Dubai, best known for its Gold Souk, architectural monuments, and gleaming desserts also has one of the best educational infrastructure in the world. It provides students with the finest education and lucrative career opportunities. In recent years Dubai has witnessed a lot of immigrant population and various top universities of the world have taken up this chance to set up their campuses in Dubai. Are you interested in studying in Dubai but want to know if it matches your budget or not? Well then, you’ve come to the right place. Keep up with this blog to learn how much on average it costs to study in Dubai and the Cost of Living in Dubai.

Also Read: Exploring Student Life in Dubai

Cost of Living in Dubai 2023

The following are the various types of cost of living in Dubai 2023:

Housing & Accommodation Costs in Dubai

There are two types of accommodation that a student can opt for on-campus and off-campus. On-campus accommodations are usually preferred by the students as it is comparatively cheaper than living in the main city. Out of more than 63 universities in Dubai, only some provide on-campus accommodation and others have tie-ups with local hotels to provide accommodation to students at a cheaper rate. On-campus accommodation will cost you around 14,000-27,000 AED (2,81,400-5,42,700 INR roughly). On the other hand, if you opt for private accommodation you will have to bear more costs. On average, private accommodation will cost you ranging from 70,000 – 100,000 AED (14,07,000-20,10,000 INR roughly). It will probably cost you less if you opt for a shared apartment.

Cost of Cleaning Services in Dubai

Cleaning services for lodgings are also included in the housing area of living costs. Typically, this service is given by employing domestic assistance, which is relatively widespread in Dubai. The fees differ based on the type of cleaning, but a full-time domestic assistant may expect to earn roughly AED 2,700 (USD 735) per month, while a part-time domestic helper who comes in once a week (3-hour service) can expect to pay around AED 390 (USD 106) each month.

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Cost of Groceries in Dubai

Food costs are an essential part of your expenditure while planning your living costs. It goes without saying that food costs vary according to your meal preferences, but if you buy your food from local groceries and go out sometimes, you can expect your average food cost to be around 908 AED per month(18,250 INR).

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Cost of Utilities in Dubai

Usually, international students prefer public modes of transportation as it is the most viable option, especially for students in terms of cost and efficiency. The most affordable kind of transport in Dubai is the metro and the average fare is 2 AED(40 INR) for one zone. Students between the ages of five and twenty-three can also apply for a discounted fare NOL Blue Card for public transport use which includes Dubai Metro. You can apply for the card either online or offline. You can also opt for private taxis but it will be much costlier than the public means. A private taxi will cost you around 10 AED for a 5 km trip. If you have a good budget with you then you can also look at the option of a hired car which costs around 600 AED per week(12,060 INR). 

Mobile Bill/Wi-Fi Cost in Dubai

Here is the average cost of communication services in Dubai.

Healthcare & Insurance in Dubai

The Dubai Health Authority has enacted a new law mandating that all residents, including foreigners, obtain private medical insurance. Expats will need to be covered by private health insurance schemes, which are usually purchased through their employers. While locals can be covered under the government-funded scheme, expats will need to be covered by private health insurance schemes, which are usually purchased through their employers.

Dubai is known for having one of the best healthcare systems among the seven emirates. Both public and private healthcare services will be available to you as an expat.

Health Card

While locals have free access to Dubai’s public medical facilities, expatriates may get a 50% discount with a health card. The following are the costs of a health card:

• Expatriate Fee up to 10 years – AED 120 (USD 32.67)
• Expatriate Fee from 18 and above – AED 320 (USD 87.12)
• Nationals Fee up to 10 years – AED 25 (USD 6.81)
• Nationals Fee from 18 and above – AED 120 (USD 32.67)

The Essential Benefit Plan

There’s also something in place for low-wage workers and individuals who don’t work. The Essential Benefits Plan (EBP), which was introduced in 2014, is the minimum level of health insurance coverage that all residents of Dubai must obtain. It offers necessary services at a reasonable cost. The annual premium package charge for an EBP is broken out below by gender, employment, and age:

• Employees: AED 650-725
• Dependents (aged 0-65): AED 650
• Non-working married females (aged 18-45): AED 1,600
• Elderly parents: AED 2,500
• General domestic help: AED 650

Commuting & Transportation Costs in Dubai

Commuting and transportation costs vary significantly according to your mode of transportation. Car ownership will be convenient but will pinch your pockets, while public transport will be much cheaper but can be a bit unreliable at times.

