MBA in UAE is a 1-2 year (full-time) course offered at both home universities and many of the international campuses in the country. Stepping ahead in global rankings, universities in UAE are now attracting a large number of international student population and are becoming an expanding education and research hub.

MBA in Dubai with international campuses of universities like LBS, University of Wollongong, Middlesex University, etc, the course offered is cheaper than the tuition at home campuses of these universities. MBA in UAE can cost anywhere from 30,000 AED to 93,000 AED.

Check out- Scholarships offered in the UAE

Getting into an MBA in UAE is slightly less competitive than countries like the US, UK, Australia. With no stringent GMAT score requirements and plenty of universities offering MBA without work experience, the country is one of the best choices for recent graduates. Additionally, graduates of MBA colleges in Dubai are offered lucrative opportunities with industry giants and can make up to 200,000 AED/year.

MBA in UAE Top Colleges

MBA in UAE is offered in two kinds of universities- Homecountry and International campus. Both the MBA universities in UAE are top-ranked by QS Top Rankings 2023. Some of such universities with basic curriculum details are mentioned below.

MBA Colleges in UAE

UAE as a country have their own MBA colleges spread across various cities. Some of the popular home-country colleges with rankings and fees are mentioned below.

QS World Rankings 2023 University (Duration of course) Tuition fee (AED)
601-650 University of Sharjah 132,000
701-750 Zayed University 96,012
601-650 Abu Dhabi University 90,800-1,02,240
=369 American University of Sharjah - School of Business and Management 164,670

801-1000

University of Dubai 96,000

MBA in UAE: International Campuses

International colleges spread across various countries have their campuses located in the UAE. Students can also take admission in them and details for them are mentioned below.

University Tuition fee (AED)
The University of Manchester 148,400
University of Wollongong 115,167
Murdoch University 89,000
American University in Dubai 154,224
Middlesex University Dubai 107,600
Institute of Management Technology 74,800
Modul University Dubai 69,600
London Business School 388,872
INSEAD 353,201
Cass Business School  205,404
Bradford University School of Management 171,702
University of Strathclyde 128,427
Hult International School 289,000
SP Jain School of Global Management 110,560

Why Study MBA in UAE?

As per the need, students can enroll in any of the MBA programs offered, ranging from Full-time MBA, Part-time MBA (2-4years), Executive MBA (1-2 years), or Distance MBA. Some of the perks of pursuing any of the MBA in Dubai are:

  • Home to some of the global top recruiters like HSBC, Nielsen Co., IFFCO, Deutsche Bank, Clyde & Co., etc.
  • Dubai and Abu Dhabi are home to high-paying job opportunities offering salaries of up to 490,000 AED to 500,000 AED a year.
  • Cheaper Education- With international campuses, you can pursue education at a lower cost that what it may cost to study at the home campus.
  • Indian students can choose to study with BITS Pilani, Dubai campus. Offering home-style education abroad. The degree will open international doors for you.

Types of MBA in UAE?

Pursuing MBA in UAE for students is a great option as it offers various types of courses for both full-time aspirants and part-time aspirants. Some of the MBA programs offered to students are:

  • Full-Time MBA: Students willing to take MBA as a course full-time are required to appear for GMAT/GRE exams. Students in full-time MBA are prepared with skills to tackle diverse changes in the Industry. The course generally ranges for 2 years and is prepared with various academic and skill-based concepts.
  • Part-time MBA: This particular course is designed for freshly graduated students looking to secure a degree in MBA while working. The long-term course is particularly designed for working professionals. Students can pursue courses without devoting time on campus.
  • Executive MBA: The executive MBA program is personally designed for professionals who wish to learn and adapt skills for great efficiency in the working field. The program is offered to students with great working experience and career-oriented skills. It is a great way to get a return on investment in both personal and professional scenarios.
  • Online Distance MBA: The distance MBA program is offered for students who do not have time to devote to regular classes. Online distance MBA secures your time and your cost. It is a perfect option to be considered by students who look forward to getting a degree in the comfort of their seats. The program generally lasts for 2 years and requires assignment submission and examinations.

Popular MBA Specializations in UAE

Students can pursue MBA in UAE in various specializations according to their preference and choice. Some of the specializations offered at universities in UAE are:

  • Marketing: Students willing to take a program with diverse traditional and marketing aspects can enroll under this course. The curriculum of MBA Marketing is divided into various marketing strategies, aspects, and increasing B2C sales.
  • Finance: A calculative specialization ranging into economic and industrial financial needs, strategies, and future planning. Students having a strong account in financial strategies can enroll under MBA Finance.
  • Human Resource Management- Managing database, salary aspects, and organization interviews are facilitated under this category. Students willing to opt for HR designations are required to opt for this kind of specialization. It is majorly focused on managing human resources and grievances in the organization.
  • Aviation- MBA in Aviation is particularly designed for students who want to be future managers in Aviation. The course curriculum involves strategizing plans for the smooth working of organizations in Aviation. The course is offered by minimal institutes in the UAE.
  • Entrepreneurship- Students looking to start their own business venture in the coming future, opt for this particular specialization. Business management, growth, sales, and industry-related projects are taken into consideration during the tenure of the course.

