Student enrolment at higher education institutions across the UAE rose to more than 218,000 during the 2025–2026 academic year, as the number of newly admitted students increased 15 per cent from the previous year, according to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
The figures point to a continued expansion of access to universities and other higher education institutions, alongside changes to admission policies that give institutions greater flexibility in setting entry requirements for individual programmes.
The ministry said the approach is intended to widen access to higher education while ensuring that students acquire the qualifications and skills required by the labour market.
Enrollment passes 218,000
In an interview with the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Dr Ahmad Sultan Al Shoaibi, undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, said the increase in admissions has been supported by greater use of real‑time data connectivity between the Ministry and higher education institutions.
The system allows the ministry to monitor admissions and enrolment indicators on an ongoing basis while giving universities greater responsibility for managing their own admission processes within the laws, regulations and national frameworks governing the sector.
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