{
  "id": 15690631,
  "title": "Universities in UAE set sights high as student enrolment surges",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/universities-in-uae-set-sights-high-as-student-enrolment-surges",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-20T03:12:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/10/20/universities-in-uae-set-sights-high-as-student-enrolment-surges/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "UAE universities are aggressively expanding to capitalize on growing student demand, with the number of enrolled learners reaching 218,000 in the 2025/26 academic year, a 15% increase year-over-year. Abu Dhabi University plans to launch eight new undergraduate programs at its Dubai campus, covering fields such as artificial intelligence, engineering, international relations, law, and psychology. The University of Sharjah, ranked best in the UAE for medicine by US News Best Global Universities Rankings, aims to maintain its top position and attract both local and international students. Emirates Aviation University and Liwa University have also reported significant increases in student enrollments, particularly in fields like aviation and medical sciences. The UAE government has launched the UAE Higher Award for Higher Education to acknowledge and promote excellence in the country's higher education institutions.",
  "summary": "Leading UAE universities are investing in the future as they seek to capitalise on growing demand for higher education studies in the country. Institutes unveiled expansion drives, new programmes and plans to attract more learners from across the Emirates and beyond at a flagship education fair in Abu Dhabi on Monday. The number of students enrolled at universities in the UAE reached 218,000 in…",
  "key_points": [
    "UAE universities see 15% student enrollment surge to 218,000 in 2025/26.",
    "Abu Dhabi University adds eight new programs in AI, engineering, and more.",
    "University of Sharjah aims to maintain top spot for medicine rankings."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Rapidly expanding academic programs and government-backed excellence awards signal a strategic push to transform the nation into a competitive regional hub for both local and international higher education.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "Universities in UAE set sights high as student enrolment surges",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/universities-in-uae-set-sights-high-as-student-enrolment-surges-15692522",
        "published": "2026-10-20T03:12:38.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}