The Top 6 Culinary Schools in Dubai
Featured Image Source: gpointstudio via Freepik
The culinary industry can be overly competitive (and sometimes brutal), so getting formal training is an excellent way to get an edge and exposure to diverse cooking disciplines, styles, and techniques.
To help you get started, we’re reviewing the best culinary schools in Dubai!
How much do culinary programs cost in Dubai?
The table below shows the costs of culinary courses and programs offered by the schools we chose. Bear in mind that these are rates currently posted on their website, so they might change at any time.
The Top Culinary Schools in Dubai
Whether you aim to become a better home cook, want to become a reputed chef, or wish to open a restaurant in Dubai, here are some schools that can help you achieve your goal. We chose them by comparing and assessing the following criteria:
1. International Center for Culinary Arts (ICCA)
The International Center for Culinary Arts (ICCA) was established in 2005. Since then, they have become one of the internationally renowned culinary schools in Dubai.
A noteworthy feature of ICCA is that its culinary programs are recognized and approved by trusted institutions, including the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA in Dubai), the City & Guilds of London, and the World Association of Chefs Societies (WorldChefs).
Moreover, if you’re looking for a culinary school that has different areas of specialization, ICCA will not disappoint you. You see, they offer a very wide range of lessons, including baking and patisserie, artisan bread making, artisan chocolate-making, and more.
Before you sign up for any program, they will let you book a personalized campus tour to visit their facilities and meet the chef instructors. We think this is a good way to see the classes in action and determine if the school is a great match for your requirements.
ICCA offers programs to international students. On top of that, the school also provides a fully-furnished hostel facility situated just blocks away from Dubai Metro, which we think is a great point of convenience, especially if it’s your first time visiting Dubai.
Just make sure to arrange your request for accommodation and set a composite fee plan prior to your arrival so they can handle everything for you.
Among other things, we think that ICCA is an excellent choice for beginners and professionals alike.
But do know that the costs of courses and programs they offer are on the high side. Besides that, class schedules are most of the time fully booked, so we suggest that you sign up early to secure your spot.
Pros
- Programs are accredited by KHDA, City & Guilds of London and WorldChefs
- Offers modern facilities
- Offers diverse culinary courses and programs
- Features corporate events and support
Cons
- Some complaints about fully booked schedules
- Has expensive fees
Client Reviews
Perfect place to learn how to cook something new
“I had an amazing experience with ICCA. It’s perfect place to learn how to cook something new, make new friends and have fun. We were making carbonara and lasagna, our chef explained us everything in details, step by step, everyone participated in cooking equally and our final result definitely exceeded our expectations. Highly recommended.” – Katerina Karpova
Highest quality standard of training
“Amazing learning experience! I took professional Diploma in Cookery and was just in awe to see how comprehensive the course coverage they offer there. Everyday was like a simulation of what exactly is happening in the kitchen in the industry. They have the best cooking equipment there is, (Electrolux!). The Chef trainers taught us even beyond the course content and more! The school continuously supports its graduates and current students by sending us to major events like GITEX 2020 and Gulfood 2021 to experience and work with different chefs. Everyone was very professional and friendly. The school has this great vibe and it was just pure fun while learning! I am very happy to have chosen ICCA as they have the highest quality standard of training! Thank you ICCA.” – Angelica Kristine Sayo
2. School of Culinary And Finishing Arts Dubai (SCAFA)
Next on our list is the School of Culinary And Finishing Arts (SCAFA), conceptualized in 2010.
They offer programs that are accredited by renowned institutions in the field, including City & Guilds of London, KHDA, International Association of Culinary Professionals, and more.
Furthermore, their lessons are said to be structured to be immersive and hands-on, so if you prefer an apprenticeship-style and intensive training, this school might be a good pick for you.
SCAFA’s programs revolve around the full spectrum of culinary arts. Whether you prefer to take up preliminary lessons like the Fundamentals of Cuisine and Fundamentals of Pastry or try your hand at more advanced courses such as Pro Kitchen and Pro Finishing, you can choose the one that suits your needs and preferences.
Should you want to enroll in their courses, note that their professional programs can last around three to six months, while their enthusiast programs can range from around five to ten classes.
Sadly though, just like our previous entry, SCAFA’s culinary program’s fees are also a bit expensive. However, if you treat this as a long-term investment, the price may not be a big issue for you.
