UAE Higher Education Enrolment Surges with 15% Annual Growth
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has announced a significant expansion in university admissions, with total enrolment now exceeding 218,000 students across the Emirates.
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has reported robust growth in university enrolment across the United Arab Emirates, with the number of newly admitted students increasing by 15% in the 2025–2026 academic year. This expansion has brought total enrolment to more than 218,000 students, demonstrating the success of flexible admissions policies designed to provide broader educational pathways whilst maintaining rigorous academic standards.
Dr. Ahmad Sultan Al Shoaibi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, attributes this growth to the effectiveness of policies that broaden access to higher education in alignment with national economic priorities. The Ministry operates an integrated system of real-time data connectivity with higher education institutions, enabling continuous monitoring of admissions and enrolment indicators whilst ensuring compliance with sector legislation and approved national frameworks.
During the previous academic year, higher education institutions admitted more than 64,000 students, of whom approximately 32,000 were Emirati nationals. The current enrolment figures include roughly 124,000 Emirati students, reflecting the sector’s commitment to serving the nation’s youth.
A particularly noteworthy achievement has been the expansion of diploma and higher diploma pathways. Enrolment in these programmes has grown substantially from 3,995 students in 2021–2022 to 10,926 in 2025–2026, representing an increase of 173%. This expansion broadens the range of qualifications available to students whilst equipping them with practical skills demanded by the labour market.
The Ministry emphasises that increased flexibility in admissions criteria does not represent a compromise on academic quality. Rather, it reflects a sophisticated governance approach that grants institutions appropriate autonomy whilst maintaining oversight through continuous monitoring and evaluation. Higher education institutions now establish admission criteria suited to their individual programmes and specialisations, operating within an integrated framework that encompasses academic accreditation, inspection and quality assessment.
Ministerial Resolution No. 19 of 2024 establishes clear requirements for admission policies, permitting conditional admission with preparatory or remedial courses where necessary to address academic skill gaps. The Ministry’s supervisory role extends beyond procedural approval to encompassing broader accountability measures, including the assessment of student retention, completion rates, employment outcomes and graduate competence.
Dr. Al Shoaibi stressed that the UAE model represents regulated flexibility rather than unrestricted open admissions. This approach combines institutional autonomy with robust quality controls, ensuring that expanded access complements rather than diminishes educational excellence. The Ministry continues developing the higher education system through outcome-focused measures, partnerships with economic sectors and anticipatory labour market analysis to identify future skills requirements.
Source: WAM