A new UAE higher education penalties framework covering universities, colleges, technical institutes and training centres takes effect on 12 September, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research announced.
The decision establishes a unified set of violations, penalties and administrative measures that apply to all higher education institutions (HEIs), technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, and training centres under the ministry’s jurisdiction.
It draws its legal authority from Federal Decree-Law No. (31) of 2025 on Higher Education and Scientific Research, the federal legislation issued at the end of 2025 that applies to all HEIs and TVET institutions across the UAE, including those operating in free zones.
What the UAE higher education penalties framework covers
The framework addresses violations across a wide range of areas: licensing and accreditation, data accuracy, monitoring and evaluation requirements, academic integrity, examination integrity, practical training, academic advertising, and environmental, health and safety standards.
The parent decree-law makes clear that no institution may offer, promote, advertise, admit students or begin teaching any academic programme before obtaining programme accreditation from the ministry. Licensing requirements include the provision of financial guarantees, local permits, and compliance with health, safety and security standards, according to the ministry’s announcement on the decree-law.
The new decision takes a graduated approach: the severity and frequency of a violation determine the penalty applied, with the stated aim of allowing institutions to correct their position before more serious measures are imposed.
Student protections are built into the framework. Where regulatory action is taken against an institution, that institution must ensure the continuity of the academic process, preserve academic records, safeguard financial rights, and refund fees or amounts collected unjustly.
An appeal mechanism is included: a specialised committee formed by the ministry will consider appeals against decisions, penalties and administrative measures through defined regulatory procedures.
Part of a broader legislative series
Dr Ahmed Sultan Al-Shuaibi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, said the decision provides a clear regulatory framework that enhances institutional compliance and consolidates best practices, ensuring the transparent application of regulatory requirements and supporting the sustainability and competitiveness of the sector.
The new framework is part of a series of decisions issued under Federal Decree-Law No. (31) of 2025. Earlier measures in that series include Ministerial Resolution No. (27) of 2024, which formalised the national framework for licensing HEIs and accrediting academic programmes, signed on 12 December 2024.
A separate but related measure, Ministerial Resolution No. (173) of 2025, issued on 5 August 2025, addressed governance of work experience obligations. It stipulates that institutions found to have organised nominal work experience programmes are subject to penalties under the same parent decree-law.
To support awareness of the new legislative environment, the ministry held a Future of Higher Education Dialogues session in Dubai, attended by approximately 200 representatives from HEIs and TVET institutions. The Customer Councils initiative was set to extend to other emirates following the Dubai session.
The full list of ministerial and regulatory decisions in higher education is published on the UAE Government Portal. The penalties decision enters force on 12 September.
