UAE scholarships come in three main forms: merit tuition waivers from universities (several open to international students), government-backed programmes that are mostly for UAE nationals, and school fee scholarships offered by private schools and by Dubai's KHDA for Emirati pupils. Fully funded awards for international students exist but are few and highly competitive.
Every award below is taken from the provider's own page or a 2026 press report, with the criteria they publish. Amounts and deadlines change every cycle, so treat this as a shortlist to check, not a promise of funding.
- Full tuition for international undergraduates
- Khalifa University Tier I; UAEU Chancellor's 100%; AUS President's and Chancellor's
- Typical merit award
- 10% to 20% tuition at AUS for a 95%+ Grade 10 to 11 average
- Graduate funding
- Khalifa University master's and PhD scholarships, incl. accommodation and visa support
- School fee scholarship (Emiratis, Dubai)
- KHDA Dubai Distinguished Students Programme: 50% of tuition
- School scholarships (all nationalities)
- Up to 25% to 50% at some private schools (Khaleej Times, Sept 2026)
- How to apply
- Mostly through the admission application itself
UAE university scholarships for international students
These universities publish merit awards open to students regardless of nationality. Criteria are summarised from their official pages in October 2026.
| University | Award | Coverage | Key criteria |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi | International undergraduate tiers I to V | Tier I full tuition plus textbooks; Tiers II to IV 75%, 50%, 25% | Assessed at admission on merit; limited slots |
| UAE University, Al Ain | Chancellor's Scholarship for Elite Students | 100% or 75% tuition discount | 100%: 98% Grade 12, IELTS 7.5; 75%: 95%, IELTS 6.5; SAT or ACT Math for some majors; Arabic test |
| UAE University | Chancellor's Scholarship for Talented Students | 100% or 50% tuition discount | Evidence of talent in innovation, arts, sport or technology |
| American University of Sharjah | President's Scholarship | 100% tuition and lab fees, monthly stipend, housing, insurance | Schooling completed outside the UAE; SAT 1400; IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL 94 |
| American University of Sharjah | Chancellor's Scholarship | 100% tuition and lab fees, housing, insurance | Schooling completed in the UAE; IELTS 7.0, TOEFL 94 or EmSAT English 1725 |
| American University of Sharjah | Merit Scholarship | 10% to 20% tuition and lab fees | 95%+ average in Grades 10 and 11; automatic at admission |
Fully funded scholarships in UAE for international students
"Fully funded" usually means tuition plus living support. From official pages, the clearest examples are:
- AUS President's Scholarship: tuition and lab fees, a monthly stipend, on-campus housing and medical insurance.
- Khalifa University PhD scholarships: full or partial tuition, a stipend, accommodation, medical insurance, and visa and travel support for students living abroad.
- Khalifa University master's scholarships: full or partial tuition, textbooks, accommodation, insurance and visa support (no stipend listed).
MBZUAI, the AI university in Abu Dhabi, was widely known for funding all admitted graduate students. Its admissions page now says graduate funding "may be available" through faculty research projects and other mechanisms, depending on programme and qualifications, so check the terms for your intake. See AI courses in Dubai.
PhD and master's scholarships in UAE
- Khalifa University: PhD scholarships with stipend; a joint PhD with the China Scholarship Council pays AED 9,200 a month from KU plus a CSC stipend (KU graduate scholarships page, Oct 2026).
- UAE University: graduate research, teaching and administrative assistantships and a PhD Fellowship, each listed as open to all nationalities, subject to budget. The Chancellor's Fellowship targets STEM and strategic fields and excludes MBA, DBA, MPA and Education.
- MBA scholarships in UAE: business schools such as London Business School publish scholarship and financing options for their Dubai Executive MBA. See MBA in Dubai.
UAE government scholarships and programmes
Most federal and emirate-level scholarship schemes are for UAE nationals. Examples from official pages:
- KHDA Dubai Distinguished Students Programme: school scholarships for Emirati pupils (see below).
- External sponsors at Khalifa University: KU notes that some students are funded by sponsors such as the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority or the Ministry of Education, applied for through each sponsor.
- UAEU and the TDRA ICT Fund: a scholarship for Emirati students in selected IT and communications majors.
- UAEU Arab Space Pioneers Program: an MSc Space Science scholarship recruiting from across the Arab region.
