The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research continues to expand the Automatic Recognition of Academic and Professional Qualifications initiative for qualifications issued by higher education institutions in the UAE. The initiative has achieved significant success, with 41 universities currently benefiting from the service and 20,536 qualifications automatically recognised as of mid-August 2026.
The Automatic Recognition initiative is a key example of digital transformation and the UAE Government’s Zero Bureaucracy approach, underpinned by digital integration. It enables graduates of participating institutions to have their qualifications recognised automatically upon graduation, without the need to submit a separate application. This is made possible through direct electronic integration between the Ministry and higher education institutions.
As part of its efforts to further expand the initiative, the Ministry held a series of coordination meetings with accredited higher education institutions across the UAE. The meetings focused on accelerating the expansion of Automatic Recognition of Academic and Professional Qualifications and transforming the service into a proactive digital experience.
The first meeting brought together 41 institutions currently benefiting from the initiative to review progress and performance. The second meeting targeted 45 higher education institutions preparing to join the initiative, with the aim of strengthening the readiness of the system for wider implementation. Meanwhile, electronic integration is currently being completed with 18 universities, paving the way for their formal participation in the initiative.
During the meetings, the Ministry presented the objectives of the initiative and its alignment with the UAE Government’s digital transformation and Zero Bureaucracy priorities. Discussions also covered the role of higher education institutions in implementing the initiative, as well as the technical requirements for electronic integration, registration and access procedures, testing and launch processes. These measures are designed to ensure the secure and seamless transfer of data and documents between institutions and the Ministry.
Abdulwahab Abdullah Al Jamhi, Director of the Higher Education Qualifications Recognition Services Department, said: “The Automatic Recognition of Academic Qualifications initiative is contributing to a simpler and more efficient experience for graduates by moving from traditional processes based on application submission and manual review to a proactive digital service built on direct integration with higher education institutions. We continue to work closely with institutions to complete their participation in the initiative and monitor the performance of existing integrations. This will accelerate the recognition of graduates’ qualifications, enhance the integration and reliability of data, and strengthen graduates’ readiness to enter the labour market.”
Al Jamhi commended the pivotal role played by institutions that have joined the Automatic Recognition service, noting that their cooperation has helped transform the initiative into a successful national model for delivering proactive digital government services. He called on other higher education institutions to take advantage of this important initiative and accelerate the completion of the requirements for joining it, ultimately making the graduate journey faster and more seamless.
Under the initiative, participating institutions electronically transmit graduates’ certificates, transcripts, and related data to the Ministry’s systems. The information is then verified and the recognition process completed, after which the recognised documents are returned electronically to the institution and added to the student’s digital wallet. The service also provides digital access to qualifications through channels including university portals and the UAE Pass, while offering secure mechanisms for verifying the authenticity of qualifications.
The Automatic Recognition initiative has also supported the employment of more than 9,837 Emirati graduates by automatically creating Nafis profiles for beneficiaries whose qualifications have been recognised, helping accelerate their readiness to access employment opportunities.
The process for institutions to join the initiative includes providing the required technical documentation and implementation timelines, holding preliminary meetings to clarify roles and responsibilities, completing registration and integration procedures, providing training and technical support, and conducting the necessary tests before moving to full operation. Integration arrangements vary depending on the type of institution—federal, local, or private—to accommodate the approved channels and systems applicable to each category.
The Ministry continues to monitor the performance and utilisation of the service in coordination with higher education institutions. This supports faster processing, reduces the procedures, documents, and visits required, and provides students and institutions with a more efficient digital experience, in line with the UAE’s objectives for digital transformation and Zero Bureaucracy.
8/18/2026