UAE revamps foreign qualification recognition process, cutting bureaucracy by over 70%

Abu Dhabi: In a major step towards simplifying the recognition of foreign higher education qualifications, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) has announced an updated system under Ministerial Resolution No. (34) of 2025.

This new framework drastically reduces the documentation requirements from 14 to just four, marking a 70% cut compared to the previous process. The move, which aligns with the UAE’s Zero Government Bureaucracy programme, is set to enhance the educational journey for students by making the recognition process more seamless and efficient while maintaining the integrity and authenticity of foreign qualifications.

Key step

Ahmad Ibrahim Alsaadi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for the Higher Education Operations Sector at MoHESR, said that the decision is a key step in supporting the UAE’s Zero Government Bureaucracy programme. The revamped system drastically reduces the required documents from 14 to four, offering students a more efficient and flexible process. According to Alsaadi, this reduction in documentation is a 70% decrease compared to the previous system and has already shown promising results following its successful pilot launch.

Pilot project

The pilot phase demonstrated the system’s positive impact, increasing the number of recognised qualifications from 5,780 to 12,180, and reducing declined requests from 8.3% to 3.5%. Alsaadi also noted that the new system integrates seamlessly with local scholarship bodies, allowing for the efficient recognition of foreign qualifications across all specialisations and universities.

“This system streamlines the recognition process, helping students and graduates navigate the path to employment or postgraduate studies with ease,” Alsaadi said. “It embodies our commitment to creating a seamless, proactive, and excellence-driven educational experience, ultimately supporting students’ academic and career goals.”

Digital services

As part of the broader efforts to improve the student journey, MoHESR is also enhancing its digital services to support students from enrolment through to graduation. This includes integrating these services to facilitate smoother transitions into the workforce, further advancing the UAE’s educational landscape in alignment with global best practices.

Students and graduates wishing to benefit from the new recognition process can visit the MoHESR website for more information and to access the updated service.