Part 1 & Part 2 | 6-Month Fast-Track | Fees from AED 8,500 | 93.9% pass rate | Pass-Assure™ guarantee. Join 15,000+ graduates who advanced their finance careers with the IMA-approved CMA program at London Institute of Financial Studies (LIFS) — live classes in JLT, Dubai or fully live online. Rated 4.8/5 on Google (235 reviews).
Part 1 — Financial Planning, Performance & Analytics (4 hours, 100 MCQs + 2 essays): External Financial Reporting Decisions (15%), Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting (20%), Performance Management (20%), Cost Management (15%), Internal Controls (15%), Technology & Analytics (15%).
Part 2 — Strategic Financial Management (4 hours, 100 MCQs + 2 essays): Financial Statement Analysis (20%), Corporate Finance (20%), Decision Analysis (25%), Risk Management (10%), Investment Decisions (15%), Professional Ethics (10%).
2026 exam windows: January–February, May–June, September–October — at Prometric testing centers in the UAE.
| Role | Entry Level | Mid Level | Senior Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management Accountant | AED 8,000–12,000 | AED 14,000–20,000 | AED 22,000–30,000 |
| Financial Analyst | AED 9,000–13,000 | AED 15,000–22,000 | AED 25,000–35,000 |
| Finance Manager | AED 15,000–20,000 | AED 22,000–32,000 | AED 35,000–50,000 |
| FP&A Manager | AED 16,000–22,000 | AED 25,000–35,000 | AED 38,000–55,000 |
| Financial Controller | AED 20,000–28,000 | AED 30,000–45,000 | AED 48,000–70,000 |
| CFO / VP Finance | AED 35,000–50,000 | AED 55,000–80,000 | AED 90,000–150,000+ |
Source: IMA Global Salary Survey, GulfTalent, Bayt.com. Monthly AED figures. Full CMA salary UAE breakdown →
| Feature | CMA | CPA | ACCA | CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issuing body | IMA (USA) | AICPA (USA) | ACCA (UK) | ICAI (India) |
| Exams | 2 parts | 4 sections | 13 papers | 3 levels |
| Study time | 6–9 months | 12–18 months | 2–3 years | 3–5 years |
| UAE market demand | Very high | High | High | Moderate |
| Avg. UAE salary boost | +40–58% | +35–50% | +30–45% | +20–35% |
| Cost (approx.) | AED 8,000–15,000 | AED 15,000–25,000 | AED 20,000–35,000 | AED 10,000–20,000 |
Recommendation: for UAE corporate finance, FP&A, and CFO-track roles, CMA is the fastest and most cost-effective path. For public accounting or audit, CPA or ACCA may suit better. Full CMA vs CPA comparison →
LIFS tuition only; IMA membership (~USD 245/yr) and exam fees (~USD 460/part) are separate. See all tracks and current offers →
The Certified Management Accountant (CMA) is a globally recognised credential issued by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), USA. In the UAE, CMA is one of the most in-demand finance qualifications — recognised by the Big 4 firms, ADNOC, Emirates Group, and hundreds of multinationals. CMA holders earn on average 58% more than non-certified peers and are fast-tracked into senior finance and CFO roles.
You need: (1) A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in any field — not just accounting. (2) Two years of management accounting or financial management experience. You can sit for the exam while completing your experience requirement. There is no age limit or nationality restriction.
CMA course fees at LIFS start from AED 8,500 for the full Part 1 + Part 2 program, including all study materials, mock exams, and the Pass-Assure™ guarantee. IMA membership (~USD 245/year) and exam registration fees (~USD 460 per part for IMA members) are separate. Flexible payment plans are available.
The fast-track program is designed for 6 months with classes twice a week. Most students complete within 6–9 months: Part 1 in the first 3 months, Part 2 in the next 3. IMA allows up to 3 years from registration to pass both parts.
LIFS students achieve a 93.9% pass rate — more than double the global average of approximately 45% — thanks to a structured curriculum, CMA-certified instructors, and the Pass-Assure™ guarantee (free re-enrollment if you do not pass on the first attempt).
Financial Analyst, Management Accountant, FP&A Manager, Finance Manager, Financial Controller, Internal Auditor, Cost Accountant, Business Analyst, Risk Manager, and CFO. LIFS graduates work at Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, EY, ADNOC, Emirates Group, Emaar, and hundreds of other leading UAE companies.
Entry-level Financial Analysts earn AED 9,000–13,000/month. Finance Managers earn AED 22,000–35,000/month. Financial Controllers earn AED 30,000–50,000/month. CFOs with CMA can earn AED 90,000–150,000+/month. The IMA Global Salary Survey shows CMA holders earn 58% more on average.
Three windows per year: January–February, May–June, and September–October. Part 1 and Part 2 can be taken in any order and any window, at Prometric testing centers in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah.
Yes — the program is designed for working professionals. Classes run weekday evenings and weekends, with a fully live online option. Most LIFS students are employed full-time and complete in 6–9 months.
Yes. Many successful LIFS students come from engineering, IT, and business backgrounds. The program starts from fundamentals and builds to advanced topics.
(1) Join IMA as a member at imanet.org. (2) Apply for the CMA program (USD 250 entrance fee). (3) Register for your exam part and window. (4) Schedule your exam at a Prometric center. LIFS advisors guide every student through this process at no extra charge.
If you attend at least 80% of classes and complete all assigned mock exams but do not pass the CMA exam on your first attempt, you get free re-enrollment in the next batch at no additional cost.