Helal Almheiri at his family's farm in Al Samha, Abu Dhabi. He chose to attend university in the UK. Victor Besa / The National
Helal Almheiri at his family's farm in Al Samha, Abu Dhabi. He chose to attend university in the UK. Victor Besa / The National
Helal Almheiri at his family's farm in Al Samha, Abu Dhabi. He chose to attend university in the UK. Victor Besa / The National
Helal Almheiri at his family's farm in Al Samha, Abu Dhabi. He chose to attend university in the UK. Victor Besa / The National

Dramatic surge in UAE student applications to study in UK


Nicky Harley
  • English
  • Arabic

Record numbers of UAE residents are applying to UK universities, with latest figures showing more than 8,000 are studying in British institutions – almost twice as many as five years ago.

There were 8,085 UAE students studying on PhD, postgraduate and undergraduate courses in the UK in 2022 – up from 4,715 in 2017, data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) reveals.

The true figure is expected to be far higher as the UK’s Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) has already received 3,690 applications from UAE students for undergraduate courses starting in September this year.

The numbers come even as UK universities warn of an overall drop in international applications and the EU offers more relaxed visas for GCC students.

Undergraduate applications to Ucas from the UAE have risen 63 per cent from 2,260 in January 2020. Last year it received 3,570 applications.

Other Middle East countries have also seen an increase, with undergraduate applications from students in Turkey rising to 2,600 this year compared to 1,890 last year,

Applications from Saudi Arabia rose to 1,880 this year compared to 1,720 last year and Jordan saw an increase of 580 compared to 520.

HESA said the universities of Leeds, London and Manchester are the most popular with UAE students. University College London has the country’s oldest Emirati student society.

The Russell Group, which represents the UK’s leading universities, told The National it has seen a 108 per cent rise in UAE applicants this year.

Helal Almheiri, 22, moved to the UK from Abu Dhabi when he was 17 to study international management at the University of Bath.

“I chose the UK for my studies due to its world-class education system, diverse cultural environment and strong business connections, which are vital for my career aspirations in international management,” he told The National.

“The University of Bath stood out for its excellent academic reputation, supportive community and strong industry links.

“My experience in the UK has been incredibly rewarding. The University of Bath provided a stimulating academic environment and numerous opportunities for personal and professional growth.

  • The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) campus in Pasadena. Bloomberg
    The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) campus in Pasadena. Bloomberg
  • The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) campus in Cambridge. Bloomberg
    The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) campus in Cambridge. Bloomberg
  • The campus of Stanford University including Hoover tower in Palo Alto, California. Getty Images
    The campus of Stanford University including Hoover tower in Palo Alto, California. Getty Images
  • The University of Cambridge in the UK. Getty Images
    The University of Cambridge in the UK. Getty Images
  • Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Bloomberg
    Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Bloomberg
  • The Yale University campus in New Haven, Connecticut. Bloomberg
    The Yale University campus in New Haven, Connecticut. Bloomberg
  • Princeton University in New Jersey. AFP
    Princeton University in New Jersey. AFP
  • The Yasuda Auditorium at the University of Tokyo. AFP
    The Yasuda Auditorium at the University of Tokyo. AFP
  • The Radcliffe Camera at The University of Oxford University in the UK. Getty Images
    The Radcliffe Camera at The University of Oxford University in the UK. Getty Images
  • The National University of Singapore. AFP
    The National University of Singapore. AFP

"I joined the European Affairs Society and was elected vice president, which allowed me to engage deeply in international issues and develop leadership skills.

“To students from the UAE considering studying in the UK, I would highly recommend it. The exposure to different cultures and the high-quality education you will receive is invaluable. Additionally, being involved in societies and extracurricular activities can greatly enhance your university experience and provide a well-rounded education.”

Michael Addison, academic director at the International Foundation Group, helps UAE students apply to universities across the globe and says the UK is very popular.

“Generally, Emirati students love coming to London,” he told The National.

“Many get generous government sponsorship, and the UAE Embassy looks after their students very well while they are in the UK.

“I think they find it easy to integrate in the UK where there is a big Emirati community, plenty of restaurants which they like and good shops.

“It is also quicker to come to the UK than other countries like Australia, the States and Canada.”

Mr Addison has found their favourite courses tend to be in the fields of computer science and engineering.

Universities UK International told The National that students from the UAE make an “important contribution” to the country.

Emiratis studying abroad - in pictures

  • Omar Aljaziri graduated from King’s College London. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Omar Aljaziri graduated from King’s College London. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Helal Almheiri studies at the University of Bath in the UK. Victor Besa / The National.
    Helal Almheiri studies at the University of Bath in the UK. Victor Besa / The National.
  • Fuzeya Ahmad outside her student accommodation in Bristol, UK.
    Fuzeya Ahmad outside her student accommodation in Bristol, UK.
  • Helal Almheiri at his family's farm in Al Samha, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National.
    Helal Almheiri at his family's farm in Al Samha, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National.
  • Omar Aljaziri is now a consultant at PwC in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Omar Aljaziri is now a consultant at PwC in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Eman Alseyabi (fourth from left) moved to the UK alone when she was just 17 to study at Queen Mary University in London.
    Eman Alseyabi (fourth from left) moved to the UK alone when she was just 17 to study at Queen Mary University in London.
  • Fuzeya Ahmad moved to the UK when she was 18 to study at the University of Bristol.
    Fuzeya Ahmad moved to the UK when she was 18 to study at the University of Bristol.
  • Eman Alseyabi says living in the UK was comforting as so many cultures mix together.
    Eman Alseyabi says living in the UK was comforting as so many cultures mix together.

