Cyber security courses in Dubai are mostly short training courses that prepare you for an industry certification, such as ISC2 CC, CompTIA Security+, EC-Council CEH or ISC2 CISSP, plus a smaller number of accredited bachelor's and master's degrees in cybersecurity. The certification exam is paid to the issuing body; the training course is a separate fee from a Dubai institute.
This page lists official exam fees, explains which certification fits which stage of a career, compares providers and degrees, and covers related searches such as defence and national security courses and aviation security. ucep.in is independent and does not sell training.
- Entry certification fee
- ISC2 CC: USD 199, Middle East price (ISC2 pricing page, Oct 2026)
- Advanced certification fee
- ISC2 CISSP: USD 749 (ISC2 pricing page, Oct 2026), with 5 years of required experience
- CEH official training
- From USD 1,699 on-demand or USD 2,499 live online (EC-Council site, Oct 2026)
- Who licenses institutes
- KHDA for private training institutes in Dubai
- Degree options in Dubai
- RIT Dubai (BS and MS Cybersecurity), UOWD (cyber major, Master of Applied Cybersecurity)
- Typical career start
- Security analyst or SOC analyst after CC or Security+ plus hands-on labs
Cyber security career paths and where courses fit
There is no single cyber security course. Choose according to where you are now:
- New to IT: learn networking and operating systems first (CompTIA A+ or Cisco CCNA), then an entry security credential such as ISC2 CC or CompTIA Security+.
- Working in IT: Security+ or SSCP, then specialise in defence (SOC analyst), offence (penetration testing, CEH) or cloud (CCSP, AWS or Azure security).
- Experienced professionals and managers: CISSP, which ISC2 restricts to people with five years of relevant experience.
- School leavers: a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity or computer science.
For the IT foundations, see IT courses in Dubai.
Cybersecurity certifications and official exam fees
Fees below come from each issuer's own site, checked October 2026, except where marked. ISC2 lists Middle East prices in US dollars; taxes depend on the exam location.
| Certification | Issuer | Level | Official exam fee | Requirements and format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) | ISC2 | Entry | USD 199, Middle East (ISC2 pricing page, Oct 2026) | No work experience required |
| Security+ (SY0-701) | CompTIA | Entry to intermediate | Not shown on CompTIA's certification page; reported USD 425 (third-party guide, July 2025) | Up to 90 questions, 90 minutes; CompTIA says V8 is expected around 17 November 2026 |
| CCNA (200-301) | Cisco | Associate (networking) | USD 300 (Cisco CCNA page, Oct 2026) | 120 minutes; networking base for security roles |
| SSCP | ISC2 | Practitioner | USD 249, Middle East (ISC2 pricing page, Oct 2026) | For hands-on security administrators |
| Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) | EC-Council | Intermediate | Exam price not listed separately; official training from USD 1,699 (on-demand) or USD 2,499 (live online); USD 100 eligibility application fee if you skip official training (EC-Council site, Oct 2026) | Knowledge exam: 4 hours, 125 questions; optional practical: 6 hours, 20 challenges; 2 years' IT security experience recommended |
| CCSP | ISC2 | Advanced (cloud) | USD 599, Middle East (ISC2 pricing page, Oct 2026) | Cloud security architecture |
| CISSP | ISC2 | Advanced | USD 749, Middle East (ISC2 pricing page, Oct 2026) | 5 years of required work experience |
| Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate | Google via Coursera | Beginner | USD 49 per month in the US and Canada; may be lower elsewhere (Google certificate page, Oct 2026) | Self-paced, about 3 to 6 months; Python, Linux, SQL, Splunk, Wireshark |
Cyber security course fees in Dubai
Most Dubai training institutes do not publish cyber security course fees and quote on request, so compare like with like:
- Ask for the course fee and the exam voucher as separate lines.
- Check the voucher is from the issuer (ISC2, CompTIA, EC-Council) and when it expires.
- Ask how many hours of hands-on labs are included and for how long you keep lab access.
- Check whether a retake is included or sold separately.
- Add the cost of annual membership or continuing education where the certification requires it.
As a reference, EC-Council's own CEH training starts at USD 1,699 on-demand, and ISC2 exams alone run from USD 199 (CC) to USD 749 (CISSP) (EC-Council and ISC2 sites, Oct 2026).
