Cost of Living in UAE for International Students

Moving up the charts in recent times UAE has acquired a popular place among the top study abroad destinations for its tax-free earnings, 14.7% cheaper living rates as compared to the USA, and rankings among QS Best Student City. In these rankings, Sharjah stands at 75, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi at 60 and 80, respectively. This reflects UAE’s status of education and Emirati culture.

It is estimated that the average cost of living in UAE for a single person is 8,200 AED. This is approximately 133.27% higher than the average cost of living in India. Additionally, you would also have to pay an average tuition fee of 27,000 AED(7.47 lakhs INR) annually. Hence, viable accommodation options and cheaper lifestyle choices become important for those looking to reduce their cost of living in the UAE while pursuing higher education.

Explore: Scholarships to Study in UAE

Cost Of Living in UAE: Travel Guide

A one-way flight ticket from India to Dubai or Sharjah would cost you around 17,000-34,750 INR. While traveling, it is recommended you have all the following documents:

Offer letter from the accepted university
Passport
LOR
UAE student visa
CV and other documents that had to be submitted for your admissions.

Upon your arrival, you would have to produce all the documents at the Immigration center. After verification, you can pass through customs and declare any restricted items. Finally, you can collect your luggage and head out to your accommodation. However, before stepping into the city, ensure you have around 500-600 AED for your travel expenses.

UAE Travel Restrictions

Owing to the recent COVID-19 upsurge, UAE has now banned all flights from India. All candidates returning/planning to travel to Emirates, must now spend 14 days in any other country before setting out for UAE. Thus if you have taken admission to universities of UAE, your classes would be online until the borders open.

Cost of Living in UAE: Transportation

The main modes of local transportation include trains and taxis. All the major student cities like Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu-Dhabi have monthly passes for local transportation. Not only is it easier than handling cash, but recharging it periodically ensures you’re never short on transport money. Here are the transportation rates for the three major student cities which you may spend on a daily basis:

City	Taxi fare	Local Transport	Monthly Pass
Dubai	12.00 AED	5.00 AED	300.00 AED
Sharjah	13.00 AED	8.00 AED	250.00 AED
Abu-Dhabi	12.00 AED	2.00 AED	80.00 AED

Miscellaneous Costs of Living in UAE

Apart from local transportation, you would incur costs on other activities like leisure, internet, and other utilities. The below-mentioned chart would give you a concise idea of the same, on a monthly basis:

City	Utility( Electricity, Water, Cooling, Heating)	Internet
Abu-Dhabi	510.87 AED	372.91 AED
Sharjah	641.30 AED	361.58 AED
Dubai	666.27 AED	353.70 AED

Cost of Living in UAE: Accommodation

Student accommodation in the UAE can either be provided by the universities or they may look for private housing options. Residences provided by UAE universities are of the two types-

On-Campus accommodation
Off-Campus accommodation

On-Campus Accommodation in UAE

Most of the national universities offer on-campus housing to international students. All the accommodations offer 24*7 internet facilities.Some of the rates are tabulated below:

University Name	City	Rates( in AED)
BITS Pilani	Dubai	15,000 per semester
Amity University	Dubai	40,000 per year
Manipal University	Dubai	35,500 per year for a single room and 25,500 for triple share
Gulf Medical University	Ajman	2615 per month
Abu Dhabi University	Abu Dhabi	1450 per term for a single room and 7,600 for twin sharing
United Arab Emirates University	Abu Dhabi	Hostel fees are 5000 per semester
American University of Sharjah	Sharjah	18,560 per year for twin sharing and 34,360 for a single room
Khalifa University	Abu Dhabi	20,000 per semester

The foreign universities which have their branches in UAE do not have hostel facilities on the campus. Instead, institutes like the University of Wollongong, Middlesex University, University of Birmingham Hult International Business School etc collaborate with hospitality agencies like The Myriad. These in turn provide hotels for accommodation of international students. The rates and housing types are tabulated below:

