBA students. Doing MBA in Dubai with placement opportunities is a dream for many students. Here is a list of the top highest-paying jobs after MBA in Dubai.

  1. Investment Banker
  2. Financial analyst
  3. Logistics Manager
  4. E-commerce Manager
  5. Real Estate Manager
  6. Risk Manager
  7. Healthcare administrator
  8. Luxury Brand Manager
  9. Business development manager
  10. Management consultant

Also read:

Cost of studying in Dubai

Top MBA colleges in Dubai

Study in Dubai: Know all about studying in Dubai

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which colleges are cheaper for MBA in Dubai?

Cheaper colleges in Dubai for MBA are Westford University, BITS Pilani, and IMT Dubai.

2. What are the English language requirements for business schools in Dubai?

 Candidates are required to have an IELTS score of at least 6 bands or a TOEFL score of 80 to apply for MBA programs.


3. What are the intakes for MBA courses in Dubai?

The intakes for MBA programs take place in January, July and September out of which September sees the largest intake of students at business schools in Dubai.

4. How much does an MBA in Dubai cost?

The cost of MBA in Dubai for Indian students is around Rs. 15 Lakh for the first year. Additionally, the cost of living in Dubai for Indian students is around Rs. 1,15,000-1,30,000 per month including accommodation, food, clothing, transportation, health, and other miscellaneous expenses. 

5. Is MBA worth it in Dubai?

Yes, MBA in Dubai is worth it for Indian students. Dubai is considered one of the best study abroad destinations for international students to study for an MBA. The cost of MBA in Dubai is also comparatively lower than most of the developed countries like the USA and UK.

6. How many years is MBA in Dubai?

The duration of the MBA in Dubai is around 1-2 years. Dubai offers numerous MBA programmes for international students for different durations. 

7. Can I go to Dubai after an MBA in India?

Yes, you can go to Dubai after an MBA in Dubai. However, you must have a minimum of 3 years of experience in the relevant industry to work in Dubai.

Articles

Questions related to

Get answers from students and experts

Hello Dear,

If a candidate wanted to take admission to an MBA program in Dubai, he should have relevant work experience of 2-4 years depending upon the program. The academic requirement for admission to study in UAE includes scores of English proficiency tests like IELTS or TOEFL. Students applying to study in UAE for MBA programmes are required to have good scores in GMAT. For detailed information you can visit the link:

https://studyabroad.careers360.com/articles/study-in-uae#:~:text=The%20academic%20requirement%20for%20admission,have%20good%20scores%20in%20GMAT.

Good Luck

Hi

As computing technologies and systems increasingly dominate every area of recent life, graduates

during this field are likely to seek out themselves in ever higher demand. And as this “subject of the

future” grows scope and recognition , there also are growing numbers of dedicated scholarships for

computing students on offer, including funding to review computing at a number of the world’s most

prestigious institutions.

Below may be a list of computing scholarships and other funding opportunities for those studying

degrees in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), that specialize in

opportunities within the US and therefore the UK. We’ve also listed some scholarships specifically

targeted at women in computing , which aim to support more balanced gender representation within

the sector.

Multi-country scholarships

Google Europe Scholarship for college kids with Disabilities – European scholarships for computing

students with disabilities. hospitable students of all levels studying in Europe. (More scholarships for

college kids with disabilities are often found here).

Microsoft Scholarship Program – STEM scholarships for college kids pursuing degrees in computing also

as other STEM-related subjects at undergraduate level within the us , Canada or Mexico. Priority given

to underrepresented students.

UK

City, University of London computing Scholarships – Scholarships are available to well-qualified UK/EU

students studying a master’s degree in an eligible course at City, University of London.

QMUL Science and Engineering Excellence Scholarships – Merit-based scholarships hospitable

undergraduate students studying within the varsity of EE and computing at Queen Mary University of

London.

Royal Holloway, University of London Donald Davies computing scholarships – All new undergraduate

applicants for computing degrees at the university are going to be considered for this merit-based

scholarship.

University of Birmingham Scholarships – computing scholarships for college kids studying within the

least levels in the School of computing at the University of Birmingham.

University of Edinburgh John Fisher High Performance (HPC) Scholarships – Merit-based scholarships

available to students studying High Performance Computing (with or without Data Science) at the

University of Edinburgh within the UK.

University of York Department of computing Postgraduate Scholarships – Merit-based scholarships for

UK, EU and international students of the university.

UCL computing Excellence Scholarships – Scholarships are available to UK/EU offer holders with a record

of fantastic academic achievement to review a master’s in computing or a related subject.


Hello Aspirant,

You are not eligible to sit for this exam because first you are a foreigner and second this exam eligibility criteria says that the student must be an Indian National.

I hope you have got your answer.

Good Luck

View All
Back to top