The success of your future professional endeavors will be primarily influenced by the academic resources you have at your disposal, the educational program you have chosen to pursue, and the knowledge you gain with the help of the professors of the university you are studying at. Are you an Emirati, and would you like to further your academic studies? Are you a foreign student looking for a way to get the educational resources you need for your future career?
If so, you should look at the admissions selection for a top university in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Why should you study in the Middle East at a top university? Ultimately, it all boils down to the quality of the curriculum and the cultural diversity of the campuses. Are you interested in discovering higher education institutions that have achieved top university rankings in the Middle East? If so, you are in luck, as Abu Dhabi is home to some of the best universities in the MENA region, and students at these academic establishments have access to some of the most sophisticated research labs in the world.
The professors in the UAE are recognized for their high academic standards, and many of them offer internationally recognized degree programs that are addressed to both UAE Nationals and international students. The learning environment of these universities is dynamic, and the professors who work in Abu Dhabi come from all over the world and are recognized for their scholarly flair.
First and foremost, the success of UAE-based universities is due to the significant investments that the Emirati government has made to transform Abu Dhabi into a world-class academic center. Colleges in Abu Dhabi have collaborations with some of the most recognized educational centers in the world and benefit from the resources necessary for top-notch industry research. Abu Dhabi is home to countless laboratories and research centers, which target industries ranging from renewable energy to AI, biotech, healthcare, and immunology.
Are you looking for a top university in the UAE? Then, you are in luck. The UAE boasts no less than twelve universities in the QS Top 1000 Universities rankings of 2025. However, achieving top university rankings in the Middle East is not enough. To be attractive to residents and international students, colleges in the UAE must also have attractive admission criteria that are neither too lenient nor too prohibitive.
Regardless of whether they achieve top university rankings or not, the admission criteria for undergraduates looking to study in Abu Dhabi are similar to top universities. What do you need to do? First, you must select the program you wish to join and be aware of your application deadline. Did you graduate from high school less than two years ago? In that case, you are eligible. Next, you will have to take a peek at the grading requirements.
Are you a UAE National? If so, your eligibility for bachelor’s program will depend on the school system you have attended. For the elite stream, you must obtain a 75% average. For the advanced stream, the minimum is 80%, while for the general track, it is 90%. Your direct admission will also depend on your EmSAT scores. Are you applying for an engineering program, or are you interested in a major in applied mathematics or physics? If so, you will need to obtain an EmSat English score of a minimum of 1400 or obtain an IELTS score of 6.0, or a TOEFL iBT rating of 79.
On top of this criteria, you will need to obtain an EmSAT Math score of 1250 and one in Physics that surpasses 1000. There are alternative admission criteria, which may vary. Nevertheless, suppose you are applying for a college that is included in the top university rankings for the MENA region, the admission criteria you must fulfill will be similar to top educational institutions.
Are you one of the thousands of international students who decided this year to apply for the academic programs in a top university in Abu Dhabi? If so, you should possess an IELTS band score of at least 6.0 or a TOEFL iBT of at least 79. Plus, you must meet the admission standards for the program to which you are applying. Are you an American or British applicant? If so, you must have graduated high school with a CGPA of at least 75% +2 AP or A-level subjects. An AP or AL Math is mandatory regardless of the class, and the minimum score required to be eligible for the program you selected is 3 for US applicants or C for UK-based students.
Nevertheless, the exact grading requirements might differ slightly among universities. Are you applying from another country? If so, typically, you will need to achieve a high school average of over 80%, attain an SAT math score of 700, and pass the online entrance exam of the university you are applying to. Do you meet the admission criteria required for your program? Then, you will need to submit your application online. Moreover, it would be wise not to forget to include an attested copy of your high school graduation certificate, your TOEFL or IELTS certificates, a copy of your passport, a photo, and a good conduct certificate.
Abu Dhabi is a safe and high-tech city that, in the last three decades, has gained recognition as an emerging economic hub symbolic of the Middle East. Firms operating here are active internationally, and a good number of them hire exclusively from the student body of colleges active in the city. Why study in Abu Dhabi? First of all, you will most likely have no difficulty finding a job after graduation. Plus, the quality of life in the city is excellent, and the focus of the industries present here is on innovation.
The United Arab Emirates is a diverse country in which no less than 88% of the population is composed of international workers and foreign students. The focus of the educational system in Abu Dhabi is on the creation and maintenance of world-class research centers that foster innovation, attract collaborations with industry-leading firms or top-class western educational centers, and attend to the growing and ever-developing needs of the international markets. Do you want to study here? Then, you will make one of the wisest decisions of your life.
