The 5 Best Schools for Mechanical Engineering in Dubai
Mechanical engineers are responsible for producing and creating machines that help us with our daily lives. These include engines, turbines, and air-conditioning systems to name a few.
If you have an inclination towards building and creating machines, we’ve got you covered!
Here are our recommendations for the best mechanical engineering schools in Dubai!
How Much Does Mechanical Engineering School Cost
There are different universities that offer this course. On average, we’ve observed them to charge tuition fees per academic year.
We want you to be prepared when you’re ready to enroll in this course. That’s why we made the table below which shows how much fees different universities in Dubai charge per academic year:
The Best Schools for Mechanical Engineering in Dubai
Here are the factors we considered while assessing the colleges we picked for this list:
1. Rochester Institute of Technology
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Expertise | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Facilities | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Curriculum | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Pricing | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Rochester Institute of Technology of Dubai was established in 2008 as an extension of the US-based institute. The school offers undergraduate and graduate courses in business, science, engineering, and more.
Now, as this school was established by a US-based institution, the university only accepts English speakers.
Moving on to their curriculum, they have a mechanical engineering degree available. The most notable aspect of it is that they foster a holistic method of learning.
By that, we mean that you’re not just going to purely enhance your knowledge about machinery and engineering. Rather, you will also improve your communication, writing, and social awareness through their electives.
The curriculum also allows students to choose a specialization from the following: energy and environment, aerospace engineering, and automotive engineering.
Aside from that, another attractive aspect of this school is their laboratories. They have the necessary equipment to facilitate a great learning experience, complete with 3D printers and universal testing machines.
Overall, Rochester Institute of Technology of Dubai is a good option for an engineering course with its holistic approach to learning, as well as the laboratories available for its students.
Pros
- Offers post-grad program
- Facilitates holistic learning (via GEs)
- Has specializations
- School has lot of laboratories for the course
Cons
- Encourages contact or visit for more information
- English language speakers only
Customer Reviews:
Great Professors, Good Facilities
“I’m a first year and honestly I love it so far the professors are reasonable and made great friends and if you need anything help is always available and what’s great about it that the buildings are all close to each other so getting from one course to another wouldn’t even take over 5mins and it’s very diverse there’s no majority race there, I def recommend.” – Saif Babay, via Google Reviews
Good Instructors, Helpful Staff
“Its a great university, but if you’re only majoring in engineering. Other than majoring in engineering at RIT, wont make you learn much. My over all experience was good. Instructors were great too, as well as the admissions office.” – Faten Elghote
2. Curtin University Dubai
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Expertise | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Facilities | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Curriculum | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Pricing | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Curtain University is an international university that offers a wide range of undergraduate and post-graduate studies in business, science, information technology, and humanities.
Initially opened in 1966 in Australia, they have over 20 years of experience in handling different students from all walks of life. This school has ranked highly in the QS World University Rankings, placed at 17th globally.
Their mechanical engineering degree is a 4-year program. What’s great about it is that students are allowed to pick how they’ll undergo the course.
The first option is via the standard semester model as a full-time student, which means that the scheduling is more tight and strict.
There is a part-time mode, where students can take it for up to 8 years. This is an option for those who are currently studying another degree, work a full-time job or have other responsibilities to consider.
Now, the curriculum of this course is very specialized and engineering-focused. It doesn’t really promote holistic learning and is less strict with requiring general electives.
You can expect to spend around AED 243,600 for your entire degree. On our estimation, that comes out to around AED 10,150 per semester.
If that’s a bit daunting for you, the school provides various tuition grants and scholarships. They also offer a bursary, which is need-based financial aid for students.
Pros
- Offers part-time or full-time student admission
- Has financial aid for its students
Cons
- University focuses more on business and finance courses
- Curriculum is very engineering-focused
Customer Reviews:
Great Online Class Execution, Quality Education
“Having joined Curtin University Dubai May 2021, I have been online student till todate. Though I have not been there physically, the online platforms used(such as Blackboard, The website, Outlook, etc.)have been very innovatively utilized and wholesome. My online experience has given me a sense of being ready for a very technologically advanced and competitive global marketplace.” -E’lim Kabwe
Great Service, Satisfactory Education
“As someone who has both completed his degree as well as an Internship, I’m happy to say that not only did I receive excellent education, the friends and faculty helped me feel welcome onto a different community” – Youssef Alhaj
3. Heriot-Watt University Dubai
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Expertise | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Facilities | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Curriculum | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Pricing | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Heriot-Watt was founded in 1821 as a mechanics institution. They were officially recognized as a university in 1966.
For over 200 years, this school has been teaching and mentoring potential students inclined towards technology and engineering.
In terms of accolades, this school has gained the Forbes Middle East award for the best university in 2019. Additionally, they’ve also received a 5-star rating from Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).
Part of their offers is a degree program in mechanical engineering but there are not a lot of opportunities where students can take electives. However, enrollees can still take a few during their first year.
What’s great about this school is that admissions run all year. You can also defer your start date for up to a year upon enrollment, which we absolutely love.
The university also offers a shuttle bus service for their students. Note that this is for free, so we recommend making the best out of it if you need it!
