Being one of seven constituent emirates of the UAE, Dubai can be called the Middle East’s melting pot for its ability to attract a diverse range of businesses, schools, and people. The emerging market in Dubai makes it one of the sought-after destinations for businesses and an MBA in Dubai can pave way for a lucrative career.
As economic growth pitched Dubai onto the international scene, as a key market with promising businesses, top business schools established campus presences and partnerships in Dubai. If you’re searching for the top MBA colleges in Dubai for Indian students, this article will provide you with everything you need to know. Here’s a list of colleges that offer MBA in Dubai:
Address: Academic City Emirates Road, Exit 49, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
History: The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) established this university in 1997. Until the name change in June 2006, it was known as Dubai University College.
Status: Private University
Ranking
Ranked #13 overall by the QS University Rankings of Arab Region (UAE)
Ranked #11 in UAE by Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
Campus
The area of the campus extends over 2,80,000 square meters. Although located in the heart of the city, a few classes are also conducted in the Dubai Chamber in Deira.
Lab and research areas
The research emphasizes elevating strengths, interdisciplinary skills, impactful excellence, international reach, innovation, and symbiotic partnership. Moreover, it possesses various labs such as the Centre for Executive Development (CED), Confucius Institute, and Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Admission cycle
The admission cycle opens thrice every year, with applicants being able to apply only during February, March, and May.
Types of MBA
There are two types:
General MBA
Specialized MBA
MBA specializations
International Business and Marketing
Finance and Accounting
Leadership and HR Management
Operations and Logistics
Credit hours required
General MBA: 120 total credits
Double Major MBA: 148 total credits
College calendar
Mid-August: Advising and registration
September: Term one
November: Term two
February: Term three
May: Term four
International student Information
It’s one of the best MBA colleges in Dubai for Indian students, with an IELTS score of 6 overall. Additionally, there are more than 600 international students from 60 different countries.
Student organization/activities
There are more than 18 clubs and societies, including the Gaming club, Business club, Environmental club, Women council, Youth council, etc.
Career support
Internship and career center to help students one on one
Recruiters are called on campus for placements
Live industry project facility for enhanced development
Work opportunities
This university has a satisfactory placement record when it comes to MBA graduates. Several alumni successfully work in corporate giants like PwC, Deloitte, etc.
Alumni
It’s a relatively new university with a close alumni chain called the University of Dubai Alumni Association (UDAA).
Course fees
International students seeking an MBA degree incur a tuition fee of USD 2,475 (INR 2 lakhs), while a short course costs USD 3,200 (INR 3 lakhs).
Address: Block 5, Academic City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
History: SP Jain founded its Dubai international campus in 2004. It’s one of the most high-tech universities in the UAE.
Status: Private Business School
Ranking
Ranked #81 in the world for its Executive MBA program by Ivy Exec EMBA
Ranked #7 in the Asia Pacific by Ivy Exec EMBA
Campus
Its campus is present in the Dubai International Academic City (DICA) and covers an area of approximately 60,000 square feet. Besides, it consists of learning centers, a library, mock trading rooms, a video conferencing facility, and a Reuter’s terminal.
Lab and research areas
The institution has renowned research capabilities, equipment, and labs. It focuses on practically strategizing business administration ventures through an interdisciplinary approach.
Admission cycle
In 2022, the intake for Executive MBA has started in March, while applications for Global MBA will start in June.
Types of MBA
Global MBA
Executive MBA
Master of Global Business
Master of Artificial Intelligence in Business
MBA specializations
Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Global Finance
Contemporary Marketing Management
Technology Management
Consulting Management
Operations
Entrepreneurship
Credit hours required
Both Global and Executive MBAs require 36 total credits.
College calendar
First Term: June
Second Term: October
Third Term: February
International student information
Two-thirds of the students at the university are international, with the majority of them being from India and Australia.
Student organization/activities
The Toastmakers club, Student Council, CSR & Sustainability club, Magnate Business club, Sports club, etc., are a few examples of the societies at this institution.