MBA in UAE Admissions

Admissions to MBA in UAE require various steps to follow, every university has various guidelines and deadlines for admission in their campus. Hence, students can look at some of the requirements and deadlines mentioned below.

All the universities have their own online application for admission and application fees. Students are required to apply as per the deadlines. The application fee can be paid through online net banking or credit card. Most universities do not have a refundable application fee policy. Hence, students are required to apply accordingly.

Application Deadlines for MBA in UAE

The B-schools offering MBA have their own set of guidelines for admission. The application deadlines for admissions to top universities in UAE are tabulated below.

(Applicants must note that deadlines are to be disclosed for new sessions, however, discussed below are the months in which applications from international students are invited)

University Deadline Month
American University in Dubai August
University of Dubai September
Institute of management technology September
University of Wollongong January
American University of Sharjah - School of Business and Management May
University of Sharjah August
Hult International school September
London Business School April
The University of Manchester September
INSEAD February
Bradford university school of management September

English Proficiency Test for MBA in UAE

International students willing to take admission to universities in UAE offering MBA are required to keep a check on English proficiency test requirements. Every university has its own set of minimum scores and students are advised to score more than that to secure their seat in the university. English proficiency test scores laid by top universities offering MBA in UAE are tabulated below.

University IELTS TOEFL
American University in Dubai 6.5 79
University of Dubai 6 NA
Institute of management technology 6 79
University of Wollongong 6.5 85
American University of Sharjah - School of Business and Management 6.5 80
University of Sharjah 6 79
London Business School 7 NA
The University of Manchester 6.5 90
INSEAD 7.5 100
Bradford University School of Management 6 80

Learn more about the exams required to study in UAE!

MBA in UAE: GMAT Score Requirements

Students willing to take admission in any of the universities offering MBA in Dubai are required to score a minimum of 500 in a respective GMAT exam. Apart from this, some universities provide admission to international students without GMAT scores.

Some of the universities give GMAT waivers in several conditions and such conditions are mentioned below:

  • Online MBA- Students taking admission in online MBA are not required to submit GMAT scores. The admissions are granted on bachelor’s degree scores and application forms.
  • Executive MBA- Students willing to opt for executive MBA are certainly not required to submit GMAT scores. Universities in UAE give preference to their profile and previous work experience.
  • GRE Scores- If a student fails to secure minimum marks in GMAT then they can opt for GRE. Several universities also consider GRE scores for admission in MBA programs.

Some of the universities offering MBA without GMAT in UAE are:

  • Hult International School- Offers one year MBA program without GMAT requirements. The applicant is required to serve 5years of experience in any work field.
  • INSEAD- Part-time MBA and Executive MBA programs are offered by the university without GMAT scores.

MBA in UAE Work Experience

Most of the universities offering MBA in Dubai expect students to have a minimum work experience of 2 years. Some of the popular universities in the UAE with work experience requirements are mentioned below.

University Experience(years)
London Business School 2
Middle Sex University Dubai 2
University of Wollongong 2
University of Strathclyde 3
Cass Business School 6

MBA in UAE without Work Experience

Certain universities in the UAE offer admission to students without work experience in MBA programs. Although, there are certain guidelines that students need to follow for securing a seat in the university. Some of the guidelines are mentioned below:

  • High GPA Scores- Students can leverage the university with their high GPA scores in graduation. A score of 3.5 on a scale of 4 (90% and above) is considered good to secure admission.
  • Letter of Recommendation- At least two letters of recommendation by previous teachers and professors can be submitted. A good reference can surely boost your profile in evaluation.
  • Good CV/ Resume- A resume of one to two pages is required to be submitted with all the updated information. Students should mention all the necessary skills, awards, internships, and social work done in brief.
  • Competitive GMAT/GRE scores- Students with higher GMAT/GRE scores are given preference in admission selection. Apart from the minimum GMAT score of 500, students can score better and secure admission to the university.

MBA in UAE Documents Required

The universities in UAE require similar kinds of documents. Students can look into the below-mentioned list of documents for an idea about the documents required.

  • Official transcripts
  • Bachelor's degree from a recognized university or college
  • Passport
  • English proficiency test scores- IELTS/TOEFL
  • GRE/GMAT scores
  • Letter of recommendations
  • Written essay
  • Interview

Check out: Student Visa in UAE

MBA in UAE Costs

When a student opts MBA in UAE, he must be prepared for various aspects of fee structure. The fee structure majorly comprises pre-arrival costs, tuition fees, and cost of living in UAE. An overall budget needs to be prepared for all three courses for study in UAE.

Pre-Arrival Cost

The pre-arrival cost for an MBA in the UAE includes all the expenses incurred before selection and after selection apart from tuition. The same with approximate costs are mentioned in the below table.

Type of Expense Cost (AED)
Application Fee 400-1200
Visa 2,000-3,000
Health Insurance 1,300-1,500
IELTS 727
TOEFL fees 900
Airfare 742

MBA in UAE in Tuition Fees

The tuition fee for popular universities offering admission to an MBA in UAE is tabulated below.

