The UAE higher education sector has reached its highest enrolment level in a decade, with 57,035 new students admitted to the country’s 66 higher education institutions (HEIs) for the 2024–2025 academic year, according to data released by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR).
The figure represents a 13 per cent year-on-year increase in new enrolments from both UAE nationals and international students — marking a significant milestone in the country’s education growth and reform agenda.
Of the new students, female enrolment reached 30,756, accounting for 54 per cent of total admissions — a 10 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
Record UAE higher education enrolment
Male students numbered 26,281, an 18 per cent increase over 2023–2024.
MoHESR said this progress reflects the UAE’s growing gender balance in higher education and its success in creating more inclusive academic pathways for young people across disciplines.
The Ministry attributed the sharp rise in student intake to an enhanced and more flexible admission system, supported by streamlined procedures, zero-bureaucracy processes, and advanced digital services, including the Unified Registration System (URS).
These improvements have strengthened coordination between MoHESR and HEIs, simplified enrolment procedures, and supported the 2024 update to admission criteria, allowing universities to align academic programmes more closely with student aspirations and national labour market needs.
Enrolment growth and academic quality
Taif Mohamed Alamiri, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for the Higher Education and Scientific Research Regulation and Governance Sector at MoHESR, said: “MoHESR is refining the admission system to balance growing enrolment with academic quality, relying on unified digital platforms and continuous feedback to provide efficient, transparent admission processes.
“Last year’s regulatory update has given HEIs more flexibility to design educational programmes and set admission criteria based on students’ abilities, not just test scores. This opens new pathways for studying specialised fields that support the national economy and future job market needs.”
MoHESR reaffirmed its commitment to the ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision, focusing on developing a modern, agile education system that equips students with the skills to build a competitive and sustainable knowledge economy.
The Ministry said continued investment in admissions reform, digitalisation, and quality governance will remain central to achieving this goal — ensuring that higher education institutions continue to attract talent and foster innovation across the UAE.