Career support
The institute provides various kinds of support to its students. including,
Specialized placement readiness and career development programs
Multinational career service offices with a robust corporate network
Career advancement camp to develop start-up ideas
Work opportunities
MBA graduates from SP Jain School of Global Management go into various fields such as:
Conglomerates: 6%
Logistics and Supply Chain: 15%
IT: 22%
Consulting: 37%
An average salary of USD 29,000 (INR 22 lakhs) received by the graduates from this institution makes this one of the premium colleges that offer MBA in Dubai.
Alumni
The university has housed many notable alumni over the years. Two of them include:
Saurish Nandi: Co-founder and CTO, BlocBox
Kunal Aman: Marketing and Communications Head, SAS India
Course fees
The total compulsory fees for an MBA program in this college will cost an international student around USD 40,198 (INR 30 lakhs)
Address: Sheikh Zayed Rd, Al Sufouh, Al Sufouh 2, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
History
American University, primarily located in Atlanta, opened its doors in Dubai in October 1996. The UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOESR) officially licensed the university in 2000.
Status: Private University
Ranking
Ranked #2 overall by the QS University Rankings of Arab Region (Dubai) 2022
Ranked #28 overall by the QS University Rankings of Arab Region (UAE) 2022
Campus
Situated adjacent to Dubai Media City, Palm Island, and Dubai Internet City, the American University of Dubai sits on an area of 120,000 square meters. Its campus boasts a student center, residence halls, three academic areas, an administration center, open-air sports facilities, and a cafeteria.
Lab and research areas
The Centre of Research, Innovation, and Design assists students and faculties in Engineering related research and offers opportunities to engage in studies with civic, private, and public entities.
Admission cycle
Although the applications for Spring 2022 are closed, registrations for the Summer I 2022 batch extends from 17th March 2022 to 31st March 2022. Additionally, admissions for the Summer II 2022 batch start on 4th April 2022.
Types of MBA
The university offers three types of MBA, namely:
MBA in Managerial Economics
MBA in Marketing Management
MBA in Corporate Finance
MBA specializations
Generalist
Finance
Management
Marketing
Credit hours required
All MBAs offered are 36-hour credit program
College calendar
Spring Term: 9th January 2022
Summer I: 10th May 2022
Summer II: 5th July 2022
International student information
While representing students from 150 different countries, the university boasts a #4 ranking in Faculty Diversity Globally and a #2 ranking in Student Diversity Globally, according to QS World University Rankings 2022.
Student organization/activities
The university consists of various student clubs and organizations that fall under the umbrella of leadership programs, student chapters, special interest clubs, and cultural clubs. Some of these include; Career Ambassadors, A.S.M.E Club (American Association of Mechanical Engineering), AUDMUN (Model United Nations), and African Union Club.
Career support
The university provides various kinds of support to its students, including;
Career Services Offices to help students write resumes and effective cover letters
Provide distinct interview strategies and overall professional development
Conduct regular aptitude assessments and general career counseling
Work opportunities
The MBA graduates from the American University in Dubai boast an average placement percentage of above 90%.
Typically, the following recruiters hire from this university:
Amazon
APCO
BSH
Dabur
Citi
Gsk
L’Oreal
Microsoft
Standard Chartered
PwC
Alumni
Two notable alumni from the university include:
Khaled Abuljebain: Certified Rapid Transformational Therapist & Founder of “Hope It Helps”
Wael Bou Ajram, Senior Consultant, McKinsey & Company
Course fees
Completing MBA from this university will cost students around AED 4,200 (INR 90,000) per credit.
4. University of Wollongong in Dubai
Location, history & affiliations
Address: UOWD Building, Al Sufouh, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
History
Founded in 1993, the University of Wollongong in Dubai is the first international Australian university in the United Arab Emirates. The courses at this university are quality assured by Australia’s national regulator of higher education, Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA).
