UAE unveils new ministerial resolution to regulate scholarship system for Emirati students

Dubai: The UAE's Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has rolled out a fresh set of rules governing scholarships for Emirati students.

Ministerial Resolution No. (179) of 2026, announced on Tuesday, lays out the conditions, requirements and procedures for the national scholarship programme.

The Resolution has updated scholarship destination countries, institutions, and priority fields of study in line with international best practices and identified priority groups of students for scholarships.

The move is aimed at developing the national scholarship system, enhancing the quality of its outcomes and aligning them with national priorities and labour market needs within an integrated framework for governance and oversight.

The new Ministerial Resolution builds on existing federal laws and Cabinet decisions to create a single, unified framework for how scholarships are awarded and managed.

According to the ministry, the resolution aims to regulate the scholarship system, improve the efficiency of government spending, enhance the quality of academic programmes, and prepare national talent capable of responding to future developments and contributing to the UAE’s economic and knowledge-based development.

The Resolution identifies several priority groups within the evaluation and application review process for selecting scholarship students.

These include children of martyrs, beneficiaries of social support programmes, and students residing in remote areas.

Applications from these groups will be considered within the Ministry’s established selection criteria, alongside academic performance, priority fields of study, the quality of the educational institution, and the type of academic admission.

“This approach aims to ensure that scholarships are directed towards the most deserving and qualified national talent,” the ministry said.

The Resolution adopts updated lists of scholarship destination countries and educational institutions based on the best internationally recognised rankings.

Under the updated rules for scholarship destination countries and educational institutions, universities and colleges will be assessed against a tiered set of global ranking benchmarks depending on where they are located:

The Resolution also gives preference to certain priority fields of study aligned with strategic sectors.

These priority fields include energy, transport and logistics, technology and engineering, healthcare, water and the environment, creative industries, science, and finance, areas the ministry links directly to the UAE's future economic plans.

To uphold the principles of fairness and equal opportunity in access to scholarships abroad, the Resolution establishes clear academic eligibility criteria, the ministry said.

To keep the process equitable, applicants will be assessed using a comparative mechanism for applicants based on academic performance, the quality of the educational institution, the priority of the field of study, and the type of admission, while taking into consideration priority groups.

Students who receive scholarships will carry a clear set of responsibilities.

These include keeping up steady academic progress, representing the UAE well while overseas, declaring any other financial support or scholarships they hold, and informing the ministry promptly if anything changes that could affect their studies.

The ministry said this will make it easier to monitor students' progress throughout their scholarship term.

The Resolution also seeks to enhance scholarship students’ academic and professional development opportunities by connecting them with training, innovation, and research opportunities that support the objectives of the scholarship programme.

This will be facilitated through educational and science and technology offices and missions, which oversee students’ academic and administrative affairs and provide the necessary support and guidance throughout their scholarship period.

Beyond the classroom, the ministry wants to link scholarship students to training, research and innovation opportunities through its network of educational and science and technology offices abroad, which handle students' academic and administrative needs.

It is also working on strategic partnerships with universities, research bodies and employers in destination countries to open up early employment pathways and structured training routes into jobs.

With the right approvals, students may also be allowed to take one more more courses at another institution as part of a joint academic programme, cooperation agreement or a student exchange scheme, provided the ministry judges it will add additional educational or academic value and enhance the student’s academic outcomes and international learning experience.

The resolution sets out clear rules for deferring, pausing, resuming, extending or cancelling a scholarship, as well as provisions for distance learning.

It also spells out the circumstances that could lead to a warning, suspension or cancellation, providing flexibility in addressing exceptional circumstances while ensuring the efficient management of financial resources.

The ministry said the changes reflect a broader push to build a more efficient, well-governed scholarship system that gets the most out of the UAE's investment in its people, strengthens national talent, and helps the country climb further up global competitiveness rankings.