UAE Higher Education Institutions Report Highest Enrolment Of 57,035 Students For Academic Year 2024-2025

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) has reported that 66 higher education institutions in the UAE have admitted 57,035 new students for the 2024-2025 academic year. This represents a 13% increase from the previous year, marking the highest enrolment in a decade. The rise in student numbers highlights the growing appeal of UAE's educational institutions both locally and internationally.

MoHESR data reveals that female students make up 54% of these new enrolments, totalling 30,756. This is a 10% increase compared to the 2023-2024 academic year. Meanwhile, male student enrolment reached 26,281, which is an 18% rise from last year. These figures indicate a balanced gender representation in higher education opportunities across the country.

The Ministry attributes this growth to an efficient and flexible admission system. Streamlined procedures and zero government bureaucracy processes have been key factors. Enhanced digital services, such as the Unified Registration System (URS), have also played a significant role in simplifying student enrolment processes.

In addition to these improvements, MoHESR has updated admission criteria for 2024. Ongoing modernisation efforts aim to align academic programmes with student aspirations. This strategic move is expected to further expand enrolment numbers in future years.

Taif Mohamed Alamiri, Acting Assistant Under-Secretary for the Higher Education and Scientific Research Regulation and Governance Sector at MoHESR, stated: "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."

The regulatory update from last year has provided higher education institutions more flexibility. They can now design educational programmes and set admission criteria based on students' abilities rather than just test scores. This approach opens new pathways for studying specialised fields that support the national economy and future job market needs.

Commitment to National Vision

MoHESR remains committed to the 'We the UAE 2031' vision by developing a modern education system. This system aims to equip youth with skills necessary for building a competitive, sustainable knowledge-based economy. By focusing on agility and modernisation, MoHESR seeks to ensure that educational offerings meet both current demands and future challenges.

With inputs from WAM