The oldest and iconic public university in the UAE is the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) established in 1976 by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and is based in. It has a ground breaking College of Business and Economics (CBE), which was founded in 1977. CBE is dual accredited in Business and Accounting by AACSB International-the first in the region to do so in 2000.
CBE accommodates approximately 1,500+ students in undergraduate and graduate and doctoral programmes. Five interdisciplinary regions are structured into the college, which are Marketing and Entrepreneurship, Management, Economics and Finance, Statistics and Business analytics. The staff members include about 82 full time faculty members who are attracted by almost all world-based institutions.
United Arab Emirates University College of Business and Economics Ranking
UAEU is ranked 229 th in the QS World University Rankings 2026 at the university level. It has a very prominent MBA programme in the region of the Middle East and Africa (ranked as position 6). Besides, CBE is ranked significantly on the list of business schools in UAE by Eduniversal.
3. Courses and Fees (with Duration)
Undergraduate Programmes (typical duration-4 years):
- Business Administration (BBA)
- Accounting
- Finance and Banking
- Economics
- Statistics and Data Analytics
Graduate Programmes:
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) - Total 1.5 years inclusive of Summer semester.
- Fees: nine-unit core courses AED 5,900 per unit, capstone and leadership courses AED 12,000 each, application fee AED 200, bridging course AED 2,000 (when required) and extra AED 20,000 to travel internationally.
- Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) - the course usually takes 3 to 4 years, including coursework and dissertation:
- Fee of coursework: AED 8,400 per credit hour (total AED 201,600)
- Dissertation research: AED 1, 680 per hour of credit (total AED 50,400)
- Registration fee: AED 200
- Total estimated fees: AED 252,200
There are also other masters-degree programs (e.g. Economics, Accounting) but the details of the fees are different.
4. Admission and Eligibility Criteria
Although the site does not provide exact numbers, general admission criteria of CBE are:
Undergraduate:
- High school completion (or equivalent) with good grades, in particular in the relevant subjects. They need to know English, which is frequently evidenced by TOEFL or IELTS in case their previous education was not conducted in English.
- In the case of MBA: A completed bachelor's degree, work experience, proficiency in the English language and, in some instances, bridging courses in case of a deficient background.
- In the case of DBA: MBA or equivalent, good academic performance, sometimes professional work experience and research proposal. Above-stated fees and time.
Due to the competitiveness and the high rank of UAEU, satisfying the minimum requirements, excelling at interviews or other tests, and possessing high-quality extracurricular or professional portfolios increases the probability.
5. University Infrastructure
- Campuses: Headquarters is a sprawling, modern-designed main campus, Al Ain, new campuses are offered in Abu Dhabi (some programmes or activities are available there).
- Faculty and Students: CBE itself has more than 82 faculty and accommodates more than 1,500 students.
- Facilities: UAEU campus has high tech laboratories, specialized research centers, modern classrooms, library and facilities to cater to the students fully.
- Library: Zayed Central Library (UAEU branch) is one of the main facilities in academic libraries and resources.
- Living-Learning Environment: A so-called state-of-the-art new campus with a combination of learning and living environment i.e. student services, IT, sustainability-driven infrastructure, green campus programs, etc.
FAQs
- Does UAEU College of Business and Economics have AACSB accreditation?
Yes, CBE is AACSB International Business and Accounting dual accredited. This was the first in the Middle East (in 2000).
- How long and how will the MBA programme at CBE take?
MBA lasts 1.5 years (with summers). The cost will be AED 5,900 per unit of study, AED 12,000 each capstone and leadership, application fee of AED 200, a bridging course fee (where necessary) of AED 2,000 and an approximate of AED 20,000 to travel abroad will be required in a one-week trip.
- What is the competitiveness of admission to UAEU?
Admission is competitive. Must be well-acquainted academically, possessing English qualifications and in graduate programmes, some form of background/work experience is a bonus. Minimal eligibility is not the sure way to admission because of demand and ranking.
- What can UAEU provide to business students?
The CBE students are enjoying advanced classrooms, research laboratories, Zayed Central Library, practicum internship and industry-placement programs, faculty mentoring, as well as career development. In addition, the campus offers living-learning environments, greenways, sustainability-oriented infrastructure, IT support and student welfare provisions.