Arab News Japan

DUBAI: Over the past decade, the UAE-Japan educational cooperation has grown steadily, driven by the 2013 agreement between the late Prime Minister ABE Shinzo and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to strengthen collaboration in the field of education.

Since then, Emirati students have been pursuing degrees in Japan in key fields such as environmental studies, mechanical engineering and business administration.

One of the most enduring symbols of this partnership is the Japanese School in Abu Dhabi.

Established in 1978, the school began welcoming Emirati students in 2006 at the request of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed.

In 2021, it celebrated a major milestone with the graduation of its first Emirati students, who continued their academic journey at Tokai University in Japan.

The growth of Japanese language education across UAE universities and high schools has further deepened mutual understanding and academic exchange between the two countries.

Building on this foundation, the Government of Japan is now inviting applications for the 2026 MEXT Scholarship Program through its Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).

Open to UAE nationals, the scholarship offers two tracks—Undergraduate and Research—and includes full tuition coverage, a monthly stipend, and round-trip airfare to Japan.

First introduced in the UAE in 1990, with the first Emirati scholar heading to Japan in 1991, the MEXT Scholarship has become a cornerstone of academic and cultural ties between the two nations.

Each year, the program encourages Emirati applicants to explore a diverse array of disciplines, including medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, and pharmaceutical studies.