American University of Sharjah Accommodation: Dorms, Fees and Facilities

Quick Overview

Students considering accommodation at university should be aware that options are limited to on-campus residential halls. Private student housing is not an option. There are over 1,400 beds available in single-sex dorms, offering private, semi-private or shared rooms, with prices ranging from AED 7,000 to AED 15,000 a semester, for the 2025-26 academic year, with a 25% discount for first-year students. Each hall has a gym, free wi-fi and a shared kitchen.

Key Takeaways

AUS offers three types of room accommodations: private (AED 15,000 per semester), semi-private (AED 11,000) and shared (AED 7,000). These rates do not include a 25% discount applicable for students who begin their studies in the first year.

The residence halls are single-sex, meaning that couples and families are not allowed.

Moreover, every building has a fitness room, while the AUS Sports Complex features a 50-meter swimming pool and two additional fitness centers.

A curfew is imposed for residents, which is enforced on Sundays through Wednesdays until midnight, and until 1:00 a.m. on weekends.

You can apply for a residence hall only after you receive an admission offer from AUS, and rooms are assigned on a first-come-first-served basis.

Introduction

You've got your AUS offer letter, and now the housing form is asking you to rank room types you've never seen. American University of Sharjah accommodation isn't like renting a flat in Sharjah. It's assigned housing, inside single-sex halls, with a curfew and a shared kitchen down the hall. This guide covers the room types, the real fees for 2025-26, what's inside each hall, the application steps and the rules that catch first-years off guard.

Planning to Study in the UAE? Let Us Guide You the Right Way.

American University of Sharjah dorms and room types

AUS offers three room types across separate men's and women's halls: private, semi-private and shared. A private room is single occupancy with its own bath and kitchenette, at 30 square metres. A semi-private room is also single occupancy but shares a bath and kitchenette with the room next door, at 58 square metres. A shared room is double occupancy, with two students splitting one bath and kitchenette, also 30 square metres.

Not every hall offers every type. MN and PQ men's halls skip private rooms entirely and only have sharing and semi-private options. Every room comes with a bed, study desk, wardrobe, bedside table, air conditioning and a small fridge and hotplate; private rooms add a sofa and coffee table. Bring your own TV, kettle, iron and bedding beyond the one starter set AUS provides.

Note: These are the AUS-published room descriptions as of September 2026. Building assignments and layouts can shift slightly year to year, so confirm with Student Residential Life before you commit to a preference.

If dorm life isn't for you, our guide to studying in Sharjah as an Indian student covers off-campus areas nearby.

American University of Sharjah housing fees

Residential halls fees for the 2025–26 academic year run from AED 7,000 to AED 15,000 per regular semester, before discounts.

Room type	Regular semester	Summer term
Private room	AED 15,000	AED 6,890
Semi-private room	AED 11,000	AED 4,880
Shared room	AED 7,000	AED 3,710

Residential halls fees, 2025–26, inclusive of 5% VAT and an AED 290 utilities fee; figures updated by AUS on 16 March 2026.

First year undergraduate residents receive a discount that decreases over time: 25% of the first year, 20% of the second year, 15% of the third, and 10% from the fourth year onwards. An initial maintenance deposit of AED 1,000 is due, which is refundable on cancellation, and a seat reservation deposit of AED 5,000 that applies to your first year at AUS generally, not the room itself.

Note: Fees rise most years, and these figures represent just a baseline, which should be considered before any further planning.

For a fuller look at tuition alongside these housing costs, our AUS guide for Indian students breaks down total fees by year. Sponsored or scholarship students should check with the Office of Financial Grants and Scholarships whether their award covers the room fee; our AUS scholarships guide explains what the President's and Merit scholarships include.

AUS residential hall facilities: gym, Wi-Fi and more

Every residential hall features its own fitness room, in addition to a computer lab, laundry facilities, wireless internet and shared kitchen. In addition to the fitness facilities within the halls, all students are provided with free of charge access to the AUS Sports Complex, which comprises two fitness centres, a 50-metre indoor pool, two squash courts and two sauna rooms, as well as courts for basketball, volleyball and badminton.

Outside, a 400-metre circuit, a floodlit soccer field, six tennis courts, four padel courts and a cricket ground with a practice net are available.

Two honest gaps worth knowing before you pack. First, halls are self-catered, there's no dining hall meal plan, just kitchenettes and nearby food outlets open until midnight. Second, laundry is free but detergent isn't provided, and a paid pickup service (Sahara Laundry) runs Sunday to Friday if you'd rather skip the machines.

Rooms use three-pin British Standard plugs at 230V, so Indian appliances need only a plug adapter, not a voltage converter.

How to apply for AUS accommodation

You can only apply for on-campus housing after you've received your AUS acceptance letter, using your AUS email login. Rooms are first-come, first-served, and applying early genuinely matters here, since AUS says space is limited.

Click Apply for Housing, then Apply now.

Select your building and room type preference.

Add roommate preferences if you're applying for a shared or semi-private room.

Read and sign the Housing Agreement, then submit.

Before submitting, make sure AUS has received your AED 1,000 refundable maintenance deposit and your AED 5,000 seat reservation deposit. Submitting the form doesn't guarantee a room; assignment depends on availability, and returning residents get first preference for their existing room. If you cancel after the deadline Student Residential Life sets, you'll lose AED 500 from your deposit.

Once you're in, a midnight curfew applies Sunday through Wednesday, extending to 1:00 a.m. on weekends and 2:00 a.m. during Ramadan. Missed curfews go to the Office of Student Conduct, and repeated violations bring disciplinary action, a detail few students expect walking in.

Conclusion

Apply for AUS housing the moment your acceptance letter lands; rooms are first-come, first-served, and waiting even a week can push you into your third-choice hall. Decide between a shared room to save money and a private room for quiet, then get your deposits transferred before the form asks for them.

If you want help weighing AUS accommodation against off-campus options in Sharjah, book a free consultation with Study From UAE. We'll walk through the real costs and help you pick what actually fits your budget and routine.

FAQs

Yes, but it's not guaranteed. Room assignment is subject to availability, and returning residents get priority for their current room before new applicants are considered. Sponsored students should confirm room-fee coverage with the Office of Enrollment Management before applying.

Yes. Every hall has its own fitness room, and resident students also get free access to the full AUS Sports Complex, including two additional fitness centers, a 50-metre pool and squash courts.

Yes, if you're applying for a shared or semi-private room, you can name a preferred roommate and their student ID on the housing form. If you don't name one, AUS assigns a roommate at random based on availability.

Curfew is midnight (12:00 a.m.) Sunday to Wednesday, extending to 1:00 a.m. Thursday to Saturday and 2:00 a.m. during Ramadan. Students must report their attendance to hall staff each night, and repeated violations go to the Office of Student Conduct.

No. Residential halls are self-catered, with a kitchenette in every room and shared common kitchens per hall. Food outlets on campus stay open until midnight, and AUS lists commercial dining options separately from housing fees.

Ravi Jaiswal

Admissions Strategist | Higher Education Consultant | Co-Founder

Ravi Jaiswal is a higher education and admissions specialist with extensive experience guiding students through university applications, admission requirements, eligibility assessments, and international study pathways.

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