The United Arab Emirates has removed state funding for citizens seeking to study at British universities over apparent concerns its students would be exposed to Islamist radicalisation.
Abu Dhabi’s decision to exclude UK higher education institutions from a list of universities eligible for state scholarships reflects growing friction between the two countries over the UK’s refusal to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation.
In June, the UAE’s higher education ministry published a revised global ranking of universities whose degrees would qualify for state support, as part of reforms designed to concentrate funding on top-performing institutions. The list includes universities in countries such as France, Israel, the United States and Australia, but none in the UK despite the country’s strong global academic reputation.
According to a person directly involved with the decision, as reported by The Financial Times, Emirati officials said the omission of British institutions had not been an “oversight”.
“[The UAE] don’t want their kids to be radicalised on campus,” the person said.
Emirati students, who enjoy generous scholarships from their government to study internationally, have since June begun to see their applications for state funding denied if they wish to study in the UK.
People familiar with the matter said government funding for new Emirati students heading to the UK had already been curtailed before June, but wealthier families have continued to bypass the cuts by paying tuition fees directly.
Since the 2011 Arab Spring, the UAE has taken a hardline stance against Islamist movements at home and abroad and pursued policies aimed at curbing political Islam. Abu Dhabi, under President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, has for years repeatedly criticised Britain’s decision not to ban the Muslim Brotherhood. The UK government had said the issue remains under “close review”.
Nigel Farage of Reform UK has pledged to proscribe the group should his party win the next General Election. The UAE funded a visit by Farage to the country last year, The Financial Times reported .
Official UK figures show that during the 2023-2024 academic year, 70 students at British universities were flagged for potential referral to the government’s Prevent deradicalisation programme over signs of Islamist radicalisation – almost twice as many as the year before.
The revelation adds to a series of recent disputes between London and Abu Dhabi, including controversy over a UAE-backed bid to acquire The Daily Telegraph in late 2023 and allegations – denied by the UAE – that the Gulf state supports paramilitary forces in Sudan.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been contacted for comment.
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."
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