UK Student Loan Repayment While Living in the UAE
Estimate UK student loan repayments for graduates living in the United Arab Emirates. See how your AED salary converts and how overseas SLC thresholds apply.
How repayments work in United Arab Emirates
If you live in United Arab Emirates, the Student Loans Company assesses your income against an overseas earnings threshold for your repayment plan. Your salary is converted to GBP using the official overseas threshold table, then the repayment rate is applied only to income above the threshold.
Use the calculator to enter your gross annual salary in AED, choose Plan 1, Plan 2, Plan 4, Plan 5, and optionally include a Postgraduate Loan.
Local income notes for United Arab Emirates
- Use gross annual salary in UAE dirhams, including regular allowances if they form part of your employment package.
- Even where local income tax is not deducted, SLC overseas repayments are still based on gross income compared with the published country threshold.
2026-27 threshold examples
These figures show the published GBP threshold for United Arab Emirates, the exchange rate in the threshold table, and the approximate equivalent salary in AED. The local equivalents are rounded for readability.
| Plan | Overseas threshold | Approx. local threshold | Exchange rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan 1 | £21,520.00 | AED 103,978 | 0.206966 |
| Plan 2 | £23,510.00 | AED 113,594 | 0.206966 |
| Plan 4 | £27,045.00 | AED 130,674 | 0.206966 |
| Plan 5 | £20,000.00 | AED 96,634 | 0.206966 |
| Postgraduate Loan | £16,800.00 | AED 81,173 | 0.206966 |
Worked repayment example
For Plan 1, a gross salary of about AED 152,296 in United Arab Emirates converts to roughly £31,520. That is £10,000 above the listed threshold, so the estimated repayment is about £75 per month at 9%.
Sample AED salary estimates
The examples below use Plan 2 at 9% so you can see how different gross salaries change the monthly estimate. Choose your actual plan in the calculator for a personalised result.
| Gross local salary | GBP equivalent | Estimated monthly repayment |
|---|---|---|
| AED 180,000 | £37,254 | £103 |
| AED 300,000 | £62,090 | £289 |
| AED 450,000 | £93,135 | £522 |
What to check before using the estimate
- Use gross annual income in AED before local tax, social contributions, pension deductions, or other payroll deductions.
- Choose the repayment plan named on your Student Loans Company account or overseas assessment letter.
- Include regular taxable bonuses, allowances, commission, or extra salary payments when they form part of your expected annual pay.
- Check whether you also have a Postgraduate Loan, because it is calculated separately and can be due alongside an undergraduate plan.
- Treat the estimate as a planning figure if you moved country part-way through the year or your SLC letter uses a different assessment period.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Entering monthly take-home pay instead of annual gross AED income.
- Using a live bank or card exchange rate instead of the exchange rate from the SLC overseas threshold table.
- Selecting the wrong undergraduate plan because the overseas thresholds differ between Plan 1, Plan 2, Plan 4, and Plan 5.
- Leaving out a separate Postgraduate Loan repayment when one also applies.
Source note: thresholds and exchange rates are based on public GOV.UK and Student Loans Company overseas threshold publications for 2026-27. This page was last reviewed on 8 May 2026.
Frequently asked questions
- Should I use gross or take-home pay in United Arab Emirates?
- Use gross annual income in AED before local tax and payroll deductions. SLC overseas repayments are based on income compared with the published overseas threshold, not net take-home pay.
- Can I use today's exchange rate for United Arab Emirates?
- For this guide, use the Student Loans Company overseas threshold table for 2026-27. The calculator follows the published table rate rather than a live market exchange rate.
- What if I moved to or from United Arab Emirates during the year?
- Use the calculator as an estimate and compare it with your SLC overseas assessment. Your official repayment can depend on the dates you were overseas, the evidence SLC requested, and the assessment period on your account.
- Do I include bonuses or allowances in United Arab Emirates?
- Include regular taxable employment income where it forms part of your annual gross pay. If a payment is one-off or uncertain, run the calculator with and without it to see the possible range.
Important caveats
This tool is an estimate. Official repayment notices can use different exchange rates, updated thresholds, or account-specific details. Always verify final amounts with the Student Loans Company.