Universities in the UAE

Abu Dhabi's flagship research university, formed in 2017 by merging Khalifa University, the Masdar Institute and the Petroleum Institute. It is the UAE's highest-ranked university for science, engineering, medicine and AI, with generous scholarships for top students.

A highly selective liberal arts and research campus of New York University on Saadiyat Island, granting full NYU degrees. It offers one of the most generous need-based financial aid programs in the world.

The UAE's oldest and first national university, founded in 1976 in Al Ain. A comprehensive federal research university with nine colleges spanning engineering, medicine, business, science, law and the humanities.

One of the most prestigious private universities in the Gulf, delivering an American-style education in architecture, engineering, business and arts & sciences from its University City campus.

The world's first graduate-level research university dedicated entirely to artificial intelligence, located in Masdar City. All students receive full scholarships covering tuition, stipend and housing.

A leading private university with campuses in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Dubai, offering business, engineering, health and arts programs. Among the highest-ranked private universities in the UAE.

The new Dubai campus of India's top-ranked IIM Ahmedabad, delivering postgraduate management and MBA-level programs to the region.

Established in 1988 as the UAE's first private university, Ajman University offers affordable dentistry, pharmacy, engineering, business and media programs and has one of the world's highest international-student ratios.

The Dubai campus of the UK's University of Birmingham, a Russell Group university, with a purpose-built campus in Dubai International Academic City awarding the same UK degrees.

The new Dubai campus of Lebanon's prestigious, US-accredited American University of Beirut, offering American-style degrees in business, engineering, computer science and the sciences.

The first international campus of India's prestigious IIT Delhi, opened in 2024 in Abu Dhabi. It offers B.Tech, M.Tech and PhD programs in engineering, energy and sustainability, with degrees conferred by IIT Delhi.

The Dubai campus of the UK's University of Exeter, a Russell Group university, offering UK degrees in business, computing, data science and related fields.

A large comprehensive government-supported university with 14 colleges and 120+ programs, known for its medical, dental, pharmacy and engineering clusters in University City Sharjah.

A branch campus of France's Sorbonne University on Reem Island, delivering French-model higher education in Arabic, French and English. Degrees are identical to and accredited in France.

A specialized health-sciences university in Dubai Healthcare City (part of Dubai Health), offering medicine, dental medicine, nursing and biomedical programs with affiliated teaching hospitals.

One of the oldest international branch campuses in the UAE, awarding Australian-accredited degrees in business, IT, engineering and finance from its Dubai Knowledge Park campus.

The Dubai campus of Scotland's Heriot-Watt University in Dubai Knowledge Park, awarding identical UK degrees with strengths in engineering, business and the built environment.

The Dubai campus of India's renowned BITS Pilani in Dubai International Academic City, offering rigorous engineering degrees identical to the Indian campus with a strong placement record.

The Dubai campus of the US-based Rochester Institute of Technology in Dubai Silicon Oasis, awarding American degrees in engineering, computing, cybersecurity and business.

The Dubai campus of Hult International Business School, a triple-accredited global business school with rotation campuses in Boston, London, San Francisco and Dubai.

The Dubai campus of Australia's Curtin University in Dubai International Academic City, awarding Australian degrees in business, IT, engineering and data science.

Opened in 2024 as a partnership between Switzerland's Les Roches and DCT Abu Dhabi, this is Les Roches' first Middle East campus, blending Swiss hospitality pedagogy with Emirati culture at Zayed Sports City.

A global business school with a major campus in Dubai International Academic City and campuses in Mumbai, Singapore and Sydney, known for international business, management and data-science programs.

One of the largest private medical and health-sciences universities in the Gulf, offering MBBS, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing and allied health programs to students from 90+ nationalities.

The Dubai campus of Australia's Murdoch University in Dubai Knowledge Park, awarding Australian degrees in business, media, IT and psychology.

A specialized hospitality-management school in Dubai associated with the Jumeirah Group, with curriculum links to Switzerland's École hôtelière de Lausanne.

A federal university with modern campuses in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, offering US-accredited programs in business, communication, IT, education and humanities. Originally for Emirati women, now coeducational.

The Dubai campus of London's Middlesex University, awarding UK degrees across business, computing, media, law and psychology. One of the largest branch campuses in Dubai by enrolment.

The first private medical college in the UAE, established in 1986, offering an MBBS program primarily to female students with a long-standing reputation in medical education.

The first specialized medical university in the northern emirates, offering medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and nursing programs in Ras Al Khaimah.

The Dubai campus of the UK's De Montfort University in Dubai International Academic City, awarding UK degrees in business, computing, engineering and law.

A specialized aviation and aerospace university in Dubai, the educational arm of the Emirates Group, offering aeronautical engineering, aircraft maintenance and aviation-management programs.

The UAE's largest federal applied higher-education institution, operating 16+ campuses nationwide (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Al Ain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and more). It focuses on applied bachelor's and diploma programs.

A government academy specializing in safety, security, defence, emergency preparedness and crisis management, offering civilian bachelor's and master's degrees alongside professional training.

