UAE Cabinet issues resolutions governing university licensing and programme approval

National framework establishes unified licensing requirements for higher education institutions#

Cabinet Resolution No. 104 of 2026 creates a unified national reference for licensing higher education institutions and their branches throughout the UAE, covering institutions in free zones and those outside them. The resolution separates institutional licensure from programme accreditation: the first determines whether an institution has the capacity and sustainability to operate, while the second evaluates the quality and outcomes of specific academic programmes. Institutions may not offer, advertise or enrol students in any programme until that programme receives accreditation, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research stated in its September 11, 2026 explanation of the framework.

Graduate employment outcomes become mandatory measure for programme accreditation#

Programme accreditation now requires institutions to show that graduates possess skills and knowledge employers require, with learning outcomes assessed by subject experts drawn from the labour market. Employment outcomes, graduate placement and labour market alignment are now used to determine whether academic programmes deliver on their stated objectives, Dr Ahmed Sultan Al Shuaibi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, said at the Ministry's Future of Higher Education Dialogues forum in Abu Dhabi on September 10, 2026. Institutions must monitor whether graduates secure employment within nine months of completion and whether that employment matches their field of study.

Violations framework defines penalties up to Dh500,000 for breaches including assessment design#

Cabinet Resolution No. 143 of 2026, effective September 12, 2026, establishes penalties and administrative measures for breaches of licensing, accreditation, data accuracy, academic integrity, examination security, practical training and advertising requirements. Financial penalties reach Dh500,000, with additional administrative measures affecting operations, licensing status, accreditation standing and student admissions depending on the nature and severity of the breach. Designing assessments with the intent of enabling students to pass constitutes a violation under the framework, Prof Amjad Qandil, Director of the Commission of Academic Accreditation for Higher Education, told the forum.

Institutions must implement student protection plans and electronic integration with Ministry systems#

Institutions must maintain current and accurate data and establish electronic integration with Ministry systems, including measures for information security, data incident response and business continuity. A student protection and academic continuity plan is required for scenarios where an institution encounters significant operational or financial difficulty. Institutions in free zones must obtain a local permit before applying for federal institutional licensure, while those outside free zones must complete relevant local approvals before federal licensing is finalised. Local authorities may impose additional requirements within their jurisdiction provided these do not conflict with federal obligations.