Cybersecurity training providers and degrees in Dubai
These providers are currently operating and publish cyber security courses or degrees. Fees appear only where the provider publishes them.
| Provider | Type | Area | Cyber courses listed | Format | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zabeel Institute | Training institute (describes itself as KHDA approved) | Burjuman, Dubai; also Sharjah | Cyber Security Certification course, CEH (ethical hacking) preparation, network certifications | Classroom; corporate | Not published |
| Learners Point Academy | Training institute (describes itself as KHDA and ISO approved) | Dubai | Cyber security category | Classroom and online | Not published on main site |
| RIT Dubai | US branch campus | Dubai Silicon Oasis | BS Cybersecurity; MS Cybersecurity | Degree | See RIT Dubai |
| University of Wollongong in Dubai | University (CAA accredited, KHDA licensed) | Dubai Knowledge Park | Bachelor of Computer Science (Cyber Security major); Master of Applied Cybersecurity (new) | Degree | See UOWD |
| University of Birmingham Dubai | UK branch campus | Dubai International Academic City | BSc Computer Science (a route into security) | 3 years full time | AED 156,718 per year for Sept 2026 entry (university website, Oct 2026) |
| Rabdan Academy | Government-owned academy | Abu Dhabi | Defence and Security, Homeland Security, Intelligence Analysis, Policing and Security; professional development courses | Degree and professional courses | See Rabdan Academy |
Degrees take longer but are accredited qualifications. UOWD states its degrees are CAA accredited; for any branch campus, check accreditation before you apply. See universities in Dubai.
Defence and national security courses
Defence and national security courses in the UAE are concentrated at Rabdan Academy in Abu Dhabi, a government-owned institution founded in 2013 for the safety, security, defence, emergency preparedness and crisis management sectors. It lists programmes in Defence and Security, Homeland Security, Policing and Security, Intelligence Analysis and Disaster Management, plus professional development courses. Its site does not set out civilian eligibility, so contact admissions.
Physical and corporate security management courses are covered on leadership and management courses.
Aviation security courses in Dubai
Aviation security is a regulated specialism separate from cyber security. Training is usually arranged by airlines, airport operators and ground handlers for their own staff to meet regulator requirements. We could not confirm a current public aviation security course in Dubai with published dates and fees, so we have not listed one. If you are offered a course, ask which regulator or international standard it is built on and whether employers accept it. Wider aviation study is on hospitality, tourism and aviation courses.
How to choose cyber security courses in Dubai
- Licence: confirm the institute has a current KHDA permit.
- Authorised training: ask whether the provider is an authorised partner of ISC2, CompTIA or EC-Council, and ask for proof.
- Labs: real practice in a lab environment matters more than slides.
- Instructor: the trainer should hold the certification being taught.
- Experience rules: do not pay for CISSP prep if you lack the five years ISC2 requires, unless you understand the associate route.
- Schedule: evening, weekend and live online batches suit working adults.
Free ways to start learning cyber security
- TDRA's free virtual camp for ages 7 to 14 includes cyber security alongside coding and AI.
- Google's Cybersecurity Professional Certificate on Coursera starts with a 7-day free trial.
- ISC2 lets candidates redeem an exam voucher code at checkout for a USD 0 purchase (ISC2 site, Oct 2026), which is how employer or programme-funded vouchers are used.
See free courses in Dubai for more.
Questions and answers
Which cyber security course is best for beginners in Dubai?
Start with networking basics, then ISC2 CC or CompTIA Security+. Both are entry-level and widely recognised by employers.
How much do cyber security courses cost in Dubai?
Institutes mostly quote on request. Exam fees alone run from USD 199 for ISC2 CC to USD 749 for CISSP, and EC-Council's own CEH training starts at USD 1,699 (ISC2 and EC-Council sites, Oct 2026).
Do I need experience for CISSP?
Yes. ISC2 requires five years of relevant work experience for full CISSP certification.
Can I study a cybersecurity degree in Dubai?
Yes. RIT Dubai offers BS and MS degrees in Cybersecurity, and UOWD offers a cyber security major and a Master of Applied Cybersecurity.
Is CEH recognised in the UAE?
CEH is a well-known international certification from EC-Council. It is a professional credential, not an academic qualification, so it is not attested like a degree.
Where can I study national security in the UAE?
Rabdan Academy in Abu Dhabi offers degrees in defence and security, homeland security, policing and intelligence analysis.
Sources
- ISC2: Exam pricing
- ISC2: CISSP certification
- ISC2: Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)
- CompTIA: Security+ certification
- CompTIA: Security+ V7 (SY0-701)
- Destination Certification: How much does the Security+ certification cost?
- Cisco: CCNA certification
- EC-Council: Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
- Google: Cybersecurity Professional Certificate
- Zabeel Institute: course catalogue
- Learners Point Academy: home page
- RIT Dubai: programmes
- University of Wollongong in Dubai: programmes and accreditation
- University of Birmingham Dubai: Computer Science BSc
- Rabdan Academy: home page
- Gulf News: Free AI courses in UAE for students and adults (updated November 2025)
Last checked: 15 October 2026