UAE — Study (Self-funded bachelor's or master's at private universities and branch campuses)

Current status for Iranians (most important)

As of October 2026 this route is effectively closed to anyone applying from Iran on an Iranian passport. The UAE embassy in Tehran has been closed since 1 March 2026; travel agents report that new UAE entry permits for Iranians have been on hold since mid-March; from 1 April 2026 UAE airlines announced that Iranian nationals may not enter or transit, except a few groups such as Golden Visa holders and spouses/children of Emirati citizens; and many Iranians abroad reported their residence visas being cancelled. On 2 April the UAE foreign ministry rejected 'inaccurate' media claims about the residency status of the Iranian community, but said nothing about new visas. A travel site updated on 7 September 2026 says it can no longer verify a blanket entry ban, yet as of mid-October 2026 we found no official ICP, GDRFA or MoFA announcement that visas for Iranians have reopened.

On 19 August 2026 the UAE halted all trade, commercial exchange and financial transactions with Iran until further notice, and on 23 September 2026 the Central Bank barred Bank Melli Iran's UAE branches from any transactions to or from Iran, so paying tuition or moving money from Iran is practically impossible. On 24 September 2026 the UAE civil aviation authority (GCAA) suspended all flights by Iranian airlines until further notice; reports say Iran in turn closed its airspace to UAE carriers, and we found no news of direct flights resuming.

Don't spend money (applications, deposits, translations) until an official reopening is announced. The rest of this text describes the general UAE rules that apply once things reopen.

Main requirements

You need admission from a university or institution accredited in the UAE. According to the official UAE portal (u.ae), a student can stay under the sponsorship of that university or of UAE-resident parents; the university issues a certificate stating the study duration and the visa is usually renewed yearly. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months, and the medical test and Emirates ID are done after arrival. Foreign degrees are checked by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education (MoHESR) under its certificate recognition system.

Documents

Passport; photo; school or bachelor's certificate and transcripts with certified English or Arabic translation; language certificate; admission letter and deposit receipt; health insurance. Documents issued outside the UAE normally need attestation by the issuing country's foreign ministry and then the UAE embassy in that country; since the UAE embassy in Tehran is closed, this step is currently unclear for Iranian documents. MoFA's FAQ says that where there is no UAE mission you should contact its call centre (+971 800 44444) or the 'Contact Us' form on its site; there's no Iran-specific procedure.

Language

Most programmes are taught in English and universities ask for IELTS or TOEFL; take the minimum score from the specific university's admissions page, as it varies. Some, such as Abu Dhabi University, run institutional IELTS/TOEFL tests.

Costs and proof of funds

Official 2026–2027 schedules: American University of Sharjah (AUS) bachelor's AED 110,876 per year plus a AED 5,000 seat deposit; Abu Dhabi University (ADU) bachelor's AED 1,620–2,085 per credit (about AED 50,000–63,000 for ~30 credits a year) and master's AED 2,835–3,250 per credit; UAE University (UAEU) AED 2,661 per credit for 2026–2027 entrants. 5% VAT is added to tuition. ADU housing costs AED 5,400–12,500 per main semester. Federal rules don't set a fixed proof-of-funds amount for student visas; the university decides.

Steps and timeline

Language test; apply and get admission (a few weeks to 2–3 months); pay the deposit; the university files the student entry permit; arrive, medical test, Emirates ID and residence visa. Main intakes are usually fall (September) and spring (January/February).

Notes for Iranian applicants

Besides the current visa freeze: paying tuition from Iran is practically impossible because the UAE has halted financial transactions with Iran; graduates of free public (روزانه) programmes must cancel or buy out their service obligation via the Ministry's Sajad system to get their original degree; and male applicants subject to conscription need an exit permit.

After arrival (work during studies, post-study stay, permanent residence)

Students aged 18+ sponsored by their university or family can work with a MOHRE part-time or student training/employment permit; working without a permit is illegal. The UAE has no European-style permanent residence; after graduating you need an employer work visa or to qualify for a green or golden visa (e.g. the golden visa for outstanding students).