UAE Degree Recognition: How to Get a Foreign Qualification Recognised
If you earned a university degree outside the UAE, you need a Qualification Recognition Report from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR) before you can use it for work, further study or certain visa applications. The process has two stages: verification by an approved partner, then recognition by the ministry. It is separate from document attestation.
Stage 1: Verification by a Partner
You choose an accredited partner, QuadraBay, DataFlow or VFS Global, and sign in with UAE PASS or your Emirates ID. The partner contacts your university to confirm the degree and issues a verification report with a reference number. Emirati scholarship students can submit a letter from their sponsoring institution instead.
Stage 2: Recognition by the Ministry
Log in to the ministry’s online portal with UAE PASS, enter the reference number and your date of birth, check your details and pay the recognition fee. You receive an email with the result, either Recognised or Not Recognised, and can download the report from your account.
Documents You Need
- The partner’s qualification verification report.
- Your graduation certificate, original or an official equivalent from the university.
- A certified legal translation of any document not in Arabic or English.
- For a bachelor’s degree or diploma, a signed and stamped transcript covering the full study period.
- For a research-based postgraduate degree, a thesis abstract.
| Qualification | Recognition fee |
|---|---|
| Diploma or bachelor’s | AED 100 |
| Postgraduate diploma or master’s | AED 150 |
| Doctorate | AED 200 |
The partner’s verification fee is separate and varies by case. Allow about 18 working days in total: around 15 for verification and 3 for issuing the report. The university must have been accredited by the official authority in the country of study when you enrolled, and incomplete applications are returned, with 30 business days to respond before the case is closed.
If you also need documents attested for UAE use, see MOFA attestation fees and steps and digital attestation.
