UAE university enrolment rises 15% as institutions expand programmes to attract students

Universities across the United Arab Emirates are expanding academic programmes and considering campus growth as student enrolment continues to rise, with the country’s higher education institutions recording more than 218,000 students in the 2025–26 academic year.

The total represents a 15% increase from the previous academic year, according to data released by the UAE’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

The expansion comes as universities seek to attract more students from within the country and overseas. At the same time, fewer students from the UAE are applying to study in the United Kingdom, creating an opportunity for local institutions to strengthen their appeal.

Universities expand programmes to meet demand

Abu Dhabi University plans to introduce eight new undergraduate programmes at its Dubai campus from 2027. The planned courses cover areas including artificial intelligence, engineering, international relations, law and psychology.

Bassam Murra, the university’s executive director of marketing, enrolment and registration, said the institution wanted to expand its presence in Dubai and reach a wider student market.

The university is also considering whether additional facilities may be needed as its student population grows.

Other institutions have reported increased demand. The University of Sharjah welcomed more than 5,000 new students at the beginning of the 2026–27 academic year, while Emirates Aviation University reported a strong intake, particularly from international applicants.

Liwa University has also recorded increased demand across its Abu Dhabi and Al Ain campuses, with interest in artificial intelligence, medical and health sciences among the areas highlighted by its representatives.

Fewer UAE students apply to study in the UK

The growth in domestic university enrolment coincides with a decline in student visa applications from UAE residents seeking to study in Britain.

UK Home Office statistics cited show that applications from the UAE fell from 638 in 2022 to 257 in 2025.

The report attributed the wider decline in Gulf students choosing UK universities to tighter UK migration rules and concerns raised by experts about social issues, safety and education quality.

The figures refer specifically to applications from the UAE, rather than the entire Gulf region. They also do not establish that students who no longer apply to the UK have enrolled at universities in the UAE.

Nevertheless, the trend comes as local institutions seek to build their academic reputations and attract a larger international student population.

Rankings and reputation become part of the strategy

UAE universities have also been seeking greater visibility in international rankings. Khalifa University of Science and Technology became the first institution in the country to enter the top 150 of the QS World University Rankings, rising 30 places to 147th in the 2027 edition.

The university’s performance adds to efforts to position the UAE as a destination for higher education and research.

The government has also introduced the UAE Higher Award for Education to recognise achievements across the sector and encourage improvements in institutional performance.

As enrolment rises, universities will need to balance expansion with academic quality, adequate facilities and programmes that respond to students’ educational interests and labour-market needs. The coming years will show whether the increase in enrolment translates into sustained growth in international recruitment and the UAE’s standing as a higher education destination.