“International students make huge contributions to university campuses, towns and cities across the UK, as we highlight in our ongoing #WeAreInternational campaign,” a spokesperson said.

“They are attracted to study in the UK for a range of reasons; from the world-class education on offer to the diverse and welcoming communities ready to receive them. In turn, international students bring a range of social, cultural and economic benefits to these communities.

“Students from the UAE make an important contribution to study in the UK, with thousands bringing their skills and experiences to UK universities. It is crucial that the UK maintains an open, welcoming offer to international students from around the world.”

Despite the rising figures, there are have been fears international student numbers could be cut due to the government’s measures to curb immigration.

In March, Home Secretary James Cleverly asked the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review whether the graduate visa route – which allows overseas graduates to stay in the UK for two or three years after graduation – is “undermining the integrity and quality” of the higher education system.

He said he wanted to ensure that the graduate route was “not being abused” and that some of the demand for study visas “is not being driven more by a desire for immigration rather than education”.

It followed the government's move in January to stop international students being able to use their visas to bring family members to the UK and it is predicted this will result in a drop of 120,000 applications.

However, on Tuesday, the committee's report ruled that it had found no evidence of “significant abuse” of the graduate visa route and that it should remain in place.

It concluded the graduate route is helping universities to make up for financial losses on domestic students and helps then fund research through income from international tuition fees.

The committee raised concerns about “potential exploitation” of international students due to poor practices by some agents recruiting people overseas who may be “mis-selling UK higher education”, but it stressed this is a separate issue from abuse of the graduate route.

There has been a “large increase” in the number of graduate visas granted since the route’s introduction in July 2021, the report found.

In 2023, 114,000 were granted for main applicants, with a further 30,000 for dependants, according to the committee.

It has recommended that the government should establish a mandatory registration system for international recruitment agents, and universities should be required to publish data on their use of agents to “help protect the integrity” of the UK higher education system.

Committee chairman Prof Brian Bell said: “Our review recommends the graduate route should remain as it is, and is not undermining the quality and integrity of the UK’s higher education system.

“The graduate route is a key part of the offer that we make to international students to come and study in the UK.

University College London is popular with UAE students. Alamy
University College London is popular with UAE students. Alamy

“The fees that these students pay helps universities to cover the losses they make in teaching British students and doing research.

“Without those students, many universities would need to shrink and less research would be done.”

Russell Group chief executive Dr Tim Bradshaw told The National the graduate route plays a crucial role in ensuring the UK is an attractive destination for global talent.

“The MAC’s thoughtful review is crystal clear: the graduate route should be retained in full, finding no evidence of widespread abuse,” he said.

“International students bring huge value to our university communities, offering global perspectives and important skills, and creating diverse learning environments. As the MAC recognises, they are also critical to the financial sustainability of our world-leading universities.”

The government is now reviewing the findings.

Winners

Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)

Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)

Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)

Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)

Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)

Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)

Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)

Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)

Who was Alfred Nobel?

The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.

  • In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
  • Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
  • Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Healthcare spending to double to $2.2 trillion rupees

Launched a 641billion-rupee federal health scheme

Allotted 200 billion rupees for the recapitalisation of state-run banks

Around 1.75 trillion rupees allotted for privatisation and stake sales in state-owned assets

Disposing of non-recycleable masks
    Use your ‘black bag’ bin at home Do not put them in a recycling bin Take them home with you if there is no litter bin
  • No need to bag the mask
WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

Classification of skills

A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation. 

A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.

The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000. 

A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
  • 2018: Formal work begins
  • November 2021: First 17 volumes launched 
  • November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
  • October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
  • November 2024: All 127 volumes completed

500 People from Gaza enter France

115 Special programme for artists

25   Evacuation of injured and sick

Other must-tries

Tomato and walnut salad

A lesson in simple, seasonal eating. Wedges of tomato, chunks of cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, coriander or parsley leaves, and perhaps some fresh dill are drizzled with a crushed walnut and garlic dressing. Do consider yourself warned: if you eat this salad in Georgia during the summer months, the tomatoes will be so ripe and flavourful that every tomato you eat from that day forth will taste lacklustre in comparison.

Badrijani nigvzit

A delicious vegetarian snack or starter. It consists of thinly sliced, fried then cooled aubergine smothered with a thick and creamy walnut sauce and folded or rolled. Take note, even though it seems like you should be able to pick these morsels up with your hands, they’re not as durable as they look. A knife and fork is the way to go.

Pkhali

This healthy little dish (a nice antidote to the khachapuri) is usually made with steamed then chopped cabbage, spinach, beetroot or green beans, combined with walnuts, garlic and herbs to make a vegetable pâté or paste. The mix is then often formed into rounds, chilled in the fridge and topped with pomegranate seeds before being served.

Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi

From: Dara

To: Team@

Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT

Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East

Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.

Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.

I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.

This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.

It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.

Uber on,

Dara

Semi-final fixtures

Portugal v Chile, 7pm, today

Germany v Mexico, 7pm, tomorrow

The specs: 2018 Audi Q5/SQ5

Price, base: Dh183,900 / Dh249,000
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder /  3.0L, turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic / Eight-speed automatic
Power: 252hp @ 5,000rpm / 354hp @ 5,400rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,600rpm / 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy: combined 7.2L / 100km / 8.3L / 100km

The biog:

Favourite book: The Leader Who Had No Title by Robin Sharma

Pet Peeve: Racism 

Proudest moment: Graduating from Sorbonne 

What puts her off: Dishonesty in all its forms

Happiest period in her life: The beginning of her 30s

Favourite movie: "I have two. The Pursuit of Happiness and Homeless to Harvard"

Role model: Everyone. A child can be my role model 

Slogan: The queen of peace, love and positive energy

Updated: May 15, 2024, 10:34 AM