IT courses in Dubai fall into four groups: basic computer and Microsoft Office classes, short courses that prepare you for a vendor certification (CompTIA, Cisco, AWS, Microsoft, Google, SAP), longer diplomas, and university degrees in computer science or IT. The certification exam is set and priced by the vendor, while the course around it is sold by a training institute, so your real cost is the course fee plus the exam fee.
This guide lists the official exam fees vendors publish, the main types of providers in Dubai, which credentials are recognised for what, and the free government programmes that are open in 2026. ucep.in is independent and does not sell or recommend any provider.
- Typical course length
- 2 to 5 days for a single certification prep course; about 2 months full time or 6 months part time for a bootcamp (Le Wagon)
- Official exam fees
- USD 99 to 300 for most cloud and networking exams (AWS, Google Cloud and Cisco exam pages, Oct 2026)
- Who licenses training institutes
- KHDA for private training institutes in Dubai; degrees accredited federally by the CAA under MOHESR
- Recognised IT certifications
- CompTIA, Cisco CCNA, AWS, Microsoft, Google Cloud, SAP, ISC2
- Degree example fee
- BSc Computer Science at University of Birmingham Dubai: AED 156,718 per year for Sept 2026 entry (university website, Oct 2026)
- Free options
- Dubai's One Million Prompters AI course; Abu Dhabi's AiNative public track (UAE Pass login)
What kind of IT courses are available in Dubai
Most people searching for computer courses in Dubai want one of these:
- Basic computer and Microsoft Office skills: Windows, Word, Excel, Outlook, now often taught with Microsoft Copilot. Edoxi, for example, lists an MS Office with AI course of 45 hours and an Office 365 with Copilot course of 30 hours.
- Vendor certification prep: a short instructor-led course aimed at one exam, such as CompTIA A+, Cisco CCNA, AWS Cloud Practitioner or Microsoft Azure Fundamentals.
- IT diplomas: longer programmes, often UK-awarded (BTEC, HND or institute diplomas). See diploma courses in Dubai for how to check the awarding body.
- Degrees: bachelor's and master's in computer science, IT or information systems from accredited universities.
- Bootcamps: intensive, project-based programmes in coding or data. See programming courses.
Career changers usually start with a certification plus labs; school leavers who may need attested qualifications later should consider a degree.
IT certifications and official exam fees
The table shows what each vendor publishes on its own site, checked October 2026. Prices are in US dollars because vendors bill in USD; at the pegged rate, USD 100 is about AED 367 (fixed peg of AED 3.6725 per USD, Oct 2026). Taxes may be added at checkout.
| Certification | Vendor | Level | Official exam fee | Exam format and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A+ (Core 1 and Core 2) | CompTIA | Entry | Not shown on CompTIA's A+ page; priced in the CompTIA store | Two exams: hardware and networking, then operating systems and security |
| CCNA (200-301) | Cisco | Associate | USD 300, Cisco Learning Credits also accepted (Cisco CCNA page, Oct 2026) | 120 minutes; networking fundamentals, routing, switching |
| Cloud Practitioner | AWS | Foundational | USD 100 (AWS exam page, Oct 2026) | 90 minutes, 65 questions; one pass earns 50% off another AWS exam |
| AWS Associate exams (e.g. Solutions Architect) | AWS | Associate | USD 150 (AWS exam page, Oct 2026) | AWS lists all Associate exams at the same price |
| AWS Professional and Specialty exams | AWS | Advanced | USD 300 (AWS exam page, Oct 2026) | For experienced cloud engineers and architects |
| Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) | Microsoft | Fundamentals | Priced by country; USD 44 to 99 for this tier (Microsoft price list, Nov 2024) | Booked through Pearson VUE; check the UAE price at checkout |
| Microsoft role-based exams (e.g. Azure Administrator) | Microsoft | Associate / Expert | Priced by country; USD 58 to 165 (Microsoft price list, Nov 2024) | Renewal is free online every 12 months |
| Cloud Digital Leader | Google Cloud | Foundational | USD 99, renewal USD 60 (Google Cloud certification page, Oct 2026) | Non-technical cloud literacy |
| Associate Cloud Engineer | Google Cloud | Associate | USD 125, renewal USD 75 (Google Cloud certification page, Oct 2026) | 2 hours, 50 to 60 questions |
| SAP Certification (any SAP exam) | SAP | Associate and above | USD 236 for one attempt with 12 months of Certification Hub access (SAP US training shop, Oct 2026) | Exams cover modules such as S/4HANA finance or procurement |
| Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) | ISC2 | Entry | USD 199, Middle East price (ISC2 pricing page, Oct 2026) | No work experience required; see cyber security courses |
Training institutes in Dubai often quote a package that bundles the exam voucher. Ask for the course fee and the exam fee as separate lines, and check whether a retake is included.
