Background <p>Emotional intelligence (EI) is essential for nursing professionals, supporting holistic care and resilience to stress. The Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire–Short Form (TEIQue-SF) is widely used internationally, but its psychometric properties have not been validated among Arab nursing students, where cultural norms may influence emotional perception and regulation.</p> Objectives <p>This study aimed to (1) evaluate the internal consistency, construct validity, and factor structure of the Arabic TEIQue-SF in undergraduate nursing students, and (2) explore associations between EI, academic performance, and selected demographic and socioeconomic variables.</p> Methods <p>A cross-sectional study was conducted among 769 nursing students from Assiut University, Egypt. The TEIQue-SF was translated into Arabic using a forward–backward translation process, followed by expert review and pilot testing. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), and <b>confirmatory factor analysis (CFA)</b> was conducted to validate the factor structure of the Arabic version based on the original, well-established model. Criterion-related validity was also examined. Non-parametric analyses were used to explore associations with academic and socioeconomic indicators.</p> Results <p>The Arabic TEIQue-SF showed excellent reliability (α = 0.955 overall; subscales α = 0.821–0.884). CFA confirmed the original four-factor model: Well-being, Self-control, Emotionality, and Sociability. Sociability and Well-being had the strongest factor loadings, aligning with cultural emphasis on interpersonal and emotional resilience. Well-being and Emotionality were significantly associated with academic performance (<i>p</i> = 0.022, <i>p</i> = 0.033). Students with financial hardship reported unexpectedly higher Emotionality and Self-control.</p> Conclusion <p>The Arabic TEIQue-SF demonstrates strong internal consistency and a four-factor structure in a large sample of Egyptian nursing students; additional evidence (measurement invariance, test–retest reliability, and convergent validity) is needed to confirm its broader psychometric robustness across the Arab region. Findings support its use in education and research to foster emotionally intelligent, culturally competent nursing professionals.</p> Clinical trial number <p>Not applicable.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>