The United Arab Emirates has taken a decisive step to limit government funding for emirati students who want to study at British universities, reflecting rising tensions over the UK’s stance on the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood. The move signals deeper strains in a historically close relationship and raises questions about the future of UK-UAE educational ties.
UAE excludes UK universities from scholarship list
According to The Financial Times report, the UAE’s Ministry of Higher Education published a revised list of international universities eligible for state scholarships in June 2025. While institutions in the United States, Australia, France, and Israel were included, British universities were notably absent.Officials told UK representatives that the exclusion was intentional, not an oversight. Sources familiar with the discussions explained that Abu Dhabi’s primary concern was preventing Emirati students from exposure to what it views as potential Islamist radicalisation on UK campuses. A person with direct knowledge said, “They don’t want their kids to be radicalised on campus.” UK officials responded by emphasising the importance of academic freedom.Officials with knowledge of the policy also told The Times UK that federal funding was being limited for citizens hoping to study in the UK, but that the government was not imposing a blanket ban on enrolments. Wealthier families can still send their children to British universities if they cover the costs themselves, while state funding continues to be available for students studying in other countries.The decision comes after federal funding for Emiratis pursuing UK studies had already declined prior to June. Students who had already enrolled in British universities continue to receive support, but the new rules mean that Emirati students starting courses in the UK will face limited or no government funding.
Sharp decline in emirati students going to UK
The impact has been tangible. In the year ending September 2025, only 213 Emirati students were granted visas to study at UK universities, marking a 27 percent decrease from the previous year and a 55 percent decline from 2022.Beyond scholarship restrictions, the UAE has also stated that qualifications from universities not on the approved list, including most British institutions, will not be recognised domestically. This diminishes the value of UK degrees for Emirati students seeking employment or further study in the UAE.
Radicalisation concerns and the Muslim brotherhood
The UAE’s move is closely tied to its long-standing concerns about Islamist movements, particularly the Muslim Brotherhood. Since the Arab uprisings of 2011, Abu Dhabi has imposed strict controls on domestic Islamist activity and sought to limit political Islam regionally. Under President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the UAE has repeatedly questioned the UK’s decision not to proscribe the Brotherhood.Official UK data shows that during the 2023-24 academic year, 70 students at UK universities were referred for possible participation in the government’s Prevent deradicalisation programme for signs of “Islamist radicalisation,” nearly double the previous year, out of a total higher education population of almost three million students. While one UK academic downplayed the scale of Islamist activity on campuses, they noted that events such as the Israel-Gaza conflict have contributed to heightened tensions and protests on campus.The UK government’s 2015 review concluded that the Muslim Brotherhood had not been linked to terrorist activities in or against Britain. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration stated last year that the matter remained under “close review.” Separately, Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, has pledged to ban the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes prime minister. The UAE government funded Farage’s visit to the country in 2025.
Broader diplomatic strains
The scholarship restrictions are part of wider strains in UK-UAE relations. Past disagreements have included Abu Dhabi-backed attempts to acquire The Daily Telegraph in November 2023, allegations of UAE support for paramilitary groups in Sudan, which the UAE denies, and a legal dispute in the English Premier League involving Emirati-owned Manchester City football club.Despite these tensions, the UK continues to expand its educational footprint in the UAE. Several British universities, including the University of Manchester and Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, operate campuses in Dubai. Nevertheless, the exclusion of UK institutions from government scholarships highlights the challenges faced by Emirati students seeking to study in the UK.
