New scholarships announced for postgraduate architecture students from the Arab world

The scholarship will support exceptional Arab talent in the fields of architecture, urban design, and environmental innovation for the academic year 2026/27.

The scholarship offers twelve funded university places for outstanding students across the Arab world.

The initiative is a result of a partnership between the Great Arab Minds initiative in Dubai and the Royal College of Art in London, in collaboration with Dubai Municipality.

The scholarship aims to nurture the next generation of creative Arab leaders by enabling them to pursue some of the world’s most prestigious Master’s programmes, including City Design, Design Practice, Interior Design, and Environmental Architecture.

Professor Christoph Lindner, President & Vice-Chancellor of the Royal College of Art, said of the announcement:

"As a world-leading institution, our students benefit from working with creative talent from across the globe, and students from the Arab world are currently underrepresented at the College. The generous creation of the Mohammed bin Rashid Scholarship for Architecture and Design will enable talented students to attend the RCA who may not have otherwise been able to do so, helping to create a community of diverse knowledge and perspectives and empowering those students to contribute to changes in the built environment of their home countries."

Professor Adrian Lahoud, Dean, School of Architecture, Royal College of Art said:

“Talent should not be limited by financial barriers. Scholarships for students from the Arab world offer more than financial support however—they embody a commitment to innovation, access, and the exchange of ideas across cultures. Through the Mohammed bin Rashid Scholarship for Architecture and Design, Great Arab Minds, Dubai Municipality and the Royal College of Art are partnering to educate and empower a new generation of creative leaders, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to push the boundaries of architecture and design.”

Students interested in the scholarships should apply for the relevant programme. Of the twelve places, three are reserved for employees of Dubai Municipality who apply to the RCA and meet its academic standards, with the remainder open to citizens of the following countries:

• United Arab Emirates
• Saudi Arabia
• Algeria
• Bahrain
• Comoros
• Djibouti
• Egypt
• Iraq
• Jordan
• Kuwait
• Lebanon
• Libya
• Mauritania
• Morocco
• Oman
• Palestine
• Qatar
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Syria
• Tunisia
• Yemen

Applications for study at the RCA in 2026/27 are currently open, with Round 2 of applications closing on Tuesday 17 March 2026.