# IELTS fee in UAE

IELTS on computer costs AED 1,590 in the UAE at both IDP and the British Council. The full fee table, how to book, the ID rule, cancellation policy and paper status, from each provider's own page.

Checked against the official sources on 2026-10-08.

## IELTS fees in UAE

| Test | Delivery | IDP | British Council |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| IELTS Academic / General Training | Computer | AED 1,590 | AED 1,590 |
| IELTS Academic / General Training | Computer, Writing on Paper | AED 1,750 | Not offered |
| IELTS for UKVI | Computer | AED 1,680 | AED 1,680 |
| IELTS Life Skills | Face to face | AED 810 | Not offered |
| One Skill Retake | Computer | AED 1,000 | AED 1000.70 |
| One Skill Retake | Computer, Writing on Paper | AED 1,100 | Not offered |
| One Skill Retake (IELTS for UKVI) | Computer | AED 1,060 | AED 1058.40 |
| IELTS from British Council - Premium | Computer | Not offered | AED 2,000 |
| IELTS Life Skills (A1, B1) | Face to face | Not offered | AED 810 |

*Fees as each provider's UAE page states them, checked on 2026-10-08*

- IDP, IELTS Academic / General Training (Computer): IDP's booking-page FAQ says the test costs "around AED 1,370 to AED 1,470"; the fee table shows AED 1,590.
- IDP, IELTS Academic / General Training (Computer, Writing on Paper): IDP's Dubai session listings show Writing on Paper sessions at AED 1,620.

Testmigo doesn't sell tests: you book and pay with the provider.

## How to book

- IDP: Book online in IDP's booking system (choose the test type, city, date and session, sign in, then pay online by card or at an IDP office with your booking reference) or at a local IDP branch. Upload a clear colour scan or photo of your passport or ID. [Book with IDP](https://bxsearch.ielts.idp.com/wizard)
- British Council: Book online or at a British Council office with your valid ID details (no upload needed) and pay by bank card in the online registration system. Emails then confirm your test start time, venue and Speaking date. [Book with British Council](https://www.britishcouncil.ae/en/exam/ielts/book-test)

## ID to bring

- IDP: Upload "a clean colour scan or photo of your passport/ID" to register and bring "the same passport or national identity card that you used to book".
- British Council: Have "a valid identification document, such as a Passport or Emirates ID" when registering and bring "the same valid ID" on test day.

## Test dates and centres

- IDP: IDP lists 55 test centres in the UAE and suggests booking at least 1-2 weeks ahead; see sessions on its test-dates page. Centres: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ain, Khorfakkan, Fujairah, Dibba, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Motor City (Dubai).
- British Council: The British Council offers IELTS at 40 locations in the UAE; dates show in its booking portal (Book now on the dates, fees and locations page).

## Reschedule, cancel and refund

- IDP: Transfers are free 15 or more days before the Listening, Reading and Writing test date, cost up to 25% of the fee within 5-14 days, and are not allowed within 4 days. Cancel 15 or more days before for a 75% refund; within 14 days the fee is non-refundable, and a One Skill Retake cancelled 72 or more hours ahead is fully refunded. The policy applies to IELTS on computer, excluding IELTS for UKVI.
- British Council: IELTS for UKVI and Life Skills: 75% refund more than 14 days before, 50% within 14 days but more than two days before, 25% within two days, and nothing on or after test day. The UAE page for standard IELTS doesn't load, so the British Council's global policy applies: it lets you transfer once, to a date within 3 months, with "at least 14 days' notice" (14 days or less is treated as a cancellation) and an admin fee of up to 25%. Refunds depend on how early you cancel; with a medical certificate within two calendar days of the test, you get a refund minus the local admin fee.

## Paper or computer

- IDP: IDP UAE lists no paper-based fee and its session search offers computer formats only (including Writing on Paper), though its paper-based page still describes paper tests for UAE residents.
- British Council: The fees page offers IELTS on computer and IELTS on computer with Writing on Paper (not for UKVI), with no separate Writing on Paper price, though the book-test page still mentions a paper-based option for special needs.

## When results come

IELTS on computer and IELTS for UKVI results come in 1 to 5 days (most within 2), and a One Skill Retake in 3 to 5 days. Paper tests, where still offered, take up to 13 days.

What score you need depends on where you're going: see [IELTS band requirements by country](/ielts/band-requirements).

## Questions

### How much is IELTS in UAE?

IELTS on computer costs AED 1,590 in the UAE at both IDP and the British Council.

### Is IDP or British Council cheaper?

Neither. Both charge AED 1,590 for IELTS Academic or General Training on computer.

### Can I take IELTS online?

IELTS Online is taken at home, but check that the organisation you need it for accepts it. Australia's Home Affairs doesn't, and UK visas that need a Secure English Language Test need IELTS for UKVI. See the band requirements pages for each country's rules.

**Sources**
- [IDP UAE: IELTS test dates and fees](https://ielts.idp.com/uae/test-dates)
- [IDP UAE: IELTS booking](https://ielts.idp.com/uae/about/ielts-booking)
- [IDP UAE: IELTS test dates in Dubai](https://ielts.idp.com/uae/test-dates/dubai)
- [IDP UAE: How to book IELTS on computer](https://ielts.idp.com/uae/about/how-to-book-ielts-on-computer)
- [IDP UAE: Test day](https://ielts.idp.com/uae/about/test-day)
- [IDP UAE: Reschedule or cancel your IELTS test](https://ielts.idp.com/uae/about/test-day/reschedule-cancel-ielts)
- [IDP UAE: Paper-based IELTS](https://ielts.idp.com/uae/about/which-test-do-i-take/paper-based-ielts)
- [British Council UAE: IELTS dates, locations and fees](https://www.britishcouncil.ae/en/exam/ielts/dates-locations)
- [British Council UAE: Book an IELTS test](https://www.britishcouncil.ae/en/exam/ielts/book-test)
- [British Council UAE: IELTS test day](https://www.britishcouncil.ae/en/exam/ielts/test-day)
- [British Council: Reschedule or cancel your IELTS test](https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/book-ielts-test/reschedule-cancel)
- [British Council UAE: IELTS for UKVI cancellation and refund](https://www.britishcouncil.ae/en/exam/ielts/uk-visas-immigration/cancellation-refund)
- [IELTS: getting and sharing your results](https://ielts.org/take-a-test/your-results/getting-and-sharing-your-results)
- [IELTS: One Skill Retake](https://www.ielts.org/take-a-test/booking-your-test/one-skill-retake)