One of the perks of living in the capital is the abundance of educational facilities available for students of all ages. This includes some of the best universities in Abu Dhabi, known for their undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. If you are considering enrolling in one of these top Abu Dhabi universities, here is all the information you will need.
LIST OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN ABU DHABI
Our list of best universities in Abu Dhabi includes some of the most prestigious names in the emirate. If you’re wondering “How many universities are there in Abu Dhabi?”, currently the emirate has over 15 universities. We have also included some of the best colleges and other licensed higher education institutes in the emirate, so you can choose an option that is ideal for your educational needs.
TOP UNIVERSITIES IN ABU DHABI
MOHAMED BIN ZAYED UNIVERSITY OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) is a research-based academic institute. It offers MSc and PhD programmes in the field of Artificial Intelligence to promote scientific research and development in the UAE. Students who meet the university’s admission criteria can avail of a 100% scholarship for Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Computer Vision for full-time degree programmes.
- Best for: Machine Learning, Computer Vision
- Location: Masdar City, Abu Dhabi
- Fees: Varies, All admitted candidates for full-time programmes are eligible for a 100% scholarship.
- Contact: +971-2-811-3333
EMIRATES INSTITUTE FOR BANKING AND FINANCIAL STUDIES
The Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies or EIBFS was founded in 1983 and has three campuses in Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, respectively. The institute provides career-oriented academic programmes and training sessions in the fields of banking and finance. Courses offered at the institute include Bachelors in Banking & Finance Accounting, Bachelors in Banking & Finance, Diploma in Banking and Diploma in Islamic Banking. Other than these, there is also a list of certificate courses offered at EIBFS.
- Best for: Banking and Finance
- Location: Al Moroor St., next to the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research
- Fees: AED 23.7k to AED 28.5k (Average)
- Contact: +971-2-446-4666
RABDAN ACADEMY
Rabdan Academy is a government university accredited by CAA. Founded in 2013, the institute offers professional qualifications in safety, security, defence, emergency and crisis management. The academy focuses on providing training and learning opportunities for individuals and organisations in these sectors.
- Best for: Crisis management, Security and defense
- Location: 11th Floor, ADNIC Building
- Fees: Contact for a complete fee structure
- Contact: +971-2-599-9111
KHAWARIZMI INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE
Established in 1985, Khawarizmi International College (KIC) is one of the best universities in Abu Dhabi with two campuses in the emirate. Accredited by the UAE’s Ministry of Education, KIC is known for its highly qualified staff. The college offers associate and bachelor degrees as well as short courses across a range of disciplines.
- Best for: Business Administration, Healthcare & Medical, Islamic Finance
- Location: Near Deerfield Mall, Al Shahama Road, Al Bahia (Abu Dhabi) | Al Meryal, Next to Al Towayya Park (Al Ain)
- Fees: Varies with course
- Contact: +971-2-201-5000 (Abu Dhabi) | +971-3-708-7777 (Al Ain)
PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN ABU DHABI
HIGHER COLLEGES OF TECHNOLOGY
Higher Colleges of Technology is a public university that was established in Abu Dhabi in 1988. This institute also has over 20,000 students. HCT is officially recognised by the Ministry of Education UAE and is also ranked as one of the best universities in Abu Dhabi. Students can choose from its business and science degrees, among other disciplines. The institute has a separate campus for both men and women.
- Best for: Business Communication, Computer Science, Engineering
- Location: Hazza Bin Zayed Street, Al Dhafrah (Women’s Campus) | Al Saada Street W / Shakhbout Bin Sultan Street, Al Nahyan (Men’s Campus)
- Fees: Varies with the course | AED 2,100 – AED 2,500 per credit hour (Summer Courses)
- Contact: +971-800-69-428 (Women’s campus), +971-2-206-2444 (Men’s campus)
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNIVERSITY
Having a large student body of over 20,000 pupils, the UAE University is one of the top universities in Abu Dhabi. It is accredited with the Ministry of Education UAE and is located in the suburban area of Al Ain. Students can choose from a range of disciplines here.
- Best for: Accounting, Agriculture & Forestry, Arabic, Architecture
- Location: Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, Al Ain
- Fees: AED 1,900 to AED 3,000 per credit hour for international students applying for undergraduate courses | AED 1,600 to AED 2,750 per credit hour for masters programmes
- Contact: +971-3-767-3333
ZAYED UNIVERSITY ABU DHABI
Named after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE, Zayed University is also one of the top-ranked universities in the world. It was opened in 1998 to create the right learning opportunities for deserving students.
- Best for: Animation, Business Administration, Graphic Design, Interior Design
- Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Fees: AED 84k – 128k, depending on the program
- Contact: +971-2-599-3111
PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES IN ABU DHABI
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY ABU DHABI
Founded in 2010, New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) is one of the private universities in Abu Dhabi. The institute is one of the best international universities in Abu Dhabi. It is accredited by the Ministry of Education UAE and has over 2,000 students. It is a co-educational institute offering a diverse range of courses and programmes.
- Best for: Art and Media, Psychology, Engineering Programmes
- Location: Saadiyat Marina District
- Fees: Varies for different programmes
- Contact: +971-2-628-4000
ALHOSN UNIVERSITY
Hosting students from more than 41 different nationalities, Alhosn University is a prestigious private institute that was established in 2005. The university aims to prepare students for the future with its well-planned curriculum and a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
It caters to a range of disciplines including industrial engineering, software engineering, education, urban planning, business and more.
