Abu Dhabi University (ADU) is a premier, internationally recognized academic institution firmly rooted in the United Arab Emirates. Established to realize the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE, ADU provides world-class education that meets the highest international standards while fueling the nation’s knowledge-based economy.

As one of the region’s most prestigious institutions, ADU is consistently ranked among the Top 3 universities in the UAE and holds a prestigious spot in the Top 300 globally (Times Higher Education). With a vibrant community of over 8,000 students across campuses in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Dubai, we offer a multicultural environment where students from over 100 nationalities gain the skills to lead on a global stage.

Our History: A Legacy of Excellence

The story of Abu Dhabi University began in 2003, born from a commitment to excellence in higher education and research. Since its inception, ADU has evolved from a local pioneer into a regional leader, securing elite international accreditations that place it in the top tier of universities worldwide.

The ADU Journey: Milestones of Success

Since opening its doors, ADU has set the benchmark for private higher education in the Gulf, fostering an environment where innovation meets tradition.

• 2003: Abu Dhabi University is officially established.
• 2015: Achieves initial accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) in the US.
• 2018: The College of Business receives EQUIS accreditation, placing it among the top 1% of business schools globally.
• 2020: Inauguration of the state-of-the-art Al Ain Campus, a purpose-built facility designed for 21st-century learning.
• 2023: Ranked #1 in the UAE for Teaching and #1 in the region for International Outlook (THE World University Rankings).

Vision, Mission, and Purpose

Our strategy is defined by the pursuit of "Empowering Tomorrow's Leaders," ensuring our graduates are prepared to drive the UAE’s "Projects of the 50" and beyond.

Our Vision

To be a leading university in the MENA region, recognized for academic excellence, transformative student experiences, and impactful research that contributes to the UAE’s national agenda.

Our Mission

We provide graduates with the knowledge, skills, and mindset to become the leaders of tomorrow. We achieve this through internationally accredited programs, a student-centric approach, and a commitment to innovation, research, and community engagement.

Our Core Purpose

Abu Dhabi University exists to:

• Cultivate Innovation: Providing a "Future-Proof" education that integrates advanced technology and entrepreneurial thinking.
• Bridge Industry Gaps: Acting as a strategic partner to the UAE government and private sector to ensure our curriculum aligns with the evolving labor market.
• Promote Global Citizenship: Fostering an inclusive environment that encourages cross-cultural understanding and a commitment to global sustainability.

Academic Colleges and Departments

At Abu Dhabi University, our academic structure is built upon the pillars of international accreditation and professional readiness. Through our specialized colleges—Arts and Sciences, Business, Engineering, Health Sciences, and Law—we offer a diverse portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

Our faculty consists of world-renowned scholars and industry practitioners who emphasize research-driven learning. With over 90% of our programs holding elite international stamps of approval (such as ABET for Engineering and AACSB/EQUIS for Business), we ensure that an ADU degree is a passport to global career opportunities.

Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates known for luxury shopping, ultramodern architecture, and a lively nightlife scene. Burj Khalifa, an 830m-tall tower, dominates the skyscraper-filled skyline. At its foot lies Dubai Fountain, with jets and lights choreographed to music. On artificial islands just offshore is Atlantis, The Palm, a resort with water and marine-animal parks.

Most of the universities in Dubai are affiliating themselves to institutions abroad, and several of them use English as a medium of instruction. Learning in Dubai is comparatively cheaper because of its education policies. The opportunity to stay in a cosmopolitan culture and to learn social etiquette, are necessary in today's world.

Dubai is now home to 63 institutions from across the world. It also provides quality education to all its students.

The Dubai authorities want to create and support a large academic community in Dubai that will accelerate the development of higher education. The Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) is a regional base for premier institutions. It provides world-class facilities to the students. It also facilitates on-campus accommodation along with all modern conveniences including broadband internet connection.

The possibilities of finding job training and full-time opportunities in Dubai are quite high because of the development in the area of infrastructure, trade, and commerce. The current labor laws of the UAE do not permit students to work part-time. However, if postgraduate students who secure full-time work can change from a student visa to an employer-sponsored visa.
 
Besides the main programs like IT and Business Administration, few new and innovative programs like the master’s in Logistics, a combo of engineering and management, and IT and management, Insurance, property development, and management and marketing are also being designed and imparted.

The polytechnic in Dubai offers short courses, seminars, and workshops in business management, hospitality management, finance, tourism, computing, and industrial engineering.

Courses are imparted through both lecture and lab work. Course outline and lecture notes are sometimes distributed among the students to help them prepare for exams. Lab work consists of small groups of students. Student performance is assessed via tests, assignments, and projects. Some universities also require the students to complete work experience training for two months.

Fees range in polytechnic ranges from Pounds 1,500 a year to Pounds 3,400 for a full-time course. About a third of the students are expatriates from countries as diverse as the United Kingdom, India, Germany, Russia, and Arab countries outside the Gulf.

Higher education in Dubai also includes training institutes where you can enroll for part-time or full-time courses. Institutes offer both local programs and internationally recognized certifications. Student performance is assessed by a computer-based exam, written exam, or practical tasks.

Higher Colleges of Technology were established in 1988. Located in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Al Ain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah, these colleges prepare nationals for professional and technological careers in both government and private sectors. Since their foundation, the colleges have grown significantly, with staff and students increasing by about 30 percent each year.

The UAE University located in Al Ain has eight faculties and was established in 1976. In the last 24 years, it has become a leading institution in education, research, and community service. The University is also proving to be the most popular destination for students seeking higher education in the UAE with over 15,000 students currently studying at their facilities.

The Centre for Excellence for Applied Research and Training (CERT) runs a countrywide continuing education programs for all nationalities. The programs have been designed for professional development and personal enrichment for people with an eye for continuing education.

Initial projects include 100 face-to-face instructor-led courses and approximately 100 online courses through a Cert website: http://www.certonline.com/

Zayed University was established in 1998 to prepare leaders who will foresee the possibilities and capture the opportunities that will create the future of the United Arab Emirates. The University has campuses in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Enrollment on the campuses as of 2003 is over 2000 students, all of them female nationals.

The University is small enough to enable students to have a personal interaction with faculty, yet sufficiently large to offer them a range of challenging degree programs in the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business Sciences, Communication, and Media Sciences, Education, Family Sciences, and Information Systems.

Zayed University also runs a number of research centers that reach out to many areas of society, including media, education, and the business community. Among them is SmartSquare, created to facilitate the improvement of businesses and technology projects for the U.A.E. and the region. Zayed University's web site is www.zu.ac.ae

Best Universities in Dubai

• Zayed University
• University of Wollongong in Dubai
• American University in Dubai
• The British University in Dubai
• University of Dubai
• Dubai Medical College
• Al Ghurair University
• Dubai Pharmacy College
• Canadian University of Dubai
• American University in the Emirates
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