Where can I take IELTS or PTE in Dubai?

Pearson's test centre finder listed three PTE centres in Dubai on 10 October 2026, all partner venues: JNS Training and Testing Centre, The Exam Preparation & Testing House (FZCO) and Murdoch University Dubai. None is a Pearson-run Professional Center. The next nearest is The Exam Preparation & Testing House's Sharjah branch.

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.

IELTS for UKVI costs AED 1,680 at both providers. In Dubai the British Council listed UKVI sessions on 49 days at its own centre and 20 days at the British University in Dubai, and IDP on 44 days at its main location. Check first that your UK visa or university really needs UKVI (IELTS for UKVI vs Academic).

For IELTS for UKVI Life Skills (A1 or B1, used for some UK family and settlement visas), IDP listed 5 dates at its Dubai Life Skills room, at AED 810 (IELTS Life Skills guide). The British Council's IELTS Premium, with a same-day Speaking test and lunch at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Business Bay, had two dates to 31 December, from 28 November, at AED 2,000. The test and result are the same as standard IELTS on computer.

Read on 10 October 2026 in the British Council's booking system, IDP's session listings for Dubai, 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 AED 1,390 and AED 1,395 prices were shown only for 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.

Sharjah is the closest alternative: the British Council's Sharjah centre listed IELTS on every test day to 31 December, with UKVI too, and Pearson lists a PTE centre there. Abu Dhabi has both IELTS providers and one PTE centre. Ajman has IELTS venues from both providers but, like Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain, no PTE centre on Pearson's list. See our Sharjah and Abu Dhabi guides.

IELTS: book online with the British Council or IDP, choose Dubai 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 Dubai, 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.