UAE axes funding for Emiratis to study in Britain over Muslim Brotherhood concerns

LONDON: The UEA has removed Britain from the list of countries Emirati students can study at on government scholarships due to fears of radicalisation by Muslim Brotherhood on university campuses.

The UAE ministry of higher education and scientific research maintains an approved list of universities and majors eligible for scholarships for Emirati students studying abroad. The majority of students take these scholarships. The list is updated every Oct. The UK is notably missing from the 2025 list for 2026 entry. India, the US, Japan, and European countries like France, Germany and Italy are on it.




The UK was until now the favourite destination for Emirati students with 8,535 Emiratis studying at UK universities in 2023-2024, an increase of 87% compared to 2018.

When UK officials queried the absence of British institutions, UAE officials said the omission had not been an “oversight”, the Financial Times reported. “The UAE does not want their kids to be radicalised on campus,” the UAE official told the newspaper. Officials also told the UK Times that “funding for the UK was being cut owing to the influence of Muslim Brotherhood on campuses”.

Emirati families can still pay out of their own pockets to send children to the UK.

The UAE designated Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organisation in 2014. But the UK has never done so despite a UK govt-commissioned review in 2014 finding that its ideology is “contrary to British values” and “contrary to national security”.

A home office spokesperson said: “All forms of extremism have absolutely no place in our society. We have some of the strongest laws in the world to protect our citizens from hatred and terrorism. We will continue to work with law enforcement and our international partners, ensuring we have the tools and powers to keep people safe.”

Amit Tiwari, president of the Indian National Students Association UK, said: “There has been a concerning presence of radical Islamist ideology within UK universities, often supported by elements of the hard left in academia. Fortunately, Indian students have typically not been drawn into such movements, but nonetheless we advise all our students to exercise caution on campus.”