- Best for: Engineering, Arts and Design and Business Studies
- Location: Opposite Sheikh Sultan Stadium, Al Musalia
- Fees: AED 35k to AED 55k
- Contact: +971-58-662-8583
SORBONNE UNIVERSITY ABU DHABI
A branch of the celebrated Sorbonne University in Paris, this university in Abu Dhabi was established in 2006. It is a private university having around 1,000 students. The co-educational institute is officially accredited by the Ministry of Education UAE. Located in Al Reem Island, Sorbonne University is an ideal choice for students renting an apartment in Al Reem Island.
- Best for: Archaeology, Banking, Business Communication, Economics
- Location: Al Reem Island
- Fees: AED 2,700 per year (tuition and administration fees) | AED 48,700 – AED 215,100
- Contact: +971-2-656-9555
ENGINEERING UNIVERSITIES IN ABU DHABI
NEW YORK INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
The New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) opened up in Abu Dhabi in 2005. It is a co-educational institute and is accredited by the UAE Ministry of Education. You can choose from a variety of graduate and postgraduate programmes at this university.
- Best for: Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Location: CERT Technology Park, Al Muroor Road, Next to Dusit Thani Hotel
- Fees for undergraduate programmes: Varies depending on the programme
- Contact: +971-2-404-8523
KHALIFA UNIVERSITY
Established in 2007, Khalifa University is one of the popular higher education institutes which also has a campus in Sharjah. In order to be eligible for admissions, students need to have good academic credentials and perform well for the entrance exam. It has a very stringent admission rate of 0-10%, making it quite a selective university. Apart from engineering, Khalifa University is one of the best medical universities in Abu Dhabi.
- Best for: Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering
- Location: Zone 1
- Fees:
- AED 3,333 per credit hour (Undergraduate Programme)
- AED 5,000 per credit hour (Graduate Programme)
- AED 6,666 per credit hour (Postgraduate Programme)
- Contact: +971-2-312-3333
ABU DHABI UNIVERSITY
Accredited with both the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the Ministry of Education UAE, Abu Dhabi University is one of the top engineering universities in Abu Dhabi and has several branches in the UAE. It has around 5,000 students, making it a medium-sized institution. Abu Dhabi University is also quite selective in the intake of students.
- Best for: Cyber Security Engineering, Robotics Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Software Engineering
- Location: Abu Dhabi and Al Ain
- Average Fees: From AED 14,40 per credit hour (Undergraduate Programmes) per credit hour, From AED 2,835 per credit hour (Postgraduate Programmes)
- Contact: +971-2-501-5555
BUSINESS SCHOOLS IN ABU DHABI
ABU DHABI SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
Abu Dhabi School of Management is a business school offering specialisation in entrepreneurship, management, and leadership. Founded by the Abu Dhabi Chamber, the university has employed local and international academics who provide an upscale education to students. All educational programmes offered at ADSM are accredited by the UAE Ministry of Education.
- Best for: Business and Leadership
- Location: Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan St
- Fees: AED 110,000 – AED 135,000
- Contact: +971-2-691-7811
EMIRATES COLLEGE FOR ADVANCED EDUCATION (ECAE)
Located in Khalifa City A, Emirates College for Advanced Education is a popular college in Abu Dhabi. It offers graduate and postgraduate programmes which are accredited by the Ministry of Education in the UAE.
- Best for: Business Development, Project Management
- Location: Khalifa City A
- Fees: Varies with the programme
- Contact: +971-2-509-9999
EMIRATES COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY
This is one of the most popular colleges in Abu Dhabi which was founded in 1993. In addition to its regular degrees, this co-educational institute also offers a number of diplomas and associate professional degrees to support the career goals of students.
- Best for: Business Administration, Public Relations
- Location: Baniyas Tower, Fatima Bint Mubarak Street
- Fees: Depends based on the course
- Contact: +971-6-005-006-06
In addition to the aforementioned institutions, here is a list of well-known, cheap universities in Abu Dhabi include:
- Fatima College of Health Sciences
- Institute of Applied Technology
- European International College (EIC)
- University of Strathclyde Business School
- Syscoms College Abu Dhabi
FAQs
HOW MANY UNIVERSITIES ARE IN ABU DHABI?
There are more than 20 universities in Abu Dhabi. While some are funded by the government, others are private universities.
HOW CAN I APPLY TO ABU DHABI UNIVERSITY?
Expats applying to Abu Dhabi University must:
- Complete the online form and pay the fee.
- Submit a copy of your residence visa and passport.
- Submit a NOC letter by your home university.
WHERE IS ABU DHABI UNIVERSITY LOCATED?
Abu Dhabi University is located in Zayed City.
Please note that Al Hosn University and the New York Institute of Technology are temporarily closed until further notice.
That brings an end to our list of universities in Abu Dhabi UAE. There are many universities in Al Ain as well.
Other emirates in the UAE also have reputed higher education institutes for students. In fact, Sharjah has a whole neighbourhood dedicated to institutes of higher education. There are many universities in Sharjah that students can consider, including the highly acclaimed American University of Sharjah. Similarly, the many universities in Dubai also offer an array of academic programmes for students interested in building a successful professional career.
If you are keen on pursuing a career in technology, architecture or engineering, there are several engineering colleges and universities in Dubai. Similarly, students aiming to pursue a career as a doctor, nurse, pharmacist or allied medical professional, can look into the top medical colleges in the UAE.
The presence of such a variety of options is one of the many reasons why international students opt to study in the UAE.
Have you studied at any of these universities in Abu Dhabi? Let us know more about your experience in the comments section below.
