The United Arab Emirates has made a significant policy shift, formally ending state-funded scholarships for its citizens who wish to study at universities in the United Kingdom. The decision, driven by concerns over campus Islamist radicalization and the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood, marks a notable cooling in academic relations between the two nations.
Exclusion of Elite Institutions
The UAE's updated list of approved foreign institutions for its generous scholarship programs now conspicuously excludes all British universities. This means prestigious schools like the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Manchester are no longer eligible for state funding. The list continues to include top-tier schools in Europe, the United States, and other regions.
According to reports, the policy change was informally implemented last summer and came to light after British officials inquired about the absence of UK schools. A source told the Financial Times that Emirati officials were clear: "they don’t want their kids to be radicalised on campus." The exclusion also devalues UK degrees within the UAE's employment market, as credentials from unapproved schools are not formally recognized.
Broader Diplomatic and Security Context
This move is part of a wider strain in UK-UAE relations, which has recently included commercial disputes over assets like The Daily Telegraph newspaper and Manchester United Football Club. More fundamentally, it highlights growing international apprehension about Islamist activism at British universities.
The UAE has been a vocal critic of political Islamist groups since the Arab Spring uprisings of 2011, particularly the Muslim Brotherhood. While Britain has declined to designate the Brotherhood as a terrorist organization—though Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the issue is under review—the UAE views it as a serious threat. The group, a Sunni Islamist organization founded in Egypt nearly a century ago, was a driving force in the Arab Spring.
The concern has resonated in Western political circles. U.S. Vice President JD Vance commented on social media, stating, "Some of our best Muslim allies in the Gulf think the Islamist indoctrination in certain parts of the west is too dangerous." In the UK, Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage has vowed to ban the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes prime minister.
Impact on Emirati Students
The decision directly affects a significant number of students. Approximately 8,500 Emirati students were studying in the UK in 2024, the last year with available data. The UAE's scholarship program typically covers tuition, housing, travel, and insurance for students in prioritized academic fields, making it a crucial enabler for studying abroad.
The withdrawal of funding for UK destinations forces Emirati students to choose other countries for their state-supported education. This policy shift underscores the tangible consequences when national security concerns intersect with international education and diplomacy, potentially redirecting the flow of students and academic capital away from one of the world's most renowned higher education systems.
