Interior, Graphic and Fashion Design Courses in Dubai

Interior design courses in Dubai

For a career as an interior designer, the strongest credential is a bachelor's degree from a licensed university, ideally one with specialist accreditation. Two Dubai universities stand out on the evidence we could check:

• American University in Dubai (AUD): the BFA in Interior Design is accredited by the UAE Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) and by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), the US body for interior design programmes. NASAD has also granted it "substantial equivalency".
• Canadian University Dubai (CUD): offers a BSc in Interior Design, which the university describes as "aligned with" CIDA standards. That wording is not the same as CIDA accreditation, so ask the university for its current status.

Short interior design courses

Many private institutes run 1 to 6 month interior design courses covering AutoCAD, SketchUp, 3ds Max and rendering. These are useful for building software skills, for career changers testing the field, or for people in fit-out and real estate. They do not replace a degree for design roles that require one. Check that the centre holds a valid KHDA permit and whether the certificate is from an awarding body or only the centre itself.

Graphic design and animation courses

Graphic design courses in Dubai include:

• Degrees: AUD offers a BFA in Visual Communication, and NASAD has given substantial equivalency to AUD BFA programmes in advertising, digital media and graphic design. SAE Dubai offers bachelor's degrees in Graphic Design and Animation, along with Film, Audio and Games Development, described as accredited Australian degrees, at AED 56,790 per year plus VAT (provider site, October 2026), over 3 years or a 2-year fast track.
• Short courses: software courses in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign at training centres. Fees vary widely and are rarely published.

Graphic design courses in Dubai with fees published by the provider are uncommon. Ask for a written quote including software licences, which some students must buy themselves. For web and UI design, see coding and web design courses, and for marketing design work see digital marketing courses.

Fashion design courses in Dubai

Fashion designing course fees in Dubai depend mainly on whether you take a degree or a short course.

• Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI): offers a Bachelor of Design with specialisations including Fashion, Product, Multimedia and Strategic Design, and a Master of Design. The curriculum was developed in partnership with MIT and Parsons School of Design. DIDI states it is accredited by the UAE Ministry of Education. Fees are not published on its home page.
• Istituto Marangoni Dubai: the Italian fashion school opened its Dubai campus in 2022 and presented its first graduates from the Fashion Design and Accessories programme in December 2025. Check its site for current courses in styling and the business of luxury.

Fashion styling courses and fashion photography courses are usually short, from a weekend to a few weeks. Ask whether you will build portfolio work you can show employers.

Photography and videography courses in Dubai

Photography courses in Dubai are mostly short and practical. Gulf Photo Plus (GPP) in Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz runs regular workshops; on its site in October 2026:

• Photography Level 1 (Beginner), a 1-day intensive: from AED 595 (Gulf Photo Plus site, Oct 2026)
• Photography Level 2 (Intermediate): from AED 699 (Gulf Photo Plus site, Oct 2026)
• Smartphone Photography Workshop: from AED 399 (Gulf Photo Plus site, Oct 2026)
• Shooting Film and analog developing classes: from AED 695 (Gulf Photo Plus site, Oct 2026)

For videography and film-making at degree level, SAE Dubai offers a Film degree. Photography and videography courses in Dubai that combine both skills are often sold as short bundles by training centres; check equipment access and class size.

Free photography courses in Dubai are rare. Dubai Culture's LinkedIn Learning initiative gives Dubai-based creatives in photography, design, animation and other fields free access to online courses; see free courses in Dubai.

Design universities in Dubai compared

For a degree, confirm the programme's status with MoHESR/CAA or, for free-zone branch campuses, KHDA. See universities in Dubai for how to check.

Electrical, plumbing and other technical design courses

Searches for electrical design courses or plumbing and water supply design courses in Dubai are about MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) engineering design, not creative design. These are covered on engineering courses in Dubai. Lifting equipment inspection training belongs under health and safety courses.

A few other searches land here too. Confidence building courses are covered under communication courses, public private partnership courses under finance courses, and bartender and barista training under hospitality courses. Art and painting classes are mostly leisure workshops.

Part-time and short design courses for working adults

Part-time diploma courses in Dubai in design are offered by many private institutes in the evenings and at weekends. When comparing them:

• Ask for the total hours, not only the number of weeks.
• Check whether you get a portfolio review or final project.
• Confirm software access: labs on site, or your own licence at home.
• Ask whether the certificate is from an awarding body such as Pearson or only the centre.

See diploma courses in Dubai for how diploma levels compare, and short courses in Dubai for format options.

How to choose a design course