Car Ownership

The price of an automobile is highly dependent on its condition. To give you an idea, the most popular car in the UAE is the 2018 Toyota Corolla, which costs AED 70,900. With a typical 20% down payment, a 5-year payback plan, and other charges taken into account, the annual cost would be AED 20,800, minus the down payment. When purchasing a secondhand automobile, however, depreciation often subtracts 20-40% from the entire cost. A used 2018 Toyota Corolla (2 years old) cost on average AED 48,878 in 2020 (a 32 percent reduction).

Public Transportation

Leisure/Entertainment Costs in Dubai

Following are the average leisure/entertainment costs in Dubai.

Cost of Living in Dubai for Students

The studying cost is not only limited to your tuition fees or accommodation cost, but it is the sum total of all different kinds of expenditures that you need to bear while studying abroad and you need to take all those into consideration to make an appropriate budget.

Public School

While expat children are permitted to attend both public and private schools in the UAE, they must pay tuition regardless of the type of school they attend, as free government education is only available to Emirati citizens. The yearly tuition price for foreigners wishing to attend public schools has been set at AED 6,000 (USD 1,635) per year.

International/Private Schools

Around 300,000 Emirati and foreign students are served by Dubai’s approximately 200 private schools. Dubai is the only emirate that has enacted yearly tuition limitations, prohibiting institutions from raising their charges by exorbitant amounts every year. International school expenses range from AED 13,630 to 21,400 AED (3,710–5,830 USD) per year on average.

Higher Education

There are 65 colleges in Dubai, covering a wide range of topics. Both Emirati and expatriate students are catered to. Public universities in Dubai, on the other hand, educate in Arabic, whilst most private institutions teach in English. Expat students are expected to take Arabic language development lessons regardless of which university they attend. AED 173,400 (USD $47,209) for an undergraduate degree and AED 54,800 to 82,200 (USD $14,919-22,379) for a graduate degree would be the typical total cost.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees vary according to the level of the program as well as from university to university. The average tuition fees for an undergraduate program in Dubai ranges from 37,500-70,000 AED per year (7,53,750-14,07,000 INR) and for postgraduate programs it ranges from 55,000-75,000 AED (11,05,500-15,07,500 INR). In some universities, the fees are charged to students taking 12-16 credit hours, but most universities charge on the basis of the number of credit hours of the student.

Student Visa Cost

A student visa is necessary to be able to study in UAE. Generally, you need to have a sponsor for your visa who may be a friend or a relative. However, you can also apply without a sponsor. Dubai offers its students a student residence visa for only one year at a time, but it can be renewed further. The application cost for a student visa will cost up to 3,000 AED (60,300 INR roughly) and a deposit of 1,000 AED (20,100 INR) is also required.

Scholarships

We know that Dubai can be an expensive country to study, but the city never disappoints those who wish to study there. After learning about the average costs of studying in Dubai, your next step should be looking out for different kinds of scholarships. Here is a list of different kinds of scholarships that you can avail yourself of in Dubai-

Government Scholarships

• The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships
• The David L. Boren Scholarships

College Scholarships

• The Marie Wright Scholarship for Non-Traditional Locations
• The American University in Dubai
• The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowships
• William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Scholarships

Other Scholarships in Dubai

• Financial Hardship Scholarship 2021
• Outstanding Academic Excellence Scholarships
• HH Sheikh Hamdan Scholarships
• The Indian High School Dubai Scholarships

Average Cost of Living in Dubai USD

The following is the average cost of living in Dubai in USD:

Key Tips to Reduce Overall Living Costs in Dubai

Overall, living costs in Dubai are modest but not inexpensive, especially for students from countries with low currency rates. Here are some pointers on how to reduce your overall cost of living in Dubai:

• To save money, students seeking a graduate degree or a PhD at one of Dubai’s prestigious universities might consider living in the institution’s dormitory.
• Instead of paying for private transportation, students can use public transit and share rides with other students. It would surely help international students in Dubai save money on living expenses.
• It is undeniably expensive to dine at posh restaurants or cafés on a regular basis. As a result, you must look for a low-cost option. Both the university cafeteria and street meals are significantly cheaper possibilities. Furthermore, some bars and restaurants charge more for drinks and meals. If at all possible, ordering takeout is a better option.

FAQs

Hope this blog of ours helped you get acquainted with the Cost of Living in Dubai and studying in Dubai. If you’re still confused about anything regarding your studies, reach out to our experts at  Leverage Edu to get assistance in choosing the perfect course in your dream university!

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