UAE Drops UK Universities From 2026 Scholarship List Over Radicalization Fears

Overview

• The UAE Ministry of Higher Education’s 2026 scholarship roster excludes all UK institutions while listing nearly 40 other countries.
• Officials cited fears students could be radicalised on British campuses and concerns over Muslim Brotherhood influence, as reported to UK media.
• The policy does not bar study in the UK, but it removes grants that cover tuition, stipends, travel and health insurance.
• Emirati student numbers in Britain had already fallen, with just over 200 study visas issued in the year to September 2025, more than 50% down on 2022.
• The decision follows the UAE’s 2014 ban on the Muslim Brotherhood and its January 2025 designation of eight UK-based groups, alongside heightened UK campus controversies and record Prevent referrals.