Do take note that the school requires that you put a tuition deposit beforehand. This applies to both new and old students.
Pros
- Has year-round admissions
- 200 years in the educational business
- Great facilities
Cons
- Online applications only
- Tuition deposit required
Customer Reviews:
Great Facilities, Helpful Faculty
“Prestigious University. I did my masters from there. they have best Faculties, equipment and facility. good experience. i am going to join for my second masters from Sep 2020. hopefully will join in the New Campus in KV.” -Lumullal Mullasery
Quality Education, Great Professors
(cons: limited club execution)
“Heriot Watt Dubai campus is one of the finest universities in the region in terms of education. The system is the same as the one in Edinburgh campus with lots of good professors especially in the engineering school. The engineering labs may be a bit smaller in size but are very well equipped with all the necessary tools for learning. The 2 ITLabs are large enough and the required softwares are available. Most of the staff here is friendly and helpful. The food court however, is in a bad condition with only one restaurant now catering for the students, and its food is not good honestly. Dorms are also available for male and female student in separate areas. The university has 2 quiet study rooms ( one of them has a discipline problem which is why a security guard is usually there ) and a library which is well stocked with the necessary books needed for the courses, the borrowing procedure is simple too. In terms of diversity this university might not fare well since there are lots of indians. (About 50%) The clubs of the university are in a mess, the sports clubs won’t have lots of students being actively involved, and the recreation room is a joke.” -Basim Nadeem
4. Manipal Academy of Higher Education
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Expertise | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Facilities | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Curriculum | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Pricing | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Opened in 2000, Manipal Academy of Higher Education is an establishment that offers a wide range of courses. With over 20 years of experience, they now have over 50 programs available.
These programs range from the fields of Humanities & Social Sciences, Business, Design and Architecture, Engineering and IT. As a university, they have been rated 5 stars by Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority’s (KHDA).
Now their mechanical engineering curriculum combines two good things: the choice of picking up open electives and having a minor specialization.
Out of all the schools we’ve looked at, this school has the most number of options for specializations.
We like that students can pick from Vehicle Technology, Automation & Robotics, Quality Engineering, Soft Computing Techniques, Materials Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Business Management, and many more.
Additionally, students can pick day or night classes, which is great for those who are juggling their studies with another venture.
They also have dedicated workshops and laboratories for different subjects in the course. These include thermal engineering, machine shops, and an automobile app that they’ve created in collaboration with NISAAN.
Overall, we believe that the Manipal Academy of Higher Education is a great choice for those who chase after holistic learning. Also, if you want to specialize in any of the choices the school offers, then this establishment is a good match for you.
Pros
- Offers options for minor specializations
- Day or night classes available
- Allows students to take electives
Cons
- Online application only
- Requires contact for more information
Customer Reviews:
Supportive and Helpful Faculty
“Manipal gave me the best 3 years of my life!. There were a lot of events pre and post Covid19. They’ give us a lot of opportunities to participate and volunteer in. The School of Business faculty members are just so understanding and supportive.” – Amrutha Anillan
Great Facilities, Good Placement Assistance
“Great Experience!! Manipal University, Dubai has been absolutely amazing for me. All staff and faculty are so friendly and supportive. Very helpful and supportive of every students needs, while maintaining a perfect quality standard learning environment. Overall, I had a fantastic experience. Its one of the best universities in UAE which is equipped with all the facilities, good faculties and provides a good placement assistance.” -Priyaksh Garg
5. Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Expertise | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Facilities | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Curriculum | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Pricing | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani) is a university dedicated to engineering courses. Initially opened in India in 1964, this school has expanded their services to other places in the world like Dubai.
Even though this school only offers engineering courses, we’ve observed that they maintain a comprehensive curriculum.
This means that their students don’t only learn how to be good at their respective courses, but also get the chance to hone their interpersonal, analytical, and communication skills through electives.
Unfortunately, you can only apply online. While this is a convenient option for those who are quite far, but not so great for those who prefer to do things in person.
Now, how much will you be paying should you pass their qualifications, you ask? Well, this school charges around AED 24,200 per semester.
This price is on the affordable side of the spectrum and what’s great is that you can actually pay it in installments! The university also offers scholarships for new admissions and current students if you are in need.
BITS Pilani is a great option for students who would like to enroll in an institution that solely focuses on engineering, but still has a very comprehensive and well-rounded curriculum.
Pros
- Allows students to pick electives
- Has scholarship and financial aid programs
- Tuition payable in installments
Cons
- Engineering courses only
- Online application only
Customer Reviews:
Beautiful Campus, Great Facilities
“The BITS Pilani Dubai Campus is architecturally beautiful. It’s hostel is very nice for students. It has a very beautiful infrastructure with all facilities. Students from different countries get an opportunity to learn and collaborate. Overall a very good place for studying.” -Rashmi Kathuria
Good Learning Environment
“Good university!! Healthy environment and even though the student quality is not as competitive like the indian ones it’s still a good place to graduate from.” – Kurou, via Google Reviews
FAQs About Mechanical Engineering Schools in Dubai
We hope that any of these schools can be of help to you or your friend in your college journey.
Interested in other engineering school recommendations? Here are our top picks for the best civil engineering schools in Dubai!