Study in UAE from Egypt 🇪🇬
Egyptian students choose the UAE for Arabic-and-English bilingual campuses, direct admission on Thanaweya Amma, international branch campuses of Sorbonne, NYU and UK universities, and a large Egyptian community a three-hour flight from Cairo.
More than a million Egyptians live in the UAE, making it one of the largest Arab communities in the country. · Flights: 3–4 hours from Cairo and Alexandria.
Why Egyptian Students Choose the UAE
3-Hour Flight
Multiple daily flights from Cairo, Alexandria, Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
Thanaweya Amma Accepted
General Secondary Certificate results are accepted directly, with equivalency handled by the UAE Ministry of Education.
Arabic & English
Federal and local government universities teach in Arabic and English; branch campuses in English or French (Sorbonne).
Careers in the Gulf
Egyptian graduates are the largest Arab professional group in UAE engineering, medicine, finance and media.
Eligibility — Which Egyptian Qualifications Are Accepted?
Thanaweya Amma (General Secondary)
Accepted — equivalency via UAE MoEIGCSE / A-Levels
Accepted by all universitiesAmerican Diploma (SAT)
Accepted by all universitiesAzhari Secondary
Accepted for Sharia, humanities and some sciencesDirect entry usually needs 65–75 per cent in Thanaweya Amma (higher for engineering, pharmacy and medicine). Scientific-stream students can apply to engineering and health programs; literary-stream students to business, media, law and humanities.
English requirement: English-medium programs require IELTS 5.0–6.0 or EmSAT English; Arabic-medium programs at Al Qasimia, Imam Malik College or University of Sharjah need Arabic proficiency instead.
Cost of Studying in UAE vs Other Destinations (in EGP)
| Destination | Tuition / year | Living / month | Flight from Egypt |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇪 UAE | E£ 268K – E£ 1.1M | E£ 27K – E£ 54K | 3–4 hours from Cairo and Alexandria |
| 🇬🇧 UK | E£ 871K – E£ 1.7M | E£ 54K – E£ 87K | 5 hours |
| 🇺🇸 USA | E£ 1.1M – E£ 2.5M | E£ 60K – E£ 107K | 12–14 hours |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | Free – E£ 268K | E£ 47K – E£ 67K | 4–5 hours |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | E£ 201K – E£ 536K | E£ 20K – E£ 40K | 9 hours |
Approximate conversions at 1 AED ≈ E£13; tuition varies widely by university and program.
- Tuition / year
- E£ 268K – E£ 1.1M
- Living / month
- E£ 27K – E£ 54K
- Flight from Egypt
- 3–4 hours from Cairo and Alexandria
- Tuition / year
- E£ 871K – E£ 1.7M
- Living / month
- E£ 54K – E£ 87K
- Flight from Egypt
- 5 hours
- Tuition / year
- E£ 1.1M – E£ 2.5M
- Living / month
- E£ 60K – E£ 107K
- Flight from Egypt
- 12–14 hours
- Tuition / year
- Free – E£ 268K
- Living / month
- E£ 47K – E£ 67K
- Flight from Egypt
- 4–5 hours
- Tuition / year
- E£ 201K – E£ 536K
- Living / month
- E£ 20K – E£ 40K
- Flight from Egypt
- 9 hours
Approximate conversions at 1 AED ≈ E£13; tuition varies widely by university and program.
Popular UAE Universities for Egyptian Students
Scholarships for Egyptian Students
- Merit scholarships for Thanaweya Amma averages above 85–90 per cent at Ajman University, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi University and Canadian University Dubai.
- Fully funded places for Arab students in Islamic studies and Arabic language at Al Qasimia University (Sharjah).
- French-government and Sorbonne Abu Dhabi bursaries for French-speaking Egyptian students.
- Application fees waived at 20+ universities through UAE College.
Working During & After Your Degree
Part-time work of up to 20 hours a week is allowed with university approval. Arabic-English bilingual graduates are in high demand in UAE government entities, banks and media; a one-year job-seeker visa is available after graduation.
UAE Student Visa Process for Egyptian Citizens
Obtain an offer letter and pay the deposit; the university sponsors your student visa.
Attest your Thanaweya Amma certificate at the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UAE embassy in Cairo.
Entry permit issued in 2–3 weeks; fly to the UAE.
Medical test, Emirates ID and residence stamping on arrival; renewed annually.
Full UAE student visa guide: documents, costs and timelines →
Apply from Egypt in 10 minutes
One profile for every UAE university, document checks before submission, and application-fee waivers at partner institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do UAE universities accept Thanaweya Amma?
Yes. The Egyptian General Secondary Certificate is accepted for direct admission after equivalency from the UAE Ministry of Education. Most programs ask for 65–75 per cent; engineering, pharmacy and medicine require more.
How much does studying in the UAE cost for Egyptian students?
Tuition ranges from about AED 20,000 to AED 80,000 a year (roughly E£270,000 to E£1.1 million) plus living costs of AED 2,000–4,000 a month. Sharjah and Ajman are cheaper than Dubai.
Are there Arabic-medium universities in the UAE?
Yes. Al Qasimia University, Imam Malik College, the University of Sharjah and the federal universities offer Arabic-medium programs in Sharia, law, Arabic, education and humanities.
Is a UAE degree recognised in Egypt?
Degrees from CAA-accredited UAE universities are recognised by Egypt's Supreme Council of Universities after attestation. Branch-campus degrees are recognised via the awarding home university.
Can Egyptian students get scholarships in the UAE?
Private universities offer merit scholarships of 10–50 per cent for high Thanaweya Amma averages; Al Qasimia University offers funded places for Arab and Muslim students in Islamic and Arabic studies.
Summary
In summary: Egyptian students can enter UAE universities directly on Thanaweya Amma (General Secondary) results, pay roughly E£ 268K – E£ 1.1M a year in tuition plus E£ 27K – E£ 54K a month in living costs, and study a 3–4 hours from Cairo and Alexandria flight from home. Student visas are sponsored by the university, part-time work is permitted, and degrees from CAA-accredited universities and international branch campuses are recognised back in Egypt.