City guide
Abu Dhabi: studying in United Arab Emirates
Verified information about Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates and the universities located there.
Verified facts about Abu Dhabi
- ADEK regulates higher-education institutions in Abu Dhabi and publishes a list of authorised institutions (u.ae; ADEK).
- Home of Khalifa University and NYU Abu Dhabi per ADEK/university pages.
- Khalifa University undergraduate housing AED 20,000 per fall/spring term (single occupancy in double room) or AED 10,000 (double occupancy); priority for first-year and international students; security deposit AED 2,000.
- NYU Abu Dhabi 2026-27 budget: housing USD 6,000 and food USD 5,800 per year (university plan).
Universities in Abu Dhabi
New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD)
Abu Dhabi · Private
Tuition USD 68,574 for 2026-27; student health insurance USD 2,416, books USD 1,730, food USD 5,800, housing USD 6,000, personal USD 2,364, transportation USD 3,550; total estimated cost of attendance USD 90,434 (fall and spring only). VAT applies to insurance and meal plan. Need-based aid available to applicants of all citizenships.
Khalifa University of Science and Technology
Abu Dhabi · Public
BSc AED 2,500 per credit hour (estimated AED 81,250 per year, 4 years); MSc AED 5,000 per credit hour (estimated AED 155,000, 1 year); PhD AED 6,666 per credit hour (AED 95,000-100,000 per year, 4-5 years). Increases limited to 5% per academic year. Housing AED 20,000 per fall/spring term (single in double room) or AED 10,000 (double); security deposit AED 2,000.
Zayed University
Dubai and Abu Dhabi · Public
AED 2,500 per credit hour for non-national (international) students and self-funding nationals; application fee AED 250 + VAT; instalments: fall 50% by end of add/drop week, 25% by 30 September, 25% by 30 October; spring 50%/25% (28 February)/25% (30 March); summer 100% at registration.
Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches
Abu Dhabi · Private
Abu Dhabi Polytechnic
Abu Dhabi · Public
Abu Dhabi School of Management
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi University
Abu Dhabi
Ain Al Khaleej University of Health Sciences
Abu Dhabi
Al Ain University (formerly: Al Ain University of Science & Technology)
Abu Dhabi
Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (formerly: Emirates Diplomatic Academy)
Abu Dhabi
Emirates Academy for Identity & Citizenship (formerly: Emirates Institute for Citizenship and Residence)
Abu Dhabi
Emirates College for Advanced Education
Abu Dhabi
Experiential College
Abu Dhabi · Private
Fatima College of Health Sciences
Abu Dhabi
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi – Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi · Private
INSEAD- the Business School for the World, Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi · Private
Joint Command and Staff College - Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi · Private
Khalifa Bin Zayed Air College
Abu Dhabi
Liwa University (formerly: Liwa College, Liwa College of Technology)
Abu Dhabi
Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities (formerly: Mohammed V University- Abu Dhabi)
Abu Dhabi
Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence
Abu Dhabi
National Defense College
Abu Dhabi
Police College, Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi · Public
Rabdan Academy
Abu Dhabi
Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum Naval College
Abu Dhabi
Russian University
Abu Dhabi · Private
Sorbonne University, Abu Dhabi (formerly: Paris Sorbonne University, Abu Dhabi)
Abu Dhabi · Private
Zayed II Military College
Abu Dhabi
Cost information for United Arab Emirates
The information below is not specific to Abu Dhabi; it applies to United Arab Emirates as a whole.
- Monthly living cost (country-level)
- No national government living-cost figure found. University of Birmingham Dubai publishes a student estimate for Dubai: single-room rent AED 4,600 per month (full academic-year contract), groceries AED 1,000, recreation AED 600, mobile AED 160, taxi travel AED 500 = AED 6,860 per month excluding visa. Khalifa University (Abu Dhabi) undergraduate housing AED 20,000 per fall/spring term (single occupancy in a double room) or AED 10,000 (double occupancy), graduate students AED 2,000-3,000 per month. NYU Abu Dhabi 2026-27 budget: housing USD 6,000, food USD 5,800, books USD 1,730, personal USD 2,364 per year (university-specific). University of Sharjah undergraduate dorms AED 2,520 (triple) to AED 11,740 (deluxe single) per fall/spring semester. Zayed University states it does not provide accommodation. Treat all as university-specific indicators, not city averages.Source
- Accommodation (country-level)
- University-provided: Khalifa University gives accommodation to international students and students living outside Abu Dhabi (priority for first-year and international students; AED 10,000-20,000 per fall/spring term for undergraduates); University of Sharjah operates dorms (AED 2,520-11,740 per semester); UAEU lists an international undergraduate housing rate of AED 5,000 per semester on an undated page; NYU Abu Dhabi has an on-campus living requirement for its residential college; Zayed University does not provide accommodation; University of Birmingham Dubai and Heriot-Watt Dubai point to partner accommodation and shuttle buses (fees not retrieved).Source
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