The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) has announced the approval of a resolution regulating fees and financial guarantees associated with services provided by the Ministry. This strategic step is designed to bolster the sustainability of the UAE’s higher education and technical and vocational education and training ecosystems by establishing a highly transparent and clear financial and regulatory framework for academic institutions, students and all sector stakeholders.
This resolution represents an extension of MoHESR’s ongoing legislative and regulatory modernisation efforts, enhancing the efficiency, flexibility and agility of the higher education and scientific research sectors in line with the objectives of the Federal Decree-Law on Higher Education and Scientific Research. Ultimately, it strengthens institutional governance, upgrades service quality and cultivates a highly competitive regulatory landscape.
His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Sultan Al Shoaibi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, affirmed that the new resolution forms part of an integrated effort to further develop the legislative framework governing the higher education and scientific research sector in the UAE. It aims to keep pace with the sector’s growth, the increasing diversity of its institutions and services, and its readiness to meet the evolving demands of the future.
He said: “The resolution represents an important step towards developing a more efficient and flexible higher education system by establishing a balanced financial and regulatory framework that addresses the requirements of good governance and the sustainability of educational institutions. At the same time, it provides an enabling environment for these institutions to grow, develop and innovate, strengthening the sector’s competitiveness and supporting the UAE’s ambitions to build a world-class higher education system.”
Flexible guarantees supporting institutional stability
The new resolution outlines a structured framework for institutional licensing financial guarantees. By protecting students’ rights and ensuring an uninterrupted delivery of academic operations, this framework builds long-term institutional stability while remaining sensitive to each institution’s scale and operating model.
Recognising the diverse profiles of the UAE’s academic landscape, the resolution exempts specific entities from financial guarantees requirements under set criteria. This applies to government-owned institutions and locally licensed institutions that have already fulfilled equivalent financial guarantees with local authorities in a way that protects students’ rights and ensures the continuity of the academic process. The mechanism balances stringent federal institutional governance with the regulatory flexibility needed to ensure long-term sector viability.
Transparent ecosystem for educational services
The resolution unifies the financial structures governing a comprehensive suite of Ministry services. These include:
- Institutional licensing and academic programme accreditation
- Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutional services
- Qualification recognition for academic, technical and vocational credentials issued both within and outside the UAE
- Services targeting training institutes and centres and the oversight of scholarship students pursuing studies abroad
By consolidating fees and financial guarantees into an open, standardised framework, the resolution eliminates procedural ambiguity, enabling higher education institutions and students to conduct financial and administrative planning with greater accuracy and efficiency.
Regulatory agility aligned with national priorities
The resolution takes into account the diverse nature of institutions and programmes and the roles they play in supporting national development efforts. It introduces a range of exemptions and special provisions covering certain government and non-profit institutions, strategically important programmes, and programmes aligned with national priorities. It also includes a number of provisions related to the recognition of qualifications and the supervision of scholarship students.
This approach reflects the UAE Government’s commitment to adopting a balanced regulatory framework that combines the implementation of sound financial governance principles with support for growth and innovation. It aims to empower educational institutions to contribute effectively to the achievement of national priorities.
The resolution officially takes effect on September 12, 2026. For existing institutions and currently enrolled scholarship students, the newly defined fees will apply starting from the fiscal year following the resolution’s effective date. For newly established institutions and incoming scholarship students, the fees will apply from the date the decision enters into force.
