UAE Snubs UK Universities, Citing Muslim Brotherhood Influence | Exclusive Details

Last Updated:January 10, 2026, 18:54 IST

The friction over UK campuses comes as Indian intelligence sources signal a shared 'systemic and ideological challenge' posed by the Muslim Brotherhood

By shutting the UK out of its government-funded overseas education programme, the UAE is effectively preventing its future diplomats, officers, and elite youth from exposure to what it deems 'ideological radicalisation' during their formative years. (Representational image: AI-generated)

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has taken a dramatic diplomatic step by quietly removing British universities from its approved list of institutions eligible for state scholarships. CNN-News18 has learnt that the decision stems from deepening concerns in Abu Dhabi that UK campuses have become fertile ground for the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) and other Islamist ideologies. By shutting the UK out of its government-funded overseas education programme, the UAE is effectively preventing its future diplomats, officers, and elite youth from exposure to what it deems “ideological radicalisation" during their formative years.

Emirati policymakers have reportedly observed a troubling “mindset shift" in students returning from the UK, noting that student groups and campus activism often serve as a conduit for Islamist narratives. While UK institutions defend these platforms under the banners of liberal discourse and free speech, Abu Dhabi views the Muslim Brotherhood as a direct existential threat to state stability. Sources indicate that the UAE had previously urged the British government to ban Brotherhood-linked speakers and proscribe the group entirely. Britain’s refusal to do so—citing a lack of evidence of terrorist activity—appears to have convinced the UAE that UK campuses are no longer reliable environments for their citizens.

The friction over UK campuses comes as Indian intelligence sources signal a shared “systemic and ideological challenge" posed by the Muslim Brotherhood. High-level sources suggest that India recently conveyed its concerns to both Jeddah and Abu Dhabi, particularly in the wake of the political upheaval in Bangladesh. Indian agencies believe the Brotherhood’s ideology is uniquely capable of:

Radicalising Youth: Exploiting democratic spaces to alter the mindsets of young students.

Challenging Authority: Gradually undermining the legitimacy of modern nation-states.

Societal Destabilisation: Using a long-term “patient" strategy to shift societal values towards hardline Islamism.

Data from the UK’s own “Prevent" deradicalisation programme supports these anxieties; in the 2023–24 academic year, nearly 70 students at UK universities were flagged for Islamist radicalisation—a figure that has doubled in just twelve months. As Abu Dhabi pivots its funding towards institutions in the US, Australia, and Israel, the move serves as a stark warning to the West that its “politically correct" approach to campus activism is costing it its most vital strategic partnerships in West Asia.

News world UAE Snubs UK Universities, Citing Muslim Brotherhood Influence | Exclusive Details

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