NYU Abu Dhabi

Visiting your child at NYU Abu Dhabi means flying into Abu Dhabi International (AUH), with frequent direct flights from India. Plan the UAE visit visa ahead.

Getting from AUH to campus

Visitor visa for parents

Indian parents need a UAE visit (tourist) visa - one unified visa covers all seven emirates, so there is no separate Dubai, Sharjah or Abu Dhabi visa. It is applied for online (via the ICP Smart Services portal, an airline, a hotel, or a travel agency) and is fully electronic. Stays of 30, 60 or 90 days are available; a 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa exists for frequent visitors. Once you hold a UAE residence visa as a student or worker, you can also sponsor your parents directly on a family visit visa.

• One UAE visa covers all seven emirates - no separate visa to travel between Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and the rest.
• Applying directly through the ICP Smart Services portal is the cheapest route; airlines and agencies add a service fee.
• 90-day visas may require a refundable deposit (around AED 1,000), returned when your parents leave on time.
• Once you have UAE residence as a student, you may be able to sponsor your parents directly for a longer family stay.

Just admitted to NYU Abu Dhabi? Here's your arrival checklist.

Arrival checklist

• Book your flight into Abu Dhabi (AUH) early - frequent direct flights from Indian metros.
• A1 airport bus or taxi from AUH into the city (~40-50 min), then bus/taxi to campus.
• Sort housing before arrival; Khalifa City and Mussafah are more affordable than the central island.
• Complete your university-sponsored residence visa, medical test and Emirates ID after arrival, and arrange health insurance (often included in fees - verify).

Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital, is similarly priced to Dubai - about AED 3,400-5,300 a month all-in sharing and cooking - with tax-free salaries and a large Indian community. It is home to prestigious campuses (NYU Abu Dhabi, Khalifa University, MBZUAI) and a calmer, more spacious feel than Dubai. Buses run on the Hafilat card; the cities are well connected by highway.

Monthly cost of living in Abu Dhabi (a student estimate)

That's roughly AED 40,000-64,000 a year for living costs, on top of tuition.

Finding accommodation

Abu Dhabi rents are high and usually quoted yearly; students share, with areas like Khalifa City, Mussafah and the older downtown being more affordable.

• Rents are usually quoted per year and paid in a few cheques - plan the upfront cash.
• Khalifa City and Mussafah are more affordable than the central island.
• Get the student discount on the Hafilat bus card; budget for AC/utilities in the hot months.

Working part-time

The UAE works differently from most study destinations. Your student residence visa is sponsored by your university (valid one year, renewable, with Emirates ID and medical). To work part-time or intern you need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your university plus a part-time work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) - there is no fixed weekly hour cap, but you must have that permission. Salaries are tax-free. There is no single automatic graduate work visa: after finishing, you either convert to an employer-sponsored work residence once you have a job offer (the employer sponsors it, valid 2-3 years), use a self-sponsored Green visa or a jobseeker visit visa, or - for outstanding graduates (high GPA, or a top-ranked university) - apply for a 5-10 year Golden visa. A Golden visa grants residence but you still need a MoHRE work permit to take a private-sector job.

Safety & student support

Abu Dhabi's universities sits in one of the safest cities in the world - the UAE consistently ranks among the lowest globally for crime.

• Abu Dhabi's universities has campus security and student services - save the campus number.
• UAE cities are exceptionally safe day and night, with reliable, modern public transport.
• Abu Dhabi is regularly ranked the safest city in the world.

Indian community & food

Abu Dhabi has a very large Indian community, so desi groceries, food and culture are abundant.

Indian grocery stores

• The Electra Street / Madinat Zayed area and old downtown have many Indian grocers, sweet shops and restaurants.
• Mainstream Lulu Hypermarket, Carrefour and Spinneys carry vast Indian and South Asian ranges.
• Excellent choice and pricing for desi groceries.

Student community

• Abu Dhabi's universities have large Indian and South Asian student societies with major Diwali and Holi events.
• The capital has the landmark BAPS Hindu Mandir (Abu Mureikha), plus other temples and a busy desi cultural scene.

• A rich Indian dining scene across the capital.

Cost & living figures for Abu Dhabi last verified Jun 2026. Figures are estimates and change over time.