American University of Sharjah

Visiting your child at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) means flying into Sharjah (SHJ) or nearby Dubai (DXB), which is about 30-40 minutes away by road. Plan the UAE visit visa ahead.

Getting from SHJ 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 the American University of Sharjah (AUS)? Here's your arrival checklist.

Arrival checklist

• Book your flight into Sharjah (SHJ) or Dubai (DXB) early - both are well connected to Indian metros.
• Taxi/bus from SHJ to University City or central Sharjah; or fly into Dubai and drive over (~30-40 min).
• Sharjah rents are far below Dubai - line up affordable housing in Al Nahda, Al Majaz or near University City.
• Complete your university-sponsored residence visa, medical test and Emirates ID after arrival, and arrange health insurance (often included in fees - verify).

Sharjah, next door to Dubai, is the UAE's affordable academic hub - about AED 2,500-4,000 a month all-in sharing and cooking, with rents far below Dubai. It hosts University City (home to several universities), has a large Indian and wider South Asian community, and many students commute to Dubai. Tax-free salaries apply across the UAE.

Monthly cost of living in Sharjah (a student estimate)

That's roughly AED 30,000-48,000 a year for living costs, on top of tuition.

Finding accommodation

Sharjah rents are well below Dubai and usually quoted yearly; students share, often in Al Nahda (on the Dubai border), Al Majaz or near University City.

• Sharjah rents are roughly a third of Dubai's - the main reason students choose it.
• Al Nahda sits on the Dubai border, handy if you study or work across the emirates.
• Budget for the Sharjah-Dubai commute (bus/car) if needed; tax-free income applies UAE-wide.

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

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

• Sharjah'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.
• Sharjah is very safe; note it is a 'dry' emirate with conservative cultural norms.

Indian community & food

Sharjah has a very large Indian and South Asian community, so desi groceries and food are everywhere.

Indian grocery stores

• Rolla, King Faisal Street and Al Nahda are full of Indian grocers, sweet shops and restaurants.
• Mainstream Lulu Hypermarket, Carrefour and Safeer carry vast Indian and South Asian ranges.
• Excellent choice and pricing - among the most affordable in the UAE.

Student community

• Sharjah's universities (concentrated in University City) have large Indian and South Asian societies with Diwali and Holi events.
• The emirate has a long-established South Asian community and cultural organisations.

• A rich, affordable Indian food scene across Rolla and Al Nahda.

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