“I am going to Dubai.” What did this statement use to convey about a decade or two ago? It meant that you had got a nice job in Dubai. In fact, it was the favoured location for many an Indian youngster in the nineties and the early part of the 21st century. Of course, even today, it is one of the best places in the world to earn a living. However, do you know that Dubai is also one of the best locations in the world to pursue your MBA degree? Does it surprise you? It should not because there are more than 119 MBA programs from 51 universities in Dubai.
It makes the choice of an MBA in Dubai a challenging task. We shall explore some of the top universities in Dubai and discuss various aspects like the application process, admission requirements, fees, and so on.
Where do I pursue my MBA in Dubai?
You have a plethora of universities offering on-campus courses and online programs. You will find some of the top universities in the world like the University of Wollongong, Middlesex University and so on in Dubai’s Knowledge Villa. Similarly, you have the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Dubai International Academic Centre (DIAC) where you can find these universities having a presence. If you are looking for an Indian flavour, you can try out the Manipal University in DIAC.
How about an online MBA degree?
As we have seen above, people go to Dubai on a job visa. It makes sense to enhance their qualifications to cope up with the demands of the industry. Their responsibilities with the companies they work do not allow them to pursue on-campus MBA courses. Hence, the online MBA degree has become popular. Secondly, it provides a cheaper option as compared to the on-campus courses. Some of the universities in Dubai offer the best of both the worlds. You get an excellent blend of classroom support for the online MBA programs.
How much does it cost to do an MBA in Dubai?
The fees for pursuing MBA in Dubai range between AED 30,000 and AED 60,000.
What about part-time MBAs?
Yes, you have the system of pursuing part-time MBA degrees in Dubai because a significant proportion of students are working professionals. Instead of the regular one-year course, the part-timers take two years to complete the MBA. You have a specialized course in Dubai; the Executive MBA also known as EMBA. It is the perfect course for executives and senior-level managers.
After MBA, What?
Qualified persons get excellent jobs in Dubai. That should not be a problem at all.
Let us now look at some of the top universities offering MBA degrees in Dubai.
| Name of University | 1. Amity University (Dubai Campus) |
| Course | MBA |
| Duration | Two years |
| Overview of the Course | Prepare students for senior management and executive level positions
Focus on developing managerial competencies that include critical thinking, systems thinking, and so on Develop decision-making skills and ethical leadership qualities |
| Entry Requirements | 3-year Undergraduate degree from a recognized university with a minimum of 50%
Basic understanding of the running of any business Overall IELTS Score of 6 with a minimum of 5 in each band OR TOEFL Score 79 Two reference letters, Personal Statement of purpose, Personal Interview |
| Fees and Expenses | First Year fees – AED 45,000 amounting to ₹ 8,38,800
Other Expenses – AED 25,100 approximately equal to ₹ 4,68,000 |
| Placement Opportunities | Finance, marketing, Banking, General Management, HRD, PR, and so on |
| Scholarships | At present, there are no scholarships, but you can apply in the UAE. |
| Name of University | 2. Manipal Academy of Higher Education (Dubai Campus) |
| Course | MBA |
| Duration | Two years |
| Overview of the Course | Acquaints students with the necessary accounting skills, communication, analytical, and IT
Develop skills in marketing, Finance, HRD, and so on |
| Entry Requirements | Class 12th – No Cut Off
Bachelor’s Degree – No Cut Off Proficient in English – IELTS accepted |
| Fees and Expenses | First Year fees – AED 39,000 amounting to ₹ 7,27,000
Other Expenses – AED 31,600 approximately equal to ₹ 5,89,000 |
| Placement Opportunities | Finance, marketing, Banking, General Management, HRD, PR, and so on |
| Scholarships | Merit Scholarship – Waiver on tuition fees – UG with less than 3 years’ experience and 70% and above – 10%
UG with more than 3 years’ experience and 60% and above – 10% Sports scholarships in the range of 5% to 50% on tuition fee for students representing national and state teams Alumni Scholarships – 15% waiver for students having CGPA 9 and above on 10 point scale and 3.6 and above on 4 point scale |
| Name of University | 3. BITS Pilani (Dubai Campus) |
| Course | MBA |
| Duration | Two years |
| Overview of the Course | Create a workforce with scientific and engineering approach to business administration
Courses offered exclusively for engineers About 15 to 20 named courses |
| Entry Requirements | Bachelor’s Degree – 60%
Degrees like B.E., B.Tech, M.Sc, and M.C.A. IELTS – No score specified TOEFL – 80 Statement of Purpose and 2 Letters of Recommendation |
| Fees and Expenses | First Year fees – AED 32,550 amounting to ₹ 6,07,000
Other Expenses – AED 35,681 approximately equal to ₹ 6,65,000 |
| Placement Opportunities | Engineering Companies especially the Oil Sector |
| Scholarships | At present, there are no scholarships, but you can apply in the UAE. |
| Name of University | 4. IMT Dubai |
| Course | MBA |
| Duration | Two years |
| Overview of the Course | Students get an opportunity to learn in real-world settings outside the classroom
Analyse and solve problems through critical and creative thinking Develop strategies and solutions to business issues Develop managerial skills such as leadership |