A research-based, postgraduate-focused university in Dubai International Academic City with academic partnerships with UK institutions, offering master's and doctoral programs.

A private university affiliated with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, with an AACSB-accredited business college plus law, IT and engineering programs near Academic City.

The Dubai campus of Saudi Arabia's Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences, focused on medical and health-sciences education linked to Fakeeh University Hospital.

The Ras Al Khaimah campus of Scotland's University of Stirling, awarding UK degrees in accounting, finance, business, computing and data science.

A government health-sciences college with campuses in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra, offering bachelor's degrees in nursing, pharmacy and allied health professions.

A private university with campuses in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi, offering bachelor's, master's and PhD programs across engineering, business, law, pharmacy, education and media.

A specialized private business school in Abu Dhabi offering undergraduate and graduate management programs, including an MBA and DBA, with a focus on leadership and entrepreneurship.

A government college in Abu Dhabi specializing in teacher education and educational leadership, offering bachelor's and master's degrees in education.

A government applied-technology institution offering bachelor's and diploma programs in specialized engineering fields including nuclear technology, aerospace and information security.

A US-accredited private university in Dubai Media City offering American-style programs in business, engineering, architecture, design and communication. One of Dubai's oldest private universities.

A private Canadian-curriculum university on Sheikh Zayed Road offering business, engineering, communication, architecture and health programs, with transfer pathways to Canadian partner universities.

The Dubai campus of India's Manipal Academy in Dubai International Academic City, offering engineering, business, media, design and computer applications with on-campus residential facilities.

Dubai's government-backed smart university focused on blended and online learning in business, health, education, quality management and Islamic banking.

The Dubai campus of the German University of Europe for Applied Sciences, offering business, design, technology and management programs in a German applied-sciences model.

A private Islamic university in University City Sharjah focused on Sharia, Islamic studies, Arabic language and humanities, known for fully-funded scholarships to international students from 120+ countries.

A government university established by Emiri Decree in 2022 on Sharjah's east coast, comprising five colleges and notable for marine sciences in partnership with the University of Exeter.

A government conservatoire in University City Sharjah dedicated to the performing arts, offering BA degrees in acting, musical theatre and production arts to students from 40+ countries.

The Sharjah campus of the Egypt-headquartered Arab Academy, established in 2019 as its first campus outside Egypt, specializing in maritime sciences, transport, logistics, engineering and business.

A government-affiliated American-model university in Ras Al Khaimah, awarding US-accredited degrees in engineering, business, arts & sciences and education.

The first British university campus in Ras Al Khaimah (since 2008), awarding UK degrees in engineering, business, psychology, accountancy and law with on-site residences.

The first Canadian public university branch campus in the MENA region, opened in Ras Al Khaimah in 2025, offering applied business and management programs.

A private American-curriculum university in Dubai International Academic City, offering programs across business, law, media, computer information technology, security and design.

A government maritime academy in Khorfakkan, the only UAE institution offering CAA-accredited baccalaureate degrees in maritime education, specializing in marine engineering, transport and logistics.

The Ras Al Khaimah campus of the UK's Birmingham City University in the RAKEZ Academic Zone, awarding UK degrees in engineering, computing, business and accounting.

The Dubai campus of India's Amity Education Group in Dubai International Academic City, offering affordable business, engineering, IT and law programs popular with South Asian families.

The Dubai campus of India's Institute of Management Technology in Dubai International Academic City, specializing in business and management education.

A government university inaugurated in 2023 in Kalba on the UAE's east coast, offering bachelor's programs across five colleges, with a sport-science program developed with Monash University.

The UK University of West London's first overseas branch campus, in the RAKEZ Academic Zone, awarding UK degrees in business, accounting, computing and cyber security.

Formerly Skyline University College (founded 1990 in Sharjah), Horizon University College relocated to Ajman in 2025 under its new name, focused on business and computing.

The Ras Al Khaimah academic centre of the UK's Bath Spa University, awarding UK degrees in business, creative computing and psychology.

A private university in Fujairah on the UAE's east coast, offering programs in medicine, business, engineering, law and computer science to the northern emirates.

A small private American-curriculum college in Al Garhoud offering associate and bachelor programs with US credit-transfer pathways in business, communication, IT and liberal arts.

A private Dubai university in Dubai Academic City offering programs in business, engineering, IT, architecture and interior design.

The Dubai campus of Pakistan's SZABIST in Dubai Academic City, offering business, computing, management and media programs.

A private university in Ajman established in 2012 and granted full university status in 2022, offering business, law, media, technology and dentistry programs.

The first university of the Umm Al Quwain emirate, sponsored by the Ruler of Umm Al Quwain. It offers colleges of business, law, mass communication and arts & sciences, with a new College of Computer Science from 2026/27.

A private Dubai university offering programs in business, interior design, IT, education and psychology, with on-campus and online learning options.

The Dubai campus of Russia's Synergy University, offering affordable business, finance, marketing and hospitality-management programs.