Where can I take IELTS or PTE in Abu Dhabi?

Pearson's test centre finder listed one PTE centre in Abu Dhabi on 10 October 2026: MontRoyal Elevate, a partner venue. The emirate's other PTE centre is in Al Ain (Al Menhal Cultural and Computer Institute); the rest are in Dubai and Sharjah. With one venue in the capital, book early if you need a particular date.

Pearson's finder does not say which tests each centre runs on which day. When you book, choose PTE Academic, PTE Academic UKVI or PTE Core first and then your city; only centres with slots for that test appear.

Both providers run IELTS for UKVI in Abu Dhabi at AED 1,680: the British Council on 19 days and IDP on 26 days between 11 October and 31 December 2026. If your visa or university does not ask for UKVI, standard IELTS is enough (IELTS for UKVI vs Academic).

IDP listed IELTS for UKVI Life Skills A1 and B1 on 5 days at its Abu Dhabi Life Skills room, at AED 810 (IELTS Life Skills guide).

Read on 10 October 2026 in the British Council's booking system, IDP's session listings for Abu Dhabi, both providers' the UAE fee pages and Pearson's price finder with the UAE selected. Standard IELTS costs the same at both providers, and PTE Academic is AED 70 cheaper. The lower IELTS prices applied only to the campus venues named; the price on the session you pick is what you pay.

Refund, transfer and payment rules are in our IELTS fee in the UAE and PTE fee in the UAE guides.

Al Ain has IELTS venues from both providers, including UAE University and Al Ain University, plus a PTE centre. Dubai has the most IELTS venues in the country and three PTE centres. See our Dubai and Sharjah guides.

IELTS: book online with the British Council or IDP, choose Abu Dhabi and pick a session; the venue address comes in your confirmation. The British Council registers you with a valid passport or Emirates ID and you must show the same document on the day; it warns that some banks treat its dirham card payment as international and add a fee. Under-18s need written consent from a parent or guardian.

PTE: create a myPTE account with details that exactly match your ID, choose the test, then Abu Dhabi, a centre and a slot at least 24 hours ahead (Pearson's booking guide). Pearson's ID policy asks for a valid passport, and anyone testing outside their country of citizenship (most UAE residents) must show a passport; an Emirates ID is not accepted for PTE.

Results: the British Council's booking system says 1 to 5 days for IELTS on computer, and Pearson sends PTE scores typically within 48 hours (PTE scoring). Before you pay, take a free IELTS mock test or a free PTE mock test to check you are ready.