The United Arab Emirates is among the most prominent countries in the Middle East. Being the second-biggest economy and a high-income country in the region, the UAE attracts thousands of medical students and professionals each year. A high literacy rate of 93% underlines the successful education system of the country. Globally ranking universities support UAE’s higher education, covering several disciplines, including medicine. As a developed country with excellent infrastructure, UAE has the means to provide quality medical education to students. UAE has seven universities offering medical courses, ranking within the 40 BEST COUNTRIES. A Medical degree in UAE has a duration of five to six years, and most universities accept international applicants. Furthermore, students can have brilliant career opportunities in cosmopolitan cities like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. Read more about the best medical universities in UAE for studying MBBS, its cost, and eligibility for international students.
Overview of Best Medical Colleges in Dubai and UAE
| Number of Universities | 7 |
| Programs Offered | MBBS, MD, BDS, BSN, B.Pharm, BSc, MSc, Pharm.D, CPT, MSN, MDS, BPT, MPT |
| Program Duration | 4-6 years |
| Basic Eligibility | Secondary school certificate |
| Average Annual Tuition Cost | AED 133,460 |
| Arabic Proficiency | Required |
| English Proficiency | TOEFL (iBT-80), IELTS 6, EmSAT 1525 |
| Application deadline | Varies |
Top 7 Medical Universities in UAE
| QS Ranking 2022 | UniRank 2022 | University | Bachelor’s Programs | Master’s Programs |
| 1 | 6 | Khalifa University | ||
| 2 | 1 | United Arab Emirates University* | ||
| 6 | 4 | University of Sharjah | ||
| 9 | 9 | Ajman University | ||
| – | 18 | Gulf Medical University | ||
| – | 26 | Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences | ||
| – | 33 | Ras al-Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University |
- *Admission granted for UAE nationals and children of Emirati mothers.
- Admission to Medical programs are based on the performance in the university-conducted admission test or MCAT and personal interviews. The interviews conducted by some universities will be in the “Multiple Mini Interviews” format.
Khalifa University-College of Medicine and Health Sciences
Khalifa University is among the top 30 best universities in Asia. It established Abu Dhabi’s first medical college and introduced the four-year MD program. The program aims to provide integrated clinical and research experience.
KU’s MD program graduates are expected to demonstrate the following ten competencies.
- Patient care
- Knowledge for practice
- Practice-based learning and improvement
- Interpersonal and communication skills
- Professionalism
- Systems-based practice
- Inter-professional collaboration
- Personal and professional development
- Technology-enhanced healthcare
- Social Accountability
The college of medicine and health sciences also offers a non-degree Pre-Medicine Bridge Program. Students who have completed their bachelor’s can enroll in this program to prepare for MD.
Entry and admission requirements
- Bachelor’s degree (STEM discipline) from a recognized university
- Cumulative GPA 3.0 and a Science GPA of 3.0
- MCAT score of at least 500
- English Proficiency of IELTS (6.5), TOEFL iBT (90), EmSat English (1550)
- Subject Prerequisites: General Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry or Organic Chemistry plus Biochemistry, Physics, and Mathematics
- Reference letters
- CV
- Personal Statement
University of Sharjah-College of Medicine
The University of Sharjah was established in 1997 to contribute to comprehensive and multi-disciplinary education and research, at par with the world’s best universities. The university imparts medical education through the colleges of medicine, dental medicine, health sciences, and pharmacy.
College of Medicine
- Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
- Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular Medicine and Translational Research
- Masters of Science in Molecular Medicine and Translational Research
- Master in Leadership on Health Professions Education
- Master of Science in Diabetes Management
- Postgraduate Diploma in Ultrasound Technology Applications
The MBBS program at UoS is six years in duration, with five years of training and one year of clinical practice.
College of Health Sciences
- Environmental Health Sciences
- Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics
- Health Services Administration
- Medical Diagnostic Imaging
- Nursing
- Physiotherapy
- Medical Laboratory Services
College of Dental Sciences
- Bachelor of Dental Surgery
- Master of Dental Surgery in Oral Surgery
- Master of Dental Surgery in Prosthodontics
- Master of Dental Surgery in Periodontology
- Master of Dental Surgery Endodontics
College of Pharmacy
- Bachelor of Pharmacy
- Master in Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Doctor of Pharmacy
Entry and admission requirements
- Secondary education from a school recognized by the UAE MoE
- GPA of at least (2.5) out of (4.0)
- Must have completed two courses of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics
- Copy of student passport
- English Language Proficiency Certificate
- Health Fitness Certificate
- Copy of Good Conduct Certificate
- Obtain a score of 800 in EmSAT- Arabic
Ajman University
Established in 1988, Ajman University became the first private university in the GCC. The university is featured in QS Rankings 2022 as the ninth-best in the country.
