For the first time, the 2026 academic-year list does not include any UK universities. This was not the case in previous years when hundreds of study visas were granted to UAE students to study in the UK each year. Officials told The Times that the funding was being limited due to concerns over the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood. The UK has not moved to proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood, despite consistent lobbying by the UAE and other parties. In the UK: University of Birmingham; University of Manchester; SOAS University of London; University of Bradford; Queen Mary University of London; University of Leeds, and Newcastle University.

Source: The Times January 11, 2026 13:39 UTC