Four cabinet resolutions issued in 2026 set out new UAE university licensing rules covering how institutions are established, how programmes are approved, what fees apply and how violations are penalised. The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) presented the measures at its Future of Higher Education Dialogues forum in Abu Dhabi.
Dr Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, opened the forum by saying the accompanying Federal Decree-Law marks a shift from an input- and procedure-focused approach to an outcomes-based model.
Licensing and programme accreditation now formally separated
Cabinet Resolution No. 104 of 2026 establishes the National Framework for Licensing Higher Education Institutions. It came into force in June 2026 and applies to all institutions and their branches across the UAE, including those in free zones.
The framework draws a firm line between institutional licensure and programme accreditation. An institutional licence confirms that a university is operationally and financially ready to deliver education. A separate programme accreditation is then required before any course can be offered, advertised or opened to students.
For free-zone institutions, the Federal Decree-Law on Higher Education and Scientific Research provides that MoHESR grants the institutional licence to institutions already holding local authorisation, without requiring them to repeat licensing procedures or pay additional fees. Programmes that hold recognised international accreditations can also qualify for accreditation without a full re-accreditation process, provided the accrediting body meets Ministry standards.
Institutions must submit renewal applications at least 90 days before their licence expires. Licence duration can vary according to an institution’s risk, compliance and performance profile.
MoHESR has already applied the new UAE university licensing rules in practice: it licensed 16 higher education institutions in Dubai under a strategic agreement with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), including Middlesex University Dubai, Georgetown University, the University of Manchester and Curtin University.
Fees, financial guarantees and enforcement
Cabinet Resolution No. 103 of 2026 sets the fees charged for Ministry services. For higher education institutions, the schedule includes:
Dh100,000 as a one-time institutional licensing fee; Dh15,000 annually per programme for accreditation or renewal, capped at Dh200,000 per institution annually; Dh50 per application for recognition of qualifications issued inside or outside the UAE; and Dh10,000 annually per student for supervision of scholarship students abroad.
For TVET institutions, accreditation or renewal of a qualifications-awarding body costs Dh100,000 every three years, while institutional and programme accreditation are each Dh5,000 annually, with programme fees capped at Dh25,000 per institution annually. Training institutes face a Dh5,000 annual fee for issuing or renewing a training licence and Dh2,000 for amendments.
The resolution also introduces financial guarantees linked to student numbers for private institutions. Federal and local public institutions are exempt. Private institutions holding a local permit are also exempt where the competent local authority already requires an equivalent student-protection guarantee. MoHESR describes the resolution as consolidating fees and financial guarantees into an open, standardised framework to eliminate procedural ambiguity. For existing institutions, fees and guarantees generally take effect from the start of the financial year following the resolution’s entry into force. The resolution repeals Cabinet Resolution No. 81 of 2025.
Cabinet Resolution No. 92 of 2026 creates a separate Review Fund into which review fees are paid. MoHESR says the fund finances external and international evaluators engaged for licensing and accreditation work. Undersecretary Dr Ahmed Sultan Al Shoaibi said the resolution provides ‘a clear infrastructure that enables the Ministry to conduct reviews and evaluations in accordance with global best practices and criteria,’ according to the MoHESR announcement on review fees.
Cabinet Resolution No. 143 of 2026 took effect on 12 September 2026 and establishes the violations, penalties and administrative measures framework. Offering or advertising a programme without accreditation triggers a warning and a stop order on first offence. Misleading advertising carries a fine of Dh20,000 per advertisement, rising for repeat violations to potential suspension of admissions and revocation of accreditation.
The framework includes a compliance incentive: administrative fines may not be imposed where an institution self-reports a deficiency before it is detected, provided the breach did not stem from gross negligence or a deliberate act. Institutions have 60 days to file a written grievance against any contested decision, and the Ministry must respond within 60 days.
The UAE Government portal lists the full suite of ministerial and regulatory decisions now in force. MoHESR said existing institutions are expected to assess gaps against the new framework, strengthen data integration and continuity plans, and maintain evidence of performance ahead of their next licence renewal.