For "UAE government scholarships for international students", we found no general federal programme open to all foreign nationals. International students are mainly funded through university awards and federal university assistantships.
UAE school fee scholarships
Searches for "UAE school fee scholarships" usually mean help with private school tuition. Two kinds exist.
KHDA Dubai Distinguished Students Programme (Emiratis)
Run by KHDA and the Knowledge Fund Establishment, it pays 50% of tuition at participating private schools rated Good or better; the family pays the rest. Applicants must be UAE nationals with a Dubai family book, in Grade 1 to Grade 10 (or equivalent), and from Grade 3 upwards show three years of grades of at least 90% (MOE or US), 6 or B (UK) or 5 (IB). KHDA's page lists 28 participating schools, including Jumeirah College, GEMS World Academy, Dubai American Academy and Deira International School. The page was last updated in February 2026 for the 2025-2026 cycle.
Private school scholarships (all nationalities)
Khaleej Times reported on 9 September 2026 that several schools offer partial awards:
| School or group | Award | Entry points |
|---|---|---|
| Arcadia British School | Up to 25% (Years 7 and 10); up to 50% for a few Year 12 students | Years 7, 10, 12 |
| GEMS Education, Genius Scholarship | Not stated; two-year award, all nationalities | Year 10/Grade 9 and Year 12/Grade 11 for 2027; applications open October 2026 |
| Rugby School Dubai | Typically up to 10% of tuition | Years 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 for August 2027 |
| Regent International School | Merit-based, tuition only; percentage not stated | Selected year groups |
Scholarships in UAE for Indian students and UAE residents
We found no UAE university award reserved for Indian nationals on official pages. Indian students qualify for the international and UAE-resident awards above. Note the split at AUS: the President's Scholarship is for students who finished school outside the UAE, while the Chancellor's Scholarship is for students who finished school in the UAE, which is the relevant one for most "scholarships for UAE residents" searches. If a university offers you a merit discount, get the percentage and renewal conditions in writing. See international universities in Dubai.
How to apply and improve your chances
- Shortlist universities whose award criteria you already meet (grade average, English score, SAT where required).
- Apply early: most merit awards are decided at admission and slots are limited.
- Check if a separate form, essay or interview is needed (AUS full scholarships have their own deadline).
- Read the renewal rule: UAEU, for example, requires a cumulative GPA of 3.6 to 3.8 to keep elite awards.
- Add up remaining costs: housing, visa, insurance. See UAE student visa and study in UAE.
Study loans in UAE
If a scholarship does not cover everything, some families look at study loans from UAE banks or instalment plans offered by universities. Terms vary and we have not verified current rates, so compare the total cost of credit and ask the university finance office about instalments, sibling discounts (AUS offers 25% per additional sibling enrolled full-time) and need-based grants before borrowing.
Questions and answers
Are there fully funded scholarships in UAE for international students?
Yes, but few. The AUS President's Scholarship and Khalifa University PhD scholarships cover tuition plus living support such as housing, insurance and a stipend.
What are UAE school fee scholarships?
Partial tuition awards at private schools. KHDA's Dubai Distinguished Students Programme pays 50% of fees for qualifying Emirati pupils, and schools such as Arcadia British School offer up to 25% to 50% for selected year groups.
Does UAE University give scholarships to international students?
Yes. Its Chancellor's Scholarships give international undergraduates 100%, 75% or 50% tuition discounts, based on grades, English scores or proven talent, subject to available seats.
Do I need a separate application for Khalifa University scholarships?
No. Khalifa University assesses international undergraduates for its scholarship tiers during admission.
Are there UAE government scholarships for international students?
We found no general federal programme open to all foreign nationals. Most international funding comes from universities and university assistantships.
Can UAE residents get scholarships at AUS?
Yes. The Chancellor's Scholarship is for students who completed secondary school in the UAE, and merit awards of 10% to 20% are offered at admission for a 95% average.
Sources
- Khalifa University: Undergraduate scholarships
- Khalifa University: Graduate scholarships
- UAE University: Undergraduate scholarships
- UAE University: Graduate scholarships
- American University of Sharjah: Financial grants and scholarships
- MBZUAI: Admission process
- KHDA: Dubai Distinguished Students Programme
- Khaleej Times: UAE schools offer up to 50% off fees in scholarships (Sept 2026)
- London Business School: Executive MBA Dubai fees, financing and scholarships
Last checked: 15 October 2026