UAE Revolutionizes Foreign Degree Recognition

New Regulation Simplifies Foreign Diploma Recognition

The United Arab Emirates has introduced a new regulation to simplify the recognition of qualifications awarded by foreign higher education institutions. The ministerial decree 2025/34 aims to authenticate foreign diplomas while reducing administrative burdens and speeding up the recognition process.

What Has Changed in the New System?

The decision issued by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research is an integral part of the Zero Government Bureaucracy (ZGB) initiative, which aims to simplify public services. Under this framework, the number of requirements for diploma recognition has been reduced by more than 70%—from 14 documents to only four.

As a result of the system overhaul, there has been a significant increase in the number of students with recognized diplomas: from 5,780 to 12,180 compared to the previous year. The rate of rejected applications has also decreased from 8.3% to 3.5%.

Key Conditions and Requirements

The new regulation ensures that:

The diploma is genuine and authentic;

The issuing institution operates legally and holds accreditation valid in its own country;

The recognition process is faster and simpler.

Students and recent graduates can easily apply for recognition through the official website of the competent authority, where the process takes place on a specially established service page.

Unified Assessment Across All Disciplines

A further advantage of the decree is that it applies two standardized criteria to each discipline and university, making the handling of foreign diplomas more transparent and fair. The system will also be integrated with various local organizations that manage scholarship programs, further speeding up the process.

Why is This Change Important?

The modernized procedure benefits not only graduates seeking employment but also those wishing to continue their studies within the UAE in master's or doctoral programs. The simplification of recognition aids faster entry into the job market, reduces time spent on administration, and supports the country's transition to a knowledge-based economy.

Conclusion

The UAE's new ministerial decree elevates the recognition of foreign diplomas: less paperwork, faster processing, and a more reliable verification system characterize the revamped process. This not only improves the situation for students and graduates but also contributes to the achievement of the country's educational and economic goals in the long run.

(Source of the article: Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research announcement.)