Pros
- Properly accredited programs and experienced instructors
- Offers beginner-friendly courses
- Classes for children are available
- Provides certificates or diplomas for professional programs
- They have a podcast
Cons
- Long class hours
- Some complaints about changing schedules and refunds
Client Reviews
Highly trained professionals
“I had taken the 2 week bread making course and it was a wonderful experience. Chef Toyo made it so simple and today I bake my own bread practically every day. Chef Toyo is a wonderful teacher and she handled our numerous questions very patiently. Learned a great deal of technicalities and nuances involved in the process. SCAFA is a great school with highly trained professionals and I would recommend it to anyone interested in taking up a course there.” – Dalreen Sequeira
Great concept
“My daughter chose to have her birthday party here after doing a cooking course. She had the most amazing time; all the girls loved it. Such a great concept – prepare, cook & eat! All the staff were fantastic & contributed to making the party a huge success. A truly memorable experience at an affordable price.” – Fiona Harrison
3. Richemont Masterbaker
Now, if you prefer to attend a school that can help refine your baking skills and teach you some tips and tricks, Richemont Masterbaker is worth considering. Just as its name suggests, this school offers a variety of KHDA approved and specialized pastry and bakery education programs for its clients.
The programs they offer focus on varying levels of bread making, Swiss confectionery art, and fine pastry. Each course package can take around five days to three weeks, so it’s generally shorter compared to other programs in this list.
Should this not be enough, Richemont Masterbaker also designs programs for organizations to help them determine the gap in the skill-set of their workers. You see, this school offers to create customized course modules that can target the distinctive needs and operational schedule of their client’s business.
All told, this school is a great choice for individuals and business owners who want to enrich their baking prowess.
However, since this school focuses on baking, their area of specialization is limited compared to other entries in this list. So if you’re scouring for an institute that can offer you programs focusing on different cuisines, then Richemont Masterbaker is not the one for you.
Pros
- Online classes are available
- Affordable and short classes
- Offers customized course modules for business owners
Cons
- Limited to pastry and bakery programs
- Only have five chef instructors
Client Reviews
Knowledgeable instruction in a comfortable atmosphere
“I took the introductory pastry training 1 and enjoyed every minute of it. You definitely get your money’s worth, knowledgeable instruction in a comfortable atmosphere. I will be back. Thank you very much Chefs!” – Nina Vermollen
Highly qualified and focused on excellence
“My husband and I took both the Macaron and Chocolate Making classes, we loved it! The Center is extremely professional, the Chefs are highly qualified and focused on Excellence… Chef Roland was outstanding… he teached us great technics for handling chocolate and was extremely patient with us… classes at Richemont Masterbaker Center are highly recommended…” – Marianne Kozma
4. Ecole Hôtelière Helvétique (EHH)
Another entry on our list is Hôtelière Helvétique (EHH). It is a Swiss Institute in Dubai known for its hospitality and culinary arts programs.
Since the culinary industry is competitive, its goal is to produce highly sought-after professionals. The school claims to offer intensive and comprehensive culinary programs to ensure that its students will have hands-on industry experiences and operational and management skills.
Well, their accredited practical and academic modules, traditional and international techniques, together with their certified chef instructors, might attest to that.
From our perspective, what sets this school apart from the others is its sponsorship program. An individual may have the innate talent for the craft, but it might all be for nothing without proper support.
That may be the reason why EHH continues to form partnerships with educational foundations and corporate organizations. You see, they offer study grants, student loans, and scholarships for deserving students.
Unfortunately, they can’t offer scholarships to everyone, and their tuition fee is quite expensive. So if you just want to improve your home cooking skills, we don’t highly recommend it.
Pros
- Diverse culinary arts programs
- Offers scholarships, student grants, or student loans
- Provides certificates or diplomas for the programs they offer
Cons
- Long academic terms
- Expensive tuition fees
Client Reviews
Wide range of courses
“It is an amazing experience to work with EHH, they’ve really contributed to my success and development practically and theoretically. They have a wide range of courses. They also train their students by sending them into the field so that they can get the true experience. EHH molds their students into successful hoteliers. “ – Neeraj Melwani
Theory and practice go hand in hand
“Ehh is home away from home. I have never felt more safe. The staff are friendly and their teaching methods and exposure to direct work experience is very good. I have placed directly from the university during my studies itself, that gave me the experience of full time work with part time studies. The experience is tiring but worth it. From an intern to an employee at The Meydan Hotel the feeling is phenomenal, as theory and practice go hand in hand it has moulded me to face any work environment, guests colleagues and different type of people. It has made me what I am today and what I aspire to become. Thank you EHH for the support you have given me.” – Alistair Paiva
5. Dubai College of Tourism (DCT)
Next, we have the Dubai College of Tourism (DCT). Even if it was just founded in 2017, the school has been providing specialized programs in hospitality, retail business, events, tourism, and culinary arts.
DCT’s culinary art courses are offered in two levels. If your goal is to learn the fundamental business and academic skills for any culinary arts-related job, then you can enroll in their Certificate in Culinary Arts Program (Level 4).
This course will take a year to finish because aside from the core units in culinary, you’ll also be taking specialized units in line with the tourism sector, which we think is a great deal for the overall fee of the course.
On the other hand, if you completed your Level 4 and still want to progress and pick an area of specialization, we suggest that you take their Diploma in Culinary Arts (Level 5).
