Previously, the West feared extremism from the Middle East.

Today, the tables have turned!

The United Arab Emirates cut funding for students in the United Kingdom for a surreal reason:

fear that their young people will be radicalized in British universities. Check this out!

1️⃣ The Education Boycott

The United Arab Emirates government has drastically restricted funding for citizens wishing to study in the United Kingdom.

In June, the Ministry of Education published a list of universities approved for scholarships:

The USA, France, Australia, and even Israel (!) are on it; the United Kingdom was left out.

2️⃣ The Numbers Don't Lie

The impact has already been observed.

The number of student visas granted to Emiratis for the United Kingdom has plummeted.

In the year ending September 2025, there were only 213 visas—a 55% drop compared to 2022. The graph shows the collapse.

3️⃣ "We don't want our children radicalized"

When British officials questioned whether the exclusion from the list was a mistake, Abu Dhabi's response was curt: "It wasn't an oversight."

According to a source close to the discussions: "The Emirates don't want their children to be radicalized on British campuses."

4️⃣ The Muslim Brotherhood Factor

The root of the problem is political.

The UAE considers the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization and an existential threat.

The United Kingdom, on the other hand, refuses to ban the group.

The British government says it defends "academic freedom," but for Arabs, the English university environment has become fertile ground for political Islam.

5️⃣The Burden of War in Gaza

Tensions have increased with the Israel-Hamas war.

Pro-Palestinian protests and encampments at British universities (seen as hotbeds of Islamic unrest) have alarmed the Gulf monarchies, which maintain tight control over religious dissent at home.

6️⃣ Worthless Diploma?

The measure is brutal: in addition to cutting funding, the UAE has stated that it will not recognize diplomas from institutions not on the accredited list.

In other words: even if a wealthy Emirati pays out of pocket to study at Oxford or Cambridge, their diploma may be worthless upon returning home.

7️⃣ Fractured Relationship

It's not just about education. The UK-UAE relationship is strained on several fronts:
❌ The UK blocked the UAE's purchase of the Daily Telegraph newspaper.
❌ The Premier League sued Manchester City (owned by Abu Dhabi).
❌ Accusations about the UAE's role in the Sudanese war.

8️⃣ The irony is interesting.

A modern Arab monarchy is now isolating the United Kingdom for deeming its universities "dangerous" and too permissive of religious extremism.

The Gulf is saying: "We control radicalism here. You in Europe have lost control."

9️⃣ Understanding Geopolitics

The Gulf is becoming increasingly assertive and less dependent on the West.