| Entry Requirements | Bachelor’s Degree – 3.00 GPA
Overall IELTS Score of 6 with a minimum of 5 in each band OR TOEFL Score 79 OR PTE Score of 50 Students with lower CGPA can get admission in the EMBA Program Online applications – SOP with a minimum of 300 words |
| Fees and Expenses | First Year fees – AED 46,000 amounting to ₹ 8,57,000
Other Expenses – AED 27,700 approximately equal to ₹ 5,03,000 |
| Placement Opportunities | Landmark, UAE Exchange, Redington, Thomson Reuters, and so on |
| Scholarships | At present, there are no scholarships, but you can apply in the UAE. |
| Name of University | 5. Westford University College |
| Course | MBA by Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK |
| Duration | 12 to 15 months |
| Overview of the Course | MBA offered by Westford in association with Cardiff Metropolitan University and Edexcel
Includes a PG (Level-7) Extended Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Prepare students to excel in strategic level positions Manage products and services that are competitive internationally International study trip |
| Entry Requirements | 3-year Undergraduate degree from a recognized university
Non-graduates with 5 years of supervisory or managerial level work experience Overall IELTS Score of 6 with a minimum of 5 in each band OR TOEFL Score 79 |
| Fees and Expenses | First Year fees – AED 44,000 amounting to ₹ 8,20,000 |
| Placement Opportunities | Citi Bank and HSBC |
| Scholarships | At present, there are no scholarships, but you can apply in the UAE. |
| Name of University | 6. Abu Dhabi University |
| Course | MBA |
| Duration | One and a half to Two years |
| Overview of the Course | Prepare students for senior management and executive level positions
Focus on developing managerial competencies that include critical thinking, systems thinking, and so on Develop decision-making skills and ethical leadership qualities |
| Entry Requirements | 3-year Undergraduate degree from a recognized university with a minimum of 3.0 CGPA out of 4
Students with a non-business degree should take pre-core courses in Financial Accounting, Managerial Economics, Quantitative Methods in Business, and Introduction to Management Overall IELTS Score of 6 with a minimum of 5 in each band OR TOEFL Score 79 Two reference letters, Personal Statement of purpose, Personal Interview |
| Fees and Expenses | First Year fees – AED 53,554 amounting to ₹ 9,98,000
Other Expenses – AED 19,170 approximately equal to ₹ 3,57,000 |
| Placement Opportunities | Finance, marketing, Banking, General Management, HRD, PR, and so on |
| Scholarships | At present, there are no scholarships, but you can apply in the UAE. |
| Name of University | 7. University of Wollongong |
| Course | MBA |
| Duration | One year |
| Overview of the Course | Provides students with the strategic and operational knowledge and skills
Strong foundation in basic managerial concepts Promotes teamwork, independent learning, critical thinking, and practical skills development |
| Entry Requirements | 3-year Undergraduate degree from a recognized university with a minimum of 50%
CGPA 8 out of 10 or 3 out of 4 Overall IELTS Score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6 in each band OR TOEFL Score 88 OR PTE Score of 64 with minimum 59 in all bands Two reference letters, Personal Statement of purpose, Personal Interview, Online application |
| Fees and Expenses | First Year fees – AED 100,440 amounting to ₹ 18,72,000
Other Expenses – AED 4,591 approximately equal to ₹ 86,000 |
| Placement Opportunities | Business Development Managers, CFOs, CIOs, General Managers. HR Managers, Marketing Directors |
| Scholarships | At present, there are no scholarships, but you can apply in the UAE. |
| Name of University | 8. S P Jain School of Global Management (Dubai Campus) |
| Course | MBA – Master of Global Business |
| Duration | 16 months |
| Overview of the Course | Ideally designed for graduates with little or no work experience
Prepares applicants to adapt to different business cultures Specialisation in Global Finance, Global Logistics & Supply Chain Management, E-Business, and Contemporary Marketing Management 4 months each at 3 campuses and 4 months of internship |
| Entry Requirements | 3-year Undergraduate degree from a recognized university
GMAT – 650 out of 800, CAT – 80th percentile, SPJAT – 80th percentile Overall IELTS Score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6 in each band OR TOEFL Score 79 OR PTE Score – 60 Personal Interview |
| Fees and Expenses | First Year fees – USD 21,500 amounting to ₹ 14,72,000
Other Expenses – USD 21,460 approximately equal to ₹ 14,69,000 |
| Placement Opportunities | DELL, Genpact |
| Scholarships | At present, there are no scholarships, but you can apply in the UAE. |
| Name of University | 9. Hult International Business School |
| Course | MBA – Master of International Business |
| Duration | One year |
| Overview of the Course | Students develop a deep understanding of fundamental concepts of global business
Six available specializations Gain a global perspective of Finance, marketing, operations, economy, and strategic |
| Entry Requirements | 3-year Undergraduate degree from a recognized university
Overall IELTS Score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6 in each band TOEFL and PTE accepted Online application Two LORs required |
| Fees and Expenses | First Year fees – AED 1,58,500 amounting to ₹ 29,55,000
Other Expenses – AED 38,100 approximately equal to ₹ 7,10,000 |
| Placement Opportunities | NA |
| Scholarships | At present, there are no scholarships, but you can apply in the UAE. |
We have seen 9 of the top MBA courses in Dubai. Dubai is an excellent place to complete your higher education.