The United Arab Emirates has removed the UK from its list of approved destinations for government-funded overseas study, citing concerns that Emirati students could be exposed to Islamist radicalisation on British university campuses.
The United Arab Emirates has removed Britain from the list of countries where Emirati students can study on government scholarships, citing concerns over possible radicalisation linked to the Muslim Brotherhood on UK university campuses.
Concerns over ‘mindset shift’ among students
Emirati officials have reportedly flagged a noticeable “mindset shift” among some students returning from the UK, pointing to campus activism and student groups as channels for Islamist narratives. While British universities often defend such spaces under principles of free speech and liberal discourse, Abu Dhabi views the Muslim Brotherhood as a direct threat to state stability.
Sources said the UAE had previously urged the British government to restrict Brotherhood-linked speakers and formally proscribe the group. Britain’s refusal to do so — citing the lack of evidence of terrorist activity — appears to have deepened Emirati concerns.
UK missing from approved scholarship list
The UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research maintains an approved list of universities and courses eligible for government scholarships, updated every October. The UK is absent from the 2025 list for the 2026 academic intake.
Countries including India, the US, Japan, and European nations such as France, Germany and Italy remain on the list.
UK was top destination for Emirati students
Until recently, the UK was the preferred destination for Emirati students. In the 2023–24 academic year, 8,535 Emiratis were enrolled at British universities, an 87 percent increase compared with 2018.
When British officials sought clarification over the omission, UAE authorities reportedly said it was not an oversight. “The UAE does not want their kids to be radicalised on campus,” an official was quoted as saying. Officials also told UK media that funding for studies in Britain was being cut due to the perceived influence of the Muslim Brotherhood on campuses.
Private funding still an option
Despite the decision, Emirati families can still send their children to the UK using private funds, as the restriction applies only to government scholarships.
Diverging views on the Muslim Brotherhood
The UAE designated the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organisation in 2014. The UK has never done so, despite a government-commissioned review that year which concluded the group’s ideology was “contrary to British values” and raised national security concerns.
Responding to the issue, a UK Home Office spokesperson said all forms of extremism have no place in British society and stressed that the country has strong laws to counter hatred and terrorism.
Wider regional concerns
Amit Tiwari, president of the Indian National Students Association UK, said there has been a “concerning presence of radical Islamist ideology” on some UK campuses, often supported by sections of the hard left in academia. He added that while Indian students have largely stayed away from such movements, caution is advised.
The tensions over UK campuses come amid broader regional concerns over the Muslim Brotherhood, with Indian intelligence sources also describing the group as a shared “systemic and ideological challenge”, particularly in light of recent political developments in South Asia.
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