2 UAE Universities confirm Kuwaiti students expulltion

Officials at Sharjah and Ajman universities have confirmed a ministry decision to expel eight Kuwaiti students for violating university rules and UAE law.

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has issued an official statement confirming the expulsions.
The ministry said the students had been expelled because they violated the laws of the two universities by forming a students’ union without the permission of university administrations.

“The university has nothing to do with the expulsion of the students and it was the ministry’s decision,” Dr Humaid Al Nuaimi, acting Director of the University of Sharjah, said.

Earlier, it was reported in the Arabic press that the University of Sharjah had denied the students had been expelled.

The Ajman University of Science and Technology also denied that it had expelled students, saying it was a ministry decision. “The students were expelled by the Ministry of Higher Education for violating internal rules and we have no further comment on its decision,” Rawan Al Khateeb, media coordinator at the university, said, The ministry’s statement said the students reportedly had formed a students’ union without an official permit from the administrations of the two universities and had also collected donations and held illegal gatherings in university housing, which constitutes a violation of UAE law.

The expulsions sparked a strong reaction on social media. Some people tweeted that they were in favour of the expulsions and a few were opposed.

“Kuwait’s security is part of the UAE’s security and anyone who harms the UAE’s security also harms Kuwait’s security,” Kuwaiti writer Fajer Al Saeed tweeted.

She said in another tweet that “the UAE leadership has the right to take any action deemed appropriate to safeguard their country’s security”.

“The expelled Kuwait students deliberately formed a students’ union without permission from both universities. They also collected donations and held gatherings in university housing,” Anwar Al Yaseen tweeted.

The UAE welcomes students from around the world to study at universities in the country. There are more than 670 Kuwaiti students at the University of Ajman and about 750 students at the University of Sharjah.