By Staff Reporter
The UAE Cabinet has approved a landmark resolution to modernise the country’s national scholarship system, introducing a comprehensive framework designed to strengthen student support and align academic opportunities with the nation’s future workforce needs.
The new resolution establishes a robust governance structure that oversees every stage of the scholarship journey, including eligibility requirements, university selection, admissions, academic performance monitoring, and programme evaluation. The reforms aim to ensure that scholarship recipients pursue fields of study that support the UAE’s economic priorities and labour market demands.
A major feature of the initiative is the enhancement of financial and welfare benefits for students studying abroad. Scholarship recipients will receive monthly stipends, full tuition coverage, travel allowances, health insurance, graduation grants, and rewards for academic excellence. The study readiness and settlement allowance has been increased to AED30,000, while additional support measures have also been extended to students’ families.
The resolution further introduces specialised allowances for students pursuing priority disciplines, encouraging enrolment in high-impact sectors that contribute to innovation, sustainable development, and the growth of a knowledge-based economy.
Currently, the national scholarship programme supports approximately 500 students enrolled in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programmes at leading universities around the world. To improve employment outcomes, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has partnered with more than 10 national institutions in key sectors such as energy, aviation, industry, and human resources, creating stronger links between academic studies and future careers.
The initiative reflects the UAE’s continued commitment to investing in human capital and developing a highly skilled national workforce capable of driving growth across emerging and future-focused industries.
Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM)
