Gulf Nationals Studying Abroad: Government Sponsorships and Top Destinations in 2025
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published May 16, 2026 • Study Abroad
Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait all run government scholarship programs that fully fund nationals to study abroad. Qatar doubled its scholarship seats to 1,500 for 2024-2025, while the UAE removed UK universities from its approved list. The UK has overtaken the US as the top destination for Gulf students, with applications jumping 350% between 2010 and 2024.
The Shift in Where Gulf Students Go
The United States held the top spot for Gulf student enrollment for decades. That is no longer true.
The number of Emiratis studying in the US fell from 2,920 in the 2015-16 academic year to 1,502 in 2022-23, according to Times Higher Education . Over the same period, first-year students from the Middle East at UK universities rose from 12,925 in 2011-12 to 16,905 in 2021-22.
Applications from Gulf nationals to UK universities grew by 350% between 2010 and 2024, with 7,910 applications for autumn 2024 entry representing the largest number ever recorded. Experts at Oxford International Education Group cited proximity, perceived safety, and faster visa processing times as the primary drivers. US visa wait times for Gulf applicants typically run several months longer than UK processing times.
Australia is a secondary growth destination. Gulf student numbers in Australia are roughly three times the 2004 figure, though slightly off a recent peak. Canada remains relevant but faces the same visa processing constraints as the US.
Why Destination Matters for Sponsored Students
Government scholarship programs from Gulf states attach their funding to an approved university list. If your target institution is not on the list, the sponsorship does not apply. This is not a minor detail.
The UAE made global headlines in early 2026 when it removed all UK universities from its approved scholarship list for the 2026 academic year, citing concerns over campus radicalization. Emirati student visas to the UK fell by over 50% since 2022.
For any Gulf national planning to use government funding, you must confirm that your chosen institution is on the current approved list for your sponsoring body before you apply. Lists are updated annually and sometimes mid-cycle.
Saudi Arabia: King Abdullah Scholarship Program (KASP)
The King Abdullah Scholarship Program is Saudi Arabia's flagship outbound scholarship. It covers tuition paid directly to the institution, a monthly living stipend of at least CAD 2,800 for a single student in Canada (amounts vary by country), travel, health insurance, and up to 12 months of language training where required.
Priority fields include:
- Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing
- Engineering and Computer Science
- Natural Sciences
- Law, Accounting, Finance, and E-Commerce
KASP students apply through the Safeer platform managed by the Ministry of Education. Approved institutions span the US, Canada, UK, Australia, Germany, and several other countries. Saudi Arabia funds students across dozens of countries simultaneously, making this one of the largest national scholarship programs in the world by volume.
The program is open to Saudi nationals with a minimum 80% secondary or undergraduate GPA, depending on the level of study sought. Doctoral and postdoctoral applicants follow a separate track.
UAE: Multiple Bodies, Different Rules
The UAE does not run a single national scholarship program. Three separate entities fund outbound students, each with its own rules and approved university lists.
| Funding Body | Scope | Key Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| MoHESR | Federal, undergrad and postgrad | University must rank top 50 globally in field, or top 100 in US/Australia |
| MoFA | Federal, diplomatic track | Outstanding academic record, leads to diplomatic corps placement |
| ADEK (Khotwa) | Abu Dhabi only, undergrad | Minimum 65% GPA in Grade 12, IELTS 3.0 minimum |
The ADEK Khotwa (RizeUp) program is worth noting separately. Announced with an AED 1.9 billion (approximately USD 517 million) budget, it funds Abu Dhabi students to spend two years at community colleges in the US or Canada before transferring credits to a degree-granting institution.
ADEK targets 6,000 total beneficiaries by 2028. The first cohort of 100 students enrolled in 2022.
MoHESR applicants must be UAE nationals with a valid passport and family book. The ministry publishes an approved university and major list updated each semester. For 2026 onward, UK universities are absent from this list.
Qatar: 2024 Expansion to 1,500 Seats
Qatar's Ministry of Education and Higher Education restructured its scholarship program for 2024-2025, more than doubling total seats from 700 to 1,500 . The ministry expanded the number of education tracks from three to eight to align with Qatari labor market needs.