Well, this only means that you’ll have to study for another year, but in our opinion, this is a good choice for those who aspire to work as a professional chef. After you get your diploma, you can also sign up for an internship placement for your specialization.
All in all, DCT is a good choice for those looking to improve their careers in the culinary industry.
The only problem we see is that there’s a minimum number of students required to run each program. So if, for this particular year, there are not enough enrollees, you will not be able to take the program.
Pros
- Provides certificates or diplomas for culinary arts programs
- Affordable program fees
- Convenient internship placement
Cons
- Required GPA progression in Level 4 program should be met to proceed with Level 5 program
- There’s a minimum number of students required for the culinary arts programs
Client Reviews
Enjoyed the number of excursions and site-visits
“The hospitality-based atmosphere was the perfect environment for new students to get comfortable quickly with each other, the campus as well as the style of teaching which I felt was unique to DCT. I truly enjoyed the number of excursions and site-visits that were extremely relevant to my course as we went to various food-establishments.” – Faryal Azeem
Industry experts
“Amazing vocational education college. Nice facility. Lovely atmosphere. All teachers are industry experts.” – Lucy Mousa
6. School of Culinary and Finishing Arts (SCAFA)
The School of Culinary and Finishing Arts offers a wide range of classes for every person of every level. As the largest vocational institute in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, they provide top-notch facilities with world-class chefs.
What we like about their SCAFA is that their range of services is all-encompassing. Whether you are looking for one-on-one classes or are interested in having a group class, they got you covered.
In terms of the content of their classes, SCAFA covers a wide range of culinary practices. From Eastern cuisines such as Thai to Western cuisines such as Italian. They also offer Gelato classes and other desserts if that tickles your fancy.
They also offer a class that discusses the fundamentals of cuisine. SCAFA also offers group cooking activities both for adults and children.
Another thing that we really like about this culinary school is that they also offer cooking classes that could be considered as school trips. If you’re keen on having a different kind of bonding experience as a family or in your friend group, then maybe SCAFA’s services can interest you.
Apart from this, they also offer consultations for the development of menus. So if you’re looking for this service and happen to like their classes, then this is also something that you can check out.
Pros
- Largest vocational institute in the Middle East and Southeast Asia
- Team building and group cooking activities available
- Special courses like Gelato and Intensive Pizza Making
- Children’s program for school trips are also available
Cons
- Closed on Sundays
- Some clients complained about trouble refunding fees
Client Reviews
The experience at SCAFA was amazing
The experience at SCAFA was amazing. I was exposed to the highest level of hands on culinary education in a safe and friendly environment with an effort made to assist me with my career in every way.
SCAFA is a great school with highly trained professionals
I had taken the 2 week bread making course and it was a wonderful experience. Chef Toyo made it so simple and today I bake my own bread practically every day. Chef Toyo is a wonderful teacher and she handled our numerous questions very patiently. Learned a great deal of technicalities and nuances involved in the process. SCAFA is a great school with highly trained professionals and I would recommend it to anyone interested in taking up a course there.
How to Pick the Best Culinary School in Dubai
Still not sure how you should choose a culinary school from among the ones we reviewed? Here’s further insight into how we selected ours in the form of a list of criteria you can use.
1. Accreditation
Culinary schools with certified instructors, properly accredited curriculum, and modern facilities should be on the top of your list. If the school has proper accreditation, it means that the courses and programs they provide are rigorously assessed and approved by the authorities in the industry.
Some of the renowned and reliable institutions that can accredit a culinary course or program are the American Culinary Federation (ACF), the World Association of Chefs Societies (WorldChefs), and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA in Dubai).
2. Reputation
Checking the reputation of the school can be a bit tricky, but you can still do it by looking into the testimonials or reviews of their previous students. You can also check their website for how long they have been in the industry and if they have noteworthy features or achievements.
3. Areas of Specialization
Make sure that the culinary school you plan to enroll in offers programs aligned with your passion and interests. Since each culinary learning institution may offer different areas of specialization, you have to ensure that the one you’re picking is suited for the career path you’ve chosen.
4. Cost of Tuition
Doing what you love is great, but you also have to take into consideration the time and money you’ll have to invest when attending a culinary school.
If you’re set to make a living through cooking, we advise that you go for a degree program. Even if this choice may require more time and money, you can get a more diverse and comprehensive education in culinary arts.
That said, if you wish to start working in the culinary industry immediately, we suggest that you take diploma programs. You see, these programs are more affordable and can be typically completed in less than a year, so it’s an excellent choice for individuals planning for a career shift.
FAQs about the Culinary Schools in Dubai
Do you know other culinary schools that deserve a spot on our list? If so, just leave a message so we can review them as soon as we can!
Also, if you completed your culinary arts program and have plans to open up a restaurant yourself, we suggest that you also explore our list of the best business consulting firms in Dubai. Cooking may be what you love, but it’s only one of the main ingredients to a successful restaurant – business skills make up another, so you may need advice on that front!