Ajman University has three colleges dedicated to medical education: Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy.
College of Medicine
It offers one program—a 224-credit MBBS degree. The duration of the program is six years with one year of foundation. The program is structured in three phases. Phases 1 and 2 are for four and two semesters, respectively. The third phase concentrates on clinical practice.
College of Dentistry
- Bachelor of Dental Surgery
- Master of Science in Endodontics
- Master of Science in Restorative Dentistry
- Master of Science in Pediatric Dentistry
College of Pharmacy
- Bachelor of Pharmacy
- Master of Science in Pharmacy
- Master of Science in Clinical Pharmacy
New courses are introduced to address the changing requirements of the healthcare sector. The newest addition is (MSc in Clinical Pharmacy).
Entry and admission requirements
- Secondary School certificate
- Academic Transcripts
- English Proficiency scores IELTS-6.0, TOEFL-550, EmSAT-1100
- Arabic Proficiency of at least 800 in EmSAT
- Must have studied Chemistry, Biology, and Physics
- Valid Passport Copy
- Certificate of Good Conduct
Gulf Medical University
Gulf Medical University came into being in 1998 as the largest medical university in the region. The GMU has six colleges offering 26 programs in medicine. The university focuses on three key areas Medical Education, Healthcare, and Research.
The six colleges of GMU are Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Health Sciences, Nursing, and Healthcare Management & Economics
College of Medicine
- Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences
- Associate Degree in Pre-clinical Sciences
- Doctor of Medicine
- Master in Public Health
- Master in Health Profession Education
- Doctor of Philosophy in Precision Medicine
College of Dentistry
- Bachelor of Dental Surgery
- Master of Dental Surgery in Periodontics
- Master of Dental Surgery in Endodontics
College of Pharmacy
- Clinical Training Program
- Doctor of Pharmacy
- Master of Clinical Pharmacy
- Master of Science in Drug Discovery and Development
College of Health Sciences
- Bachelor of Physiotherapy
- Bachelor of Science – Medical Laboratory Sciences
- Bachelor of Science – Medical Imaging Sciences
- Bachelor of Science – Anesthesia Technology
College of Nursing
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing for Registered Nurses
College of Healthcare Management & Economics
- Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management and Economics
- Executive Master in Healthcare Management and Economics
Entry and admission requirements
- High School Transcript
- Required Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics & English.
- Equivalency Certificate from the Ministry of Education, UAE
- English Proficiency Score (EmSAT/IELTS/TOEFL, etc.)
- Arabic Proficiency
- Good Conduct Certificate
- Medical Fitness Certificate
Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences
The MBRU is named after the vice president and prime minister of the UAE. The university states its vision as becoming a global healthcare education and research center. Its medical education focuses on three disciplines: Medicine, Dentistry, and Nursing.
College of Medicine
- Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
- Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences
- Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences
College of Dentistry
- Master of Science in Endodontics
- Master of Science in Prosthodontics
- Master of Science in Periodontology
- Master of Science in Pediatric Dentistry
- Master of Science in Orthodontics
College of Nursing
- Master of Science in Cardiovascular Nursing
- Master of Science in Pediatric Nursing
Entry and admission requirements
- Secondary school certificate with at least 85% score
- Must have studied science subjects like Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Calculus, Algebra, IT, Psychology, Combined Sciences, and Geology
- English proficiency: IELTS-6, TOEFL iBT-80, EmSAT-1525
- Arabic proficiency of EmSAT-800
- Academic transcripts
Ras al-Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University
RAK university is the youngest university on the list, with its establishment in the year 2006. Located in Ras Al Khaimah, the university was founded to provide high-quality clinical teaching in medicine. The university is the first to introduce two-year master’s programs in Nursing and Pharmacy.
There are four colleges under RAK Medical and Health Sciences University.
RAK College of Medical Sciences: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
RAK College of Dental Sciences: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
RAK College of Pharmacy: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, Master of Pharmacy
RAK College of Nursing: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Midwifery
Entry and admission requirements
- Secondary school certificate with 75%
- EmSAT score of 800 for the Arabic Language
- Admission Test
- English proficiency score of IELTS-5, TOEFL-500
- Must have studied Chemistry, Biology, Physics & Mathematics
Cost of MBBS / MD for International Students in UAE
The average annual tuition cost of MBBS/MD in UAE is AED 133,460. This cost does not include other living expenses. Actual tuition fees as stated by the top medical universities in UAE are
| University | Annual Tuition |
| University of Sharjah | AED 118,300 |
| Ajman University | AED 121,000 |
| Gulf Medical University | AED 147,000 |
| Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences | AED 160,000 |
| Ras al-Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University | AED 121,000 |