Status: Private University
Ranking
Ranked #193 in QS World University Rankings 2022
Ranked #14 in the world by QS Top 50 Under 50 Rankings 2021
Ranked #231 in Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021
Campus
Located amidst Dubai’s business district and Dubai Knowledge Park, the campus of the University of Wollongong encompasses a modern structural design. It’s near Dubai Media City and Dubai Internet City, so the university sits in an environment blessed by tech giants such as Microsoft, Huawei, IBM, Microsoft, CNN, etc.
In 2020, the university inaugurated a fresh campus of 200,000 square meters.
Lab and research areas
Although its research spectrum equally focuses on Engineering and Social Sciences, the university possesses a stronghold in Business, Finance, and Management.
Admission cycle
Applications for the Spring 2022 semester of the University of Wollongong in Dubai began on 14th March 2022, while enrolment for the Summer 2022 and Autumn 2022 semesters will begin on 13th June 2022 and 15th August 2022, respectively.
However, the deadline for the Winter 2022 batch is already over.
Types of MBA
The university offers two types of MBA:
General MBA
Executive MBA
MBA specializations
International Business
Marketing
Human Resource Management
Financial Management
Credit hours required
All MBAs offered at the university require 24 credits per session
College calendar
Winter: 10th January 2022 to 27th March 2022
Spring: 11th April 2022 to 26th June 2022
Summer: 11th July 2022 to 7th August 2022
Autumn: 26th September to 11th December 2022
International student information
With over 3,500 students from over 108 countries, the university takes pride in its multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary values.
Student organization/activities
The active societies and clubs at UOWD comprise The Arab Club, Literary Club, Indian Student Association, Business Society, Chinese Cultural Club, Art Club, Sri Lankan Club (Lions Club), and Environmental Club.
Career support
The university offers support to its students in various ways:
Career events and workshops to improve job applications, connect with employers, and receive targeted career advice
An elaborate job board to keep students updated about past employers, potential employers, and heavy recruiters
Work Integrated Learning (WIL) subjects to aid students in enhancing employability
Work opportunities
Owing to its international network, the University of Wollongong in Dubai attracts a long list of employers. The imminent list includes Graham Construction & Engineering, Jaguar Land Rover, Color Marketing Group, and DXC Technology.
Alumni
Notable alumni of the university include:
Robert Rabie: VP, Infrastructure, Graham Construction & Engineering
Richard Gouverneur: MD, Jaguar Land Rover for Sub-Saharan Africa and South Africa
Course fees
The tuition fee for an international student wishing to pursue MBA at this university is around USD 2, 490 (INR 2 lakhs).
Address: Al Safa Street, Al Wasl, City Walk Mall, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
History
Canadian University Dubai (CUD) was founded in 2006 to bring world-class Canadian education to Dubai. The university is an outcome of two separate institutions, namely Centennial College and Athabasca University.
Status: Private University
Ranking
Ranked #1 in Dubai (QS Arab Region University Rankings 2022)
Ranked #25 in UAE (QS Arab Region University Rankings 2022)
Campus
The Canadian University Dubai campus is a structurally distinct building with a thick cover of vegetation surrounding the university.
Additionally, sitting on the edge of downtown Dubai and the financial district, the campus is close to Sheikh Zayed Road. A few of Dubai’s premium attractions such as Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall are also located near the university.
Lab and research areas
Research in this university primarily revolves around several areas including Architecture, Communications & Art, and Engineering & Applied science. Furthermore, The Learning Resource Centre (LRC) provides specialization in English study, while the strategical computer laboratories offer numerous technological advantages for research. One of the labs is especially dedicated to Apple.
Admission cycle
The deadline for students to submit their applications for the Fall semester is September, while for the Spring semester it’s January.
Types of MBA
General MBA
MBA specializations
Finance
General Management
Human Resource Management
Marketing
Double Concentration
Credit hours required
All MBA courses offered by the university require 36 credits (27 core plus 9 electives)
College calendar
Fall Cycle 1: 29th August 2022 to 16th October 2022
Fall Cycle 2: 24th October 2022 to 11th December 2022
Spring Cycle 1: 10th January 2023 to 27th February 2023
Spring Cycle 2: 7th March 2023 to 6th May 2023
International student information
For recruiting international students, the university demands a TOEFL score of 550 or an IELTS equivalent of 6.0.
