Middle East · United Arab Emirates
IELTS in Dubai
Dubai has very high IELTS demand from a multinational candidate pool — South Asian expats applying for Canadian and Australian skilled migration, Arab candidates applying to UK and US universities, and Russian/CIS candidates relocating to English-speaking countries.
IELTS Academic
AED 1,250 (~USD 340)
IELTS General Training
AED 1,250 (~USD 340)
Test providers & formats in Dubai
Providers
- • British Council UAE
- • IDP Education UAE
Formats available
- • Computer-delivered (multiple per day)
- • Paper-based
Test centres in Dubai
- British Council Knowledge Village
- IDP IELTS Test Centre Bur Dubai
- IDP IELTS Test Centre Al Qusais
Booking notes: Slots widely available. Pay by AED card, USD card, or bank transfer. Emirates ID and passport both required at test.
IELTS score requirements for popular destinations from Dubai
Most Dubai candidates apply to: Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, United States.
Canada (Express Entry, CLB 9)
Overall —Component minimums: L 8.0, R 7.0, W 7.0, S 7.0
Top CRS contribution for skilled professionals.
Australia (subclass 189/190 migration)
Overall 7.0Component minimums: 7.0 in each band
8.0 each = 20 points.
United Kingdom (postgraduate)
Overall 6.5Component minimums: 6.0 in each band
Russell Group 7.0 in arts/social sciences.
United States (graduate)
Overall 7.0Component minimums: 6.5 in each band
TOEFL still preferred by many programmes.
Requirements change. Always verify directly with the institution before booking your test.
Preparation tips for candidates in Dubai
- 1Dubai's expat candidate pool means examiner exposure to diverse accents — pronunciation matters less than fluency and lexical range.
- 2Knowledge Village is well-equipped but reach by car or metro Red Line + Dubai Tram; allow 60 minutes from JBR.
- 3Practice Writing Task 2 for both arguments — UAE candidates often score below band 7 on coherence.