The program has three components:
- Amiri Scholarship Program: For top-performing secondary graduates. Students receive a monthly stipend in the range of QAR 8,000-12,000 plus a one-time pre-travel grant of QAR 40,000 per UDST documentation, two business-class return flights annually, and placement at one of roughly 24 top-ranked global universities or 5 local Qatari institutions. Years of study count toward government service tenure.
- Overseas Scholarship Program: Standard external sponsorship with a minimum monthly benefit of QAR 14,000 (approximately USD 3,850) plus pre-departure costs and an annual return ticket.
- Domestic Scholarship Program: For study within Qatar at national and private universities. Requires a minimum secondary average of 60%.
Qatar's scholarship portal is managed through the Ministry of Education . Qatari students apply after receiving their secondary school results and are nominated to universities through the ministry's placement process.
Kuwait: MOHE External Sponsorship
Kuwait's Ministry of Higher Education runs an annual external scholarship program for Kuwaiti nationals. Coverage includes full tuition, monthly living allowance, return airfare, housing stipend, books, and health insurance.
Eligibility requires a Kuwaiti high school diploma or equivalent. The program covers over 30 approved specializations, weighted toward engineering, health sciences, and technology.
Applications go through the PAAET portal at www.paaet.edu.kw . Kuwait's scholarship for nationals is a separate track from any international scholarship programs the country offers to foreign students.
The UAE-UK Break: A Real-World Shift
The UAE-UK scholarship break is the largest policy development in Gulf outbound education in recent years. For the 2026 academic year, the UAE's approved university list for state scholarships contains no UK institutions. The Times Higher Education reported that UAE officials cited concerns about campus radicalization and the UK government's refusal to proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood.
The practical impact is already visible. Around 200 Emirati students received UK student visas in the year ending September 2025, a drop of more than 50% from the 2022 figure.
For Emirati students who want to study in the UK, self-funding or scholarship funding from non-government sources is now the only path if the policy holds through 2026.
This shift illustrates why Gulf students and their families should track scholarship policy changes each year, not once at the start of a multi-year degree plan.
Approved Destination Universities: What Typically Makes the List
Each Gulf scholarship body maintains its own ranking threshold for eligible institutions. Common criteria include:
- QS World University Rankings top 200 or top 100 in field
- Times Higher Education rankings thresholds set by the ministry
- US News rankings for US-based programs
- Field-specific accreditation (AACSB for business, ABET for engineering)
Saudi Arabia's KASP covers institutions in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, Germany, France, South Korea, and others. Qatar's Amiri program targets roughly 24 top-ranked global universities plus 5 local institutions, while the Overseas track covers a broader approved list.
UAE's MoHESR uses a tiered system where the threshold varies by country. Australia and the US carry the strictest ranking requirements (top 100), while non-English-speaking countries allow up to top 300.
If you identify a target program, cross-reference the university against your sponsoring body's current PDF list before applying. Lists change annually, and a university approved for fall 2024 intake is not automatically approved for fall 2025.
Application Timelines
Each program runs on its own academic calendar:
| Program | Typical Application Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi KASP | After secondary results, or mid-year for postgrad | Apply through Safeer platform |
| UAE MoHESR | Spring and Fall cycles | Separate cycles with separate approved lists |
| Qatar Government Scholarship | July-August following secondary results | Seats allocated by track and field |
| Kuwait MOHE External | Annual, after high school completion | Applications via PAAET portal |
Postgraduate and doctoral applicants in most programs follow a different window from undergraduate applicants. Check your ministry's official portal each year, as deadlines shift.
Sources
- Times Higher Education: Safety fears and cost push Gulf students away from US, towards UK
- Times Higher Education: UAE cuts UK scholarship funding over extremism concerns
- The National: Why have Gulf students fallen out of love with the US?
- The Peninsula Qatar: Qatar Education Ministry doubles government scholarship seats
- Qatar News Agency: Outstanding Educational Opportunities for Qatari Students under Government Scholarship Plan 2024-2025
- Qatar Ministry of Education: Scholarship Platform
- EducationUSA: Scholarships available for Saudi Students (KASP)
- EducationUSA: Kuwait Ministry of Higher Education Scholarship Program
- UAE MoHESR: Scholarship Request Portal
- UAE Government: Scholarships for UAE nationals
- Abu Dhabi Media Office: ADEK launches Khotwa (RizeUp) scholarship programme
- UAE MoFA: Scholarship Program
- Kuwait Government Online Scholarship List