University Tuition Fee (Dirham/year)
American University in Dubai 138,000
Murdoch university 89,000
Institute of management technology 74,800
University of Wollongong 115,167
Middlesex University Dubai 171,000
Abu Dhabi university 90,800
American University of Sharjah - School of Business and Management 82,335
Zayed University 96,012
MODUL University Dubai 69,600
University of Sharjah 66,000

Cheaper MBA Universities in UAE

Students with a tight budget, looking for cheaper MBA universities in UAE can refer to the below universities with respective tuition fees.

  • Westford University College- 29,875 AED
  • BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus- 30,965 AED
  • IMT, Dubai- 32,000 AED

Cost of Living in UAE

Once securing admission into the university, students are required to pay for living expenses in the country apart from tuition fees. The estimated cost for the same is mentioned below for your reference.

Type of Cost Cost (AED)
Accommodation On-campus 30,000
Accommodation- Off-campus 70,000-100,000
Travel 2,520
Miscellaneous 5,796
Entertainment 6,433

MBA in UAE Scholarships

The cost of attendance is a concern at some point for most of the students. Keeping the same in mind, universities in UAE provide plenty of scholarships for students to avail benefits from. Some of the popular scholarships offered in the UAE are tabulated below.

Scholarships Eligibility Coverage
Forte-Fellows Program MBA Partial funding
Team Middlesex Sporting Excellence Award Students with excellent scores in their programs Tuition fee
Financial Hardship Scholarship By Canadian University Dubai Students with great merit scores Tuition waiver up to 30%
United Arab Emirates University Scholarship Graduate program international students Varies
IMT Scholarship for International Students Graduate program International students Varies
Buhooth Scholarships for Master and Doctorate Programme at Khalifa University in UAE Masters Degree in Khalifa University Tuition fee
Student Support Fund by University of Sharjah Newly admitted students Varies

MBA in UAE Jobs

After completion of an MBA from the UAE, students are recruited by the top firms. As per salary explorer reports of 2023, a person working in executive and management positions earns an average salary of 26,800 AED per month. The range of salary is 44,700 AED highest and 8,310 AED.

Some of the top local recruiters are Gulftainer Company Limited, National Bank of Abu Dhabi Asset Management, TAQA, Gulf Capital, AGFA, etc. Tabulated below are some of the job roles you can take up after your MBA with UAE universities:

Job Title Average Salary (AED/month)
Assistant Manager 25,100
Assistant Operations Manager 26,700
Assistant Project Manager 23,100
Assistant Section Head 20,100
Assistant to CEO 22,500
Assistant Vice President 26,100
Associate Director 23,000
Bid Manager 26,900
Branch Manager 24,900
Business Development Manager 29,600
Business Operations Associate 24,300
Business Operations Lead 23,400

As per reports of Emolument, MBA is the highest paying degree in UAE with approximately 330,000 AED every year. Apart from this, Executive MBA earns an average salary of 180,000 AED every year.

ROI for MBA in UAE

Students are always concerned about the return on investment while pursuing any program internationally. If we talk about MBA in UAE then it offers great Return on Investment opportunities for students. The average salary offered to students pursuing MBA Colleges in Dubai is tabulated below.

University Average Salary (AED/year)
Hult International Business School Middle East Campus 278,000
London Business School 469,000
The University of Manchester Middle East Center 363,000
American University in Dubai 276,000
College of Wollongong in Dubai 301,000
Middlesex University Dubai 342,000

Studying in UAE comes with numerous benefits and students can avail them from any country. The universities offering MBA in UAE are pre-equipped with career-oriented placements, internships, and workshops. Dubai being one of the top business hubs offers placement to students in the diverse culture of management. Students are put to work for the test of their skills and knowledge in a highly dynamic environment. Apart from these, placement opportunities offered also include compensatory benefits such as accommodation, travel, meals, etc. In a nutshell, securing a degree in MBA from UAE offers nothing but a great future ahead.

FAQ’s

Q What is the cost of studying MBA in Canada?

The cost of attendance for admission to an MBA in UAE is approximately 79,332 AED. Students are also required to pay for several other expenses for pre-arrival and cost of living.

Q Does an MBA degree from UAE carry equal value to that of the USA and UK?

Yes, MBA in UAE is nothing less than from the USA and UK. Students are placed into top companies based in Dubai.

Q Is GMAT compulsory for MBA in UAE?

Certain universities have made it compulsory for students to secure a minimum of 500in GMAT. However, some online degrees can be taken into consideration for MBA without GMAT.

Q What are the cheaper colleges for MBA in UAE?

If you are looking for colleges that have lesser tuition fees then you enroll into Westford University, BITS Pilani, and IMT Dubai.

Q Which specialization has more importance in MBA in UAE?

The country offers various specializations in MBA but Finance, Marketing, Aviation, and Entrepreneurship have the most significance.

Q How to secure admission to an MBA in UAE?

For securing admission in MBA, students are required to fill an online application with a fee laid by the university. Apart from this, GMAT/GRE scores and English proficiency scores are also mandatory.