UAE updates scholarship rules for Emirati students

The UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has issued a new resolution setting out updated rules for scholarships for Emirati students.

Ministerial Resolution No. 179 of 2026 aims to strengthen the national scholarship system, improve the quality of its outcomes, and ensure scholarships are aligned with the UAE’s strategic priorities and future labour market needs.

The resolution introduces clear rules for selecting students, institutions and study destinations, with an emphasis on academic excellence, transparency and equal opportunity.

Priority will be given to fields linked to strategic sectors, including energy, transport and logistics, technology and engineering, healthcare, water and the environment, creative industries, science and finance.

It also updates the criteria for eligible universities, with institutions required to meet specific global rankings in both their overall standing and their relevant field of study.

The requirements vary depending on the country and whether English is the main language of instruction.

Applicants will be assessed through a comparative selection process that considers academic performance, the quality of the university, the priority of the field of study and the type of admission.

Priority groups include children of martyrs, beneficiaries of social support programmes and students living in remote areas.

The resolution also sets out clear rights and responsibilities for scholarship students. They must maintain satisfactory academic progress, uphold the reputation of the UAE, disclose other scholarships or benefits, and keep the Ministry informed of developments affecting their studies.

Students will also have greater access to training, research and innovation opportunities through the Ministry’s educational and science and technology offices and missions abroad.

The Ministry is also working to build partnerships with leading universities, research organisations and employers in scholarship destinations.

These partnerships are expected to create more opportunities for professional training, talent development and pathways from training to employment.

In certain cases, students may also be allowed to take courses at another institution as part of joint programmes, academic partnerships or student exchanges, where this adds educational value.

The resolution further clarifies the rules for deferring, suspending, extending, resuming or cancelling scholarships, as well as provisions for distance learning and exceptional circumstances.

Overall, the new framework is designed to make the UAE’s scholarship system more efficient, sustainable and focused on results — ensuring national talent receives high-quality international education while supporting the country’s economic, knowledge and development priorities.
 

We continue to develop the scholarship system to make it more efficient and closely aligned with national priorities and labour market needs. In this context, we have issued a new Ministerial Resolution regulating the conditions, requirements, and procedures pic.twitter.com/IUS1FBuvRO

— وزارة التعليم العالي والبحث العلمي (@mohesruae) August 18, 2026