Legislation Details
- Full Title: Federal Decree by Law Regarding Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Law Type: Federal Decree-Law
- Law Number: [no number] of 2025
- Issued Date: 01 Oct 2025
- Effective Date: 01 Jan 2026
- Official Gazette: No. 809
- Sector: Education
- Status: Active
- Number of Articles: 70
- Chapters/Parts: 0
- Amendments: 0
Summary
This Federal Decree-Law regulates higher education and scientific research in the United Arab Emirates. It establishes a comprehensive framework for the licensure, accreditation, and oversight of higher education institutions, including public, private, and those in free zones. The law aims to enhance the quality and competitiveness of higher education, support scientific research, and align educational outcomes with labor market needs. It also covers technical and vocational education and training institutions. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Higher Education and Scientific Research, 2025) The law is significant for businesses and individuals in the UAE, as it sets clear requirements and standards for higher education providers. It empowers the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to regulate the sector, ensuring quality and relevance. This impacts students, faculty, education providers, and employers who rely on the higher education system to develop the UAE's human capital. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Higher Education and Scientific Research, 2025)
What is the scope and purpose of this law?
The law aims to regulate the licensure, classification, accreditation, and oversight of higher education institutions and technical and vocational education and training institutions in the UAE, including those in free zones. Its objectives are to enhance the quality and competitiveness of higher education, support scientific research, and align educational outcomes with labor market needs. The law applies to all higher education and technical/vocational institutions in the UAE. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Higher Education and Scientific Research, 2025, Art. 2-3)
What are the key definitions under this law?
The law provides the following key definitions:
- State: The United Arab Emirates
- Ministry: The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Minister: The Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Competent Local Authority: The local government authority concerned with higher education and scientific research affairs, and with technical and vocational education and training affairs, in any Emirate
- Higher Education: Education that follows the general education stage and is provided by higher education institutions that grant academic or professional degrees
- Higher Education Institutions: Public and private educational institutions that provide higher education programs, including universities, colleges, institutes, and branches of international universities
- Technical and Vocational Education and Training Institutions: Institutions that provide accredited vocational programs above the general secondary level
- Institutional Licensure: The document issued by the Ministry authorizing a higher education institution to operate
- Program Accreditation: The document issued by the Ministry recognizing and approving a higher education or technical/vocational program
- National Qualifications Framework (NQF): The national reference framework for structuring qualifications in the UAE
(Federal Decree by Law Regarding Higher Education and Scientific Research, 2025, Art. 1)
What are the main obligations and requirements?
The key obligations and requirements under this law include: 1. Higher education institutions must obtain Institutional Licensure from the Ministry before they can be established, operate, or offer programs in the UAE. This requires meeting conditions such as having a distinctive name, submitting an application, and providing financial guarantees. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Higher Education and Scientific Research, 2025, Art. 6) 2. Higher education institutions must renew their Institutional Licensure periodically, undergoing evaluation by the Ministry. Failure to renew can result in revocation of the license. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Higher Education and Scientific Research, 2025, Art. 7) 3. Higher education institutions are prohibited from transferring or assigning their Institutional Licensure without the Ministry's approval. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Higher Education and Scientific Research, 2025, Art. 8) 4. Higher education institutions must comply with the National Frameworks issued by the Cabinet for licensure, qualifications, classification, research, and technical/vocational education. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Higher Education and Scientific Research, 2025, Art. 5)
What licensing, registration, or approval requirements exist?
The key licensing and approval requirements under this law are: 1. Institutional Licensure issued by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research is required for any higher education institution to operate in the UAE, including public, private, and those in free zones. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Higher Education and Scientific Research, 2025, Art. 6) 2. Program Accreditation issued by the Ministry is required for higher education and technical/vocational programs to be recognized and approved. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Higher Education and Scientific Research, 2025, Art. 10-11) 3. Higher education institutions in free zones must also obtain a Local Permit from the Competent Local Authority in addition to the Institutional Licensure. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Higher Education and Scientific Research, 2025, Art. 14) 4. Technical and vocational education and training institutions must obtain Institutional Accreditation from the Ministry. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Higher Education and Scientific Research, 2025, Art. 18)
What rights and protections does this law provide?
The law does not explicitly outline any specific rights or protections granted to individuals, workers, or businesses. The focus of the legislation is on regulating the higher education and technical/vocational education sectors through licensing, accreditation, and oversight mechanisms. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Higher Education and Scientific Research, 2025)
Which authorities or bodies are responsible for enforcement?
The key authorities and bodies responsible for enforcement under this law are: 1. The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, which is responsible for issuing Institutional Licensure, Program Accreditation, and Institutional Accreditation. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Higher Education and Scientific Research, 2025, Art. 6-11, 18) 2. The Competent Local Authorities in each Emirate, which are responsible for issuing Local Permits for higher education institutions in free zones and coordinating with the Ministry. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Higher Education and Scientific Research, 2025, Art. 14) 3. The Cabinet, which is responsible for issuing the National Frameworks regulating higher education and technical/vocational education. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Higher Education and Scientific Research, 2025, Art. 5)
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
The law does not specify any penalties for non-compliance. It states that the "Regulations of Violations, Penalties, and Administrative Measures" will be issued pursuant to Article 20, but the details of those penalties are not provided in the source text. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Higher Education and Scientific Research, 2025, Art. 20, 22)
What fees, charges, or financial provisions are specified?
The law does not specify any fees, charges, or financial provisions. Article 26 states that "Fees" will be determined, but the source text does not provide any details about the amounts or types of fees. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Higher Education and Scientific Research, 2025, Art. 26)
What exemptions or exceptions apply?
The law states that the Cabinet may, upon the proposal of the Minister and approval of the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council, exempt any higher education institution or technical/vocational institution from some or all of the provisions of this law. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Higher Education and Scientific Research, 2025, Art. 3)
How are disputes resolved under this law?
The law provides for a grievance mechanism, stating that "Grievances" will be regulated, but it does not specify the details of the dispute resolution process. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Higher Education and Scientific Research, 2025, Art. 21)
What are the key deadlines and time limits?
The law specifies the following key deadlines and time limits: 1. The Ministry may grant a higher education institution an additional 90 days after the expiry of its Institutional Licensure to provide data for the renewal evaluation. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Higher Education and Scientific Research, 2025, Art. 7) 2. The term of Institutional Licensure shall be determined by a resolution of the Minister. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Higher Education and Scientific Research, 2025, Art. 7)
How does this law interact with other UAE legislation?
The law references the following related UAE legislation: 1. Federal Law No. (1) of 1972 Regarding the Competences of Ministries and the Powers of Ministers, as amended 2. Federal Decree by Law No. (48) of 2021 Regarding Higher Education 3. Federal Decree by Law No. (42) of 2024 Regarding the Establishment and Regulation of the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Higher Education and Scientific Research, 2025, Preamble)
When did this law come into effect?
This Federal Decree-Law regarding Higher Education and Scientific Research was issued on 01 October 2025 and came into effect on 01 January 2026. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Higher Education and Scientific Research, 2025, Issued Date, Effective Date)
Source Documents
This article analyses Federal Decree by Law Regarding Higher Education and Scientific Research for legal research and educational purposes. For the purpose of interpretation and application, reference must be made to the original Arabic text. In case of conflict, the Arabic text prevails. This does not constitute legal advice.