Cloud computing and networking courses
Cloud is the most in-demand area of IT training in the UAE because employers across the public and private sectors run workloads on AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud. A sensible order for a beginner is:
- A foundational exam: AWS Cloud Practitioner (USD 100), Azure Fundamentals AZ-900 or Google Cloud Digital Leader (USD 99) (AWS and Google Cloud exam pages, Oct 2026).
- An associate exam on the platform your target employers use: an AWS Associate exam (USD 150), Microsoft Azure Administrator, or Google Associate Cloud Engineer (USD 125) (AWS and Google Cloud exam pages, Oct 2026).
- Hands-on labs in a free or low-cost personal cloud account, so you can show projects in interviews.
For networking courses in Dubai, Cisco's CCNA (exam 200-301, USD 300, 120 minutes; Cisco CCNA page, Oct 2026) remains the standard first credential for network engineer roles. CompTIA Network+ is a vendor-neutral alternative. Zabeel Institute, for example, lists both cloud computing and network certification courses.
SAP and ERP courses in Dubai
SAP courses in Dubai are popular with accountants, procurement staff and supply chain teams because many large UAE companies run SAP S/4HANA. Two things matter:
- The official certificate comes from SAP, not the institute. SAP's US training shop lists one certification exam attempt at USD 236, which includes 12 months of access to SAP's Certification Hub (SAP US training shop, Oct 2026). A local course certificate alone is not an SAP certification.
- Pick a module that matches your job. Finance (FI/CO), procurement (MM), sales (SD) and HR modules each have their own exams.
Other ERP courses (Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, Odoo) follow the same logic: ask which vendor exam, if any, the course prepares you for. For finance-specific ERP routes, see accounting courses.
IT training providers in Dubai
These providers are currently operating and publish IT, computer science or related courses for Dubai. Fees appear only where the provider publishes them. The order is by type, not quality.
| Provider | Type | Area | IT topics listed | Format | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zabeel Institute | Training institute (describes itself as KHDA approved) | Burjuman, Dubai; also Sharjah | Cloud computing, networking certifications, cyber security, web development, programming, Advanced Excel, Azure AI Fundamentals | Classroom; corporate | Not published; quote on request |
| Edoxi Training Institute | Training institute (states KHDA approval) | Bank Street Building, Bur Dubai | MS Office and Excel with Copilot, Python, AI | Classroom, online, corporate | Not published; depends on group size and format |
| Learners Point Academy | Training institute (describes itself as KHDA and ISO approved) | Dubai | Cyber security, AI, plus business areas | Classroom and online | Not published on main site |
| Le Wagon Dubai | Coding bootcamp | Dubai campus | Software engineering, data analytics, data science, data engineering | Full time about 2 months or part time about 6 months; on campus or online | Not shown on course page; financing offered |
| University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) | University branch campus (CAA accredited, KHDA licensed) | Dubai Knowledge Park | Bachelor of Computer Science (AI and Big Data, Cyber Security, Game and Mobile Development), Business Information Systems, short courses | Degree and short courses | See UOWD |
| University of Birmingham Dubai | UK branch campus (programme accredited by UAE MOHESR) | Dubai International Academic City | BSc Computer Science (BCS accredited to Aug 2028) | 3 years full time | AED 156,718 per year for Sept 2026 entry (university website, Oct 2026) |
| RIT Dubai | US branch campus | Dubai Silicon Oasis | BS Computing and Information Technologies, Computer Engineering, Cybersecurity, MIS | Degree | See RIT Dubai |
| Middlesex University Dubai | UK branch campus | Dubai Knowledge Park | Computing, AI and Data Science (BSc and MSc) | Degree; MSc has evening classes | See Middlesex Dubai |
| Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University | UAE online university | Online (Dubai) | Short online courses, including an AI course in Arabic | Self-paced online | AI course listed at AED 315 (university website, Oct 2026) |
Study computer science in the UAE
If you want a full degree, check two layers of recognition. Dubai's international branch campuses are licensed by KHDA, while degrees that need federal recognition (for government jobs or further study) should be accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation under the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR). For example:
- UOWD states all its degrees are CAA accredited, and its Bachelor of Computer Science and Bachelor of Business Information Systems are also accredited by the Australian Computer Society.