University Name	Residence Name	Accommodation rates (in USD) and types
University Of Wollongong	Al Salam Apartments	5,000 for a 1-Bedroom and 140,000 for a 2-Bedroom yearly
	Mercure Hotel Apartments	78,000 for a 1-bedroom and 93,600 for a 2-bedroom yearly
	Signature Hotel Apartments & Spa	66,000 yearly for 1-bedroom 17,971 yearly for 2-bedroom
	The Myriad( Studio housing, rooms and apartments available)	Depends on the type opted for.
University Of Birmingham	DSOA University Residence	2300 monthly for twin sharing and 3,900 for single room
University Of Birmingham	Uninest Student Residences	2950 for twin sharing and 4,500 for single room
Middlesex University	The Myriad ( Only rooms available)	3,200 per month for single share & 2000 for twin share

Cost of Off-Campus Accommodation in UAE

For those seeking other accommodation options like private housing, or rented flats to share with their friends, such options are also available in UAE. Usually rented flats are the most preferred form of accommodation for off-campus accommodation.

The total cost of renting a flat usually depends on various factors like proximity to the university, apartment type, etc. Renting a full flat will cost you around 8,922.07 AED per month, which is 107,064.84 AED annually. Add to this your monthly utility costs of 1026.93AED.

As you can see, the total expense of renting a flat is about triple times higher when compared to the on-campus housing rate of 35,500AED per year. Thus it is advisable to share your flat with college mates to reduce your cost of living by a considerable amount.

Other than rented flats, popular housing options include agencies like Uninest and The Myriad. Some foreign universities partner with these to provide accommodation to their students.All the flats are fully furnished, and the inmates have access to Wifi and other amenities 24*7. The rates are as follows:

Residence	Location	Rates (in AED)
Uninest	Dubailand	Twin En suite room-2400 per month Studio Ensuite room-4900 per month
The Myriad	Dubai	1590 per month for a single room. Cinema, cafes, etc open to inmates.

However, with every new set of housing options that are available, comes different pros and cons. If we were to suggest you, always opt for on-campus housing. Here’s why:

University Accommodation	Private Housing
No additional cost for utilities	No obstruction of privacy
Better student connectivity	Friends/family allowed to stay over
Cheaper than private housing	Interaction with the city commoners

So make your choice depending on your needs and priorities.

Apart from the cost of basic utilities, accommodation, and transportation, students may indulge in leisurely activities like cinema, gym, and other fitness activities. A brief comparison for the three major cities is given below:

Activities	Abu Dhabi	Sharjah	Dubai
Fitness Club	269.14 AED	186.36 AED	249.24 AED
Cinema	40.00 AED	45.00 AED	40.00 AED
Restaurant meals	30.00 AED	20.00 AED	35.00 AED
Alcoholic beverages and cigarettes	37.32 AED	40 AED	44.74 AED

On the basis of the above statistics, the average cost of living in UAE for an international student is estimated to be 35,000 AED per year(7,07,975.44 INR).

Points to Remember:

In addition to the cost of living in the UAE, applicants are advised to keep the following things in mind:

Which accommodation is best for you: Yes, costs are important for those on a budget. But it can be a little tricky sometimes. Prioritize your needs, plan well and come to a conclusive decision. Remember, you would need to stick with your choice for at least a year.
Research extensively: For an Indian student, who’s stepping to study abroad for the first time, things can be messy. Although we have provided you with a detailed comparison of costs, research your preferred city and find out how life would be there.
Choose your locality wisely: For those opting for private accommodations, it is important to choose your locality wisely. You must consider the distance from university, neighborhood, locality type, and availability of other essentials like medicine stores, etc.

Cost of Living in UAE vs US, UK, Germany

Studying in the UAE is cheaper when compared to other top destinations like the USA, UK, etc. We get a clear idea when the average annual costs of living in other destinations are listed together :

USA- 48,483.53 AED
UK- 62,257.27 AED
Germany- 1,30,024.02 AED
Malaysia -27,731.11 AED

Thus the average annual cost of living in UAE,i.e,35,500 AED( 7,07,975.44 INR) is significantly lower when compared to destinations like the US or UK which cost around 62,257.27 AED (12.41 lakhs INR). In a nutshell, the UAE proves to be a feasible destination for those seeking global exposure at affordable rates.