The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has limited government funding for its citizens who wish to study at British universities, in a move that reflects the growing strains in relations with the UK over its approach
to Islamist groups, particularly the Muslim Brotherhood.
According to a report by the Financial Times, the decision comes after the UAE education ministry’s publication in June of a new list of overseas universities eligible for state scholarships and official recognition. While the list included institutions in countries such as the United States, Australia, France and Israel, universities in the UK were notably absent.
The revised list was a part of broader reforms aimed at restricting public funding to what the UAE considers the world’s top performing institutions. However, people familiar with the matter said the exclusion of British universities was linked to concerns in Abu Dhabi about the risk of Islamist radicalisation on UK campuses.
When the British officials asked about the names of the UK institutions missing from the list, UAE officials said the omission was deliberate.
“[The UAE] don’t want their kids to be radicalised on campus,” one person with direct knowledge of the discussions said. UK officials responded by stressing the importance of academic freedom, as reported by the Financial Times.
Official data cited by the outlet shows that in the 2023–24 academic year, 70 students at UK universities were reported for possible referral to the Prevent deradicalisation programme for signs of “Islamist radicalisation”, almost double the number recorded a year earlier. This was out of a total higher education student population of nearly three million.
Since the Arab uprisings of 2011, the UAE has taken a hard line against Islamist movements at home and abroad. Under President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Abu Dhabi has repeatedly questioned Britain’s decision not to ban the Muslim Brotherhood.
The UK government said last year that the issue remains under “close review”, though a 2015 review found no evidence linking the group to terrorist activity in Britain.
However, despite the restrictions, some Emirati students already enrolled in UK universities continue to receive funding, and wealthier families are still paying fees privately. However, the UAE has also said it will not recognise degrees from institutions not on its approved list, reducing the value of UK qualifications for Emirati graduates.
Figures show that the number of UAE students granted UK study visas has fallen sharply, with just 213 visas issued in the year ending September 2025, down 27 per cent from the previous year.