- University of Birmingham Dubai states its BSc Computer Science is accredited by UAE MOHESR and by the British Computer Society until August 2028, with an option to spend year two in Birmingham.
- RIT Dubai offers BS degrees in Computing and Information Technologies, Computer Engineering and Cybersecurity at Dubai Silicon Oasis.
For a ranked view of universities, see best universities in UAE, and for entry routes such as foundation years see undergraduate courses.
How to choose IT courses in Dubai
Use this checklist before paying a deposit:
- Licence: confirm the institute holds a current KHDA permit (or the relevant free zone or emirate authority if outside Dubai).
- Awarding body: name the exact exam (for example Cisco 200-301 or a named AWS Associate exam) or the awarding university. An institute certificate is not a vendor certification.
- Total cost: course fee plus exam fee plus a possible retake. Vendor fees are in USD.
- Labs: ask how many hours of hands-on lab time are included and whether you keep access after the course.
- Timing: for working adults, check for evening or weekend batches and online live options.
- Visa: short courses do not usually support a student visa. If you need residency to study, see UAE student visa.
Free and government IT learning options
Several current programmes cost nothing:
- One Million Prompters (Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence): four one-hour online modules on AI tools with a prompt literacy certificate. Registration is open at dub.ai.
- AiNative (Abu Dhabi Government, announced October 2026): a free public AI track that UAE citizens and residents access with UAE Pass, with coding and data certifications planned for later phases.
- Vendor free tiers: Microsoft certifications renew free online every 12 months, and Google's Skillshop training is free.
More options are on free courses in Dubai and AI courses.
Questions and answers
What kind of IT courses are available in Dubai?
You can find basic computer and Microsoft Office classes, short certification courses for CompTIA, Cisco, AWS, Microsoft, Google Cloud and SAP, IT diplomas, coding bootcamps and accredited computer science degrees.
How much do IT courses in Dubai cost?
Most training institutes do not publish fees and quote on request. Budget for the course fee plus the vendor exam fee, which is USD 100 to 300 for most AWS, Google Cloud and Cisco exams (vendor exam pages, Oct 2026).
Are IT certifications recognised in the UAE?
Vendor certifications such as CCNA, AWS or Microsoft are recognised by employers worldwide because they are issued by the vendor. They are professional credentials, not academic qualifications, so they are not attested like degrees.
Which IT certification should I start with?
For support roles, CompTIA A+. For networking, Cisco CCNA. For cloud, AWS Cloud Practitioner, Azure Fundamentals or Google Cloud Digital Leader, then an associate exam.
Can I take IT courses in Dubai online or in the evening?
Yes. Bootcamps such as Le Wagon run part-time evening and weekend formats, and most training institutes offer evening, weekend or live online batches.
Is an SAP course certificate the same as SAP certification?
No. SAP certification comes only from passing an SAP exam, which SAP's US shop lists at USD 236 for one attempt (SAP US training shop, Oct 2026). A training institute certificate shows attendance only.
Sources
- Cisco: CCNA certification
- AWS: AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
- AWS: Certification policies, before testing (exam prices)
- Google Cloud: Cloud Digital Leader certification
- Google Cloud: Associate Cloud Engineer certification
- Microsoft Learn: Azure Fundamentals certification
- Microsoft: Certification exam prices effective November 1, 2024 (PDF)
- CompTIA: A+ certification
- Destination Certification: How much does the Security+ certification cost?
- ISC2: Exam pricing
- SAP Training: SAP Certification exam, one attempt
- Zabeel Institute: course catalogue
- Edoxi Training Institute: AI courses in Dubai
- Learners Point Academy: home page
- Le Wagon: Dubai campus
- University of Wollongong in Dubai: programmes and accreditation
- University of Birmingham Dubai: Computer Science BSc
- RIT Dubai: programmes
- Middlesex University Dubai: home page
- Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University: home page
- Dubai Centre for AI: One Million Prompters
- Zawya: Abu Dhabi launches AiNative training initiative for government workforce and the public (October 2026)
- Google Skillshop: training and certification
- Microsoft Learn: Power BI Data Analyst Associate
Last checked: 15 October 2026