The United Arab Emirates has reportedly cut funding for students planning to study at British universities amid fears that campuses are being radicalized by Islamic groups like the Muslim Brotherhood.
The Sunni Islamist movement, founded in Egypt in 1928, seeks to shape society and governance according to Islamic principles. While some countries have welcomed it, others, like the UAE, view it as a security threat.
What happened: UK newspapers The Financial Times and The Times reported on Thursday, citing officials close to the situation, that Abu Dhabi's federal funding for state scholarships has been limited for UAE citizens hoping to study in the UK. The sources told the papers the Gulf country opposed London’s decision not to ban the Muslim Brotherhood and had concerns about its influence in the UK. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stopped short of banning the Islamist group, but has banned offshoots and affiliated individuals. The UAE designated the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization in 2014.
The UAE offers generous grants to Emiratis looking to study overseas via programs managed by its education and foreign ministries. The funding includes tuition fees, living costs, travel and health insurance for those pursuing degrees in fields critical to national development, such as science and technology.
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