Student organization/activities
The club and activities in the university consist of a dance club, drama club, MUNs, music club, and robotics club. The university possesses an organized team for various sports like football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, table tennis, athletics, and chess.
Career support
The university provides various kinds of support to its students, including
Career advice to help students in recognizing their professional goals
Career workshops that teach how to create a professional CV, develop their interview skills, design a cover letter, negotiate an offer and use networking
Guaranteed internship programs lasting up to 150-180 hours
Work opportunities
Students from Canadian University Dubai go on to pursue research in numerous highly acclaimed universities such as Brock University. Also, they secure jobs in multinational firms like XBD Collective, Moderna Middle East, and the Canadian Business Council.
Alumni
Some notable alumni include:
Priyal Chaddha, Researcher, York University
Laveena Agnani, Researcher, Brock University
Course fees
MBA programs from this university cost around AED 2,500 (INR 52,000). However, a 5% VAT raises the tuition fees to AED 2,625 (INR 55,000) per credit.
Eligibility Criteria for MBA in Dubai
Candidates looking to pursue MBA in Dubai must have an accredited Bachelor's degree of 3 years or equivalent with a minimum G.P.A. of 2.5 (out of 4.0)
To pursue MBA in Dubai, students must appear in English proficiency tests such as TOEFL or IELTS.
Many universities also require GMAT/GRE scores for admission.
Students must also have a minimum of 2-3 years of work experience to apply to MBA programs across universities in Dubai. Pursuing programs such as Full-Time MBA, Executive MBA, or Global MBA would require work experience as part of the admission process.
Student Expenses in Dubai
Apart from the tuition fees, there are other expenses in Dubai, such as accommodation, transportation, etc. Students must know the average amount they can incur to plan their expenses accordingly. The table below shows some common expenses. However, there can be changes based on your residence, lifestyle, etc.
Type of Expense
Average Amount (in AED)
On-campus Accommodation
AED 30,000
Off-campus Accommodation
AED 70,000 - AED 1,00,000
Transportation
AED 2520
Entertainment
AED 6433
Miscellaneous
AED 5796
MBA Jobs in Dubai
Over the years, Dubai has emerged as one of the leading job providers. The MBA graduates are recruited from the top M.N.C. companies in Dubai. The salary range is between 8,310 AED-
44,700 AED. Some top local recruiters are
Gulftainer Company Limited,
National Bank of Abu Dhabi Asset Management,
T.A.Q.A.,
Gulf Capital,
A.G.F.A., etc.
Given below are some of the job roles that you can take up after your MBA in Dubai
Job Title
Average Salary (AED/month)
Assistant Manager
25,100
Assistant Operations Manager
26,700
Assistant Project Manager
23,100
Assistant Section Head
20,100
Assistant Vice President
26,100
Associate Director
23,000
Branch Manager
24,900
Business Development Manager
29,600
Business Operations Associate
24,300
Business Operations Lead
23,400
MBA is the highest-paying degree in U.A.E., with approximately 330,000 AED every year. Additionally, Executive MBA earns an average salary of 180,000 AED annually.
The duration of the MBA course in Dubai is between 1-2 years. The Executive MBA is for one year. However, the duration of the full-time MBA course is two years.
What are the fees for MBA courses in Dubai in Indian Rupees?
The tuition fee for pursuing an MBA degree in Dubai is INR 15,00,000, and the average cost of living is INR 6,00,000.
Which branch of the MBA has the highest salary?
Some of the highest-paying management occupations related to MBA concentrations include financial management, computer, and information systems management, human resources management, and marketing management
Geetanjalee is an experienced writer and editor. She started her career as a journalist and during her stint as a journalist, she has worked with a leading news agency.