UAE launches unified licensing framework for universities and colleges

The UAE has introduced a unified national framework to regulate the licensing of universities and colleges, approved by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The framework, issued under the Federal Decree-Law on Higher Education and Scientific Research, establishes a single national reference for licensing higher education institutions (HEIs) and aims to ensure compliance with national standards while respecting the mandates of local authorities responsible for regulating institutions in their respective jurisdictions.

A key feature is the introduction of a data-driven monitoring system through electronic integration between higher education institutions and national records maintained by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR). The system will provide regulators with accurate, up-to-date information to support evidence-based oversight while ensuring coordination with local authorities overseeing institutions in free zones.

The framework sets out comprehensive regulatory requirements covering every