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JEE Advanced 2026 Exam Centres

The JEE Advanced 2026 examination, organized by Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, will be conducted through a highly organized network of exam centres across India and selected international locations.

For students preparing to appear for the exam — especially candidates from the Middle East and Gulf region — understanding the exam centre structure, city selection rules, and international centre availability is extremely important.

This guide explains the complete JEE Advanced 2026 exam centre system, including IIT zones, international centres, and important updates for students from UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.

JEE Advanced 2026: Understanding the IIT Zone System

To manage the examination efficiently, the country is divided into different zonal regions coordinated by IITs.

Each candidate must select exam cities from only one zone during registration. Mixing cities from different zones is not allowed.

The 7 Official IIT Zones for JEE Advanced 2026

IIT Zone Coordinating IIT Major Regions Covered
IIT Bombay Zone Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka
IIT Delhi Zone Indian Institute of Technology Delhi Delhi NCR, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh
IIT Guwahati Zone Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati Assam, Northeast, Bihar
IIT Kanpur Zone Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh
IIT Kharagpur Zone Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand
IIT Hyderabad Zone Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu
IIT Roorkee Zone Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana

Students should carefully choose their zone because changes are generally not allowed later.

Important Rules for Exam Centre Selection

Before filling centre preferences, students must understand the official rules.

  • Single Zone Rule: Candidates can choose cities from only one IIT zone.
  • Preference Selection: Students are usually required to select up to 10 preferred cities in order of priority.
  • No Centre Change After Submission: Once the application form is submitted and the fee is paid, requests for changing exam cities are generally not accepted.

JEE Advanced 2026 Exam Centre Scale

The examination is conducted across a large network of test centres.

Expected Numbers:

  • Approximately 220 cities in India
  • Only 2 international centres globally for 2026

This makes international centre planning extremely important for overseas students.

Official International Exam Centres for JEE Advanced 2026

For the 2026 cycle, only the following international centres are officially available:

Country Exam City Centre Code
United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi F01
Nepal Kathmandu F02

Both international centres are managed under the IIT Delhi Zone.

Major Update for Middle East Students

One of the biggest changes in JEE Advanced 2026 is the consolidation of Middle East examination centres.

Unlike JEE Main 2026, which is conducted across multiple Gulf cities, JEE Advanced 2026 has only one official centre for the entire GCC region.

Only One Official GCC Centre: Abu Dhabi

For all Middle East candidates, the only official centre is:

  • City: Abu Dhabi
  • Country: United Arab Emirates
  • Centre Code: F01

Students from other Gulf countries must travel to Abu Dhabi or choose a centre in India.

What This Means for Students Across the Gulf Region

Student Location Required Action
UAE (Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi) Can directly choose Abu Dhabi centre
Oman (Muscat) Must travel to Abu Dhabi or India
Qatar (Doha) Must travel to Abu Dhabi or India
Bahrain (Manama) Must travel to Abu Dhabi or India
Saudi Arabia (Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam) Must travel to Abu Dhabi or India
Kuwait Must travel to Abu Dhabi or India

This is a very important change for GCC students planning logistics for the examination.

Travel & Visa Planning for Middle East Candidates

Students from GCC countries should begin planning early.

Important Suggestions:

  • Apply for UAE visa early (if required)
  • Book flights and accommodation in advance
  • Keep passport validity updated
  • Reach Abu Dhabi at least one day before the exam

Last-minute travel planning can create unnecessary stress.

Registration Fee for International Centres

The fee for choosing an international centre is higher than domestic centres.

Category Registration Fee
Indian Nationals / OCI / PIO USD 200
Foreign Nationals (SAARC) USD 200
Foreign Nationals (Non-SAARC) USD 300

Students choosing centres within India pay lower fees as per Indian category rules.

Exam Day Structure & Important Rules

JEE Advanced is conducted as a Computer-Based Test (CBT).

Paper Timings:

  • Paper 1: 09:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  • Paper 2: 02:30 PM – 05:30 PM

Both papers are compulsory. Students generally use the same computer terminal for both sessions.

Where Will the Exact Centre Address Be Available?

The exact exam venue address is not disclosed during registration.

Students will receive the school/centre name, full address, and reporting instructions only through the official admit card.

Identity Verification Process

Security checks are strict during JEE Advanced. At the exam centre:

  • Candidate identity is verified
  • Photograph and details appear on the computer screen
  • Admit card and ID proof are checked carefully

Students should ensure all details match official records.

Advice for Gulf & Overseas Students

Students from the Middle East should:

  • Complete registration early
  • Finalize travel plans in advance
  • Keep passports and IDs ready
  • Track official updates regularly

Planning early is extremely important because of the limited international centre availability.

Stay Updated with ALLEN Overseas

Students can follow the ALLEN Overseas Blog for:

  • JEE Advanced updates
  • GCC student guidance
  • Exam centre news
  • IIT counselling support

The JEE Advanced 2026 exam centre system is highly structured, and international centre availability is now more limited than before.

For students in the Middle East, understanding the Abu Dhabi-only centre rule is crucial for smooth planning and stress-free exam preparation.

Prepare early, plan carefully, and stay focused on your IIT dream.

ALLEN Overseas wishes all aspirants success in JEE Advanced 2026.

This page is for informational purposes only. ALLEN Overseas has verified the information from official sources (jeeadv.ac.in). However, candidates must refer to official notifications from IIT Roorkee and JEE Advanced for final confirmation.

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