UAE cuts off UK University scholarships over fears of 'Islamist Radicalisation'

According to a report by The Financial Times, the move is linked to the UK government’s long-standing decision not to ban the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood.

In June, the UAE’s Ministry of Higher Education published its annual list of approved global universities eligible for government scholarships.

The list included institutions in the United States, Australia, Israel and France, but notably excluded British universities, despite the UK being home to several leading higher-education institutions.

The exclusion is linked to concerns within the UAE over what it views as the risk of Islamist radicalisation on UK campuses, three people familiar with the matter told the newspaper.

When UK officials queried the omission, UAE counterparts said it was not an “oversight”, according to a person with direct knowledge of the discussions, The Financial Times reported.

“[The UAE] don’t want their kids to be radicalised on campus,” the person said.

UK officials, in response, emphasised the importance of academic freedom, the report added.

Data cited by the newspaper shows that in 2023–24, around 70 students at UK universities — out of a higher-education population of nearly 3 million — were reported for possible referral to the government’s Prevent deradicalisation programme over signs of “Islamist radicalisation”, almost double the number recorded the previous year.

Since the Arab uprisings of 2011, the UAE has carried out a sustained crackdown on domestic Islamist activity.

Under President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Abu Dhabi has also repeatedly questioned the UK’s refusal to proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood, The Financial Times reported.

UK officials told the newspaper that it was unclear how total the ban on scholarships was in practice, saying they were aware of cases of some UAE military personnel still getting scholarships.

Some wealthier Emiratis have continued to send their children to study in the UK, paying the fees directly. 

The UAE said it would not recognise qualifications from academic institutions that are not on the accredited list, a step that will make the importance of degrees from the UK less valued for Emiratis.