At the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, our mission is clear: to create a world-class higher education system that reflects our nation's vision and puts students first. We are transforming the academic journey - starting from public education, through university admissions and registration, to qualification, recognition and integration into the workforce - ensuring the entire process meets the highest international standards.

Guided by the Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme, we are redesigning our services for speed, efficiency and simplicity. Leveraging advanced digital infrastructure, we are removing obstacles, enhancing experiences and shaping a seamless educational pathway that empowers every student to succeed.

In line with our unwavering commitment to simplifying and accelerating the recognition of academic,technical and technological qualifications issued from outside the UAE, the Ministry is introducing a new system that reduces procedures while maintaining the highest international quality standards. The pilot phase has already delivered remarkable results; cutting requirements by more than 70%, reducing required documents from 14 to just four, and lowering rejection rates from 8.3% to 3.5%. The number of completed recognition requests has increased by over 110% compared to last year.

The recognition system now links directly with national scholarship agencies, enabling automatic recognition of qualifications issued inside the UAE and adopting two unified criteria. This ensures faster entry into the workforce or smoother progression to postgraduate studies.

To help Emirati students studying abroad make informed decisions, the Ministry has introduced digital tools aligned with Resolution No. (5) of 2025 regarding the Standards for UAE Nationals Studying Abroad in Higher Education Institutions, which was issued by the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council. By guiding students toward globally recognised institutions and encouraging enrolment across a diverse range of countries and universities, we ensure they receive quality education, avoid lower-ranked institutions and gain enriched cultural and academic experiences.

The Ministry also offers an information service about academic programmes abroad for UAE Nationals, providing an updated list of accredited universities and majors based on international rankings across most fields. Students can also use this service to appeal a decision denying qualification recognition or request an exception to Resolution No. (5) of 2025 regarding the Standards for UAE Nationals Studying Abroad in Higher Education Institutions. Each student may file an appeal or a request for exception only once, and appeals or requests for exception must be submitted within three months of receiving the decision denying recognition. 

In a significant leap forward, the Ministry has also launched the updated Unified Admission System for Emirati Students, which is an advanced digital interface that streamlines applications to institutions within the Unified National System. More than 60 higher education institutions joined the system. The upgrade has cut application time to just 90 seconds, reduced required fields and documents by 86% and enabled automatic data retrieval from government entities, creating a personalised experience for each student.

To ensure a smooth rollout, the Ministry held training workshops for students, parents and school advisors, equipping them with the knowledge to navigate the system efficiently and benefit from its enhanced capabilities.

Through these diverse initiatives, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research reaffirms its commitment to delivering a seamless academic journey, from planning university studies to graduation and successful entry into the job market. This approach enhances the student experience, drives academic excellence and strengthens the nation's global standing in higher education.

Dr. Faisal AlAli

Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Higher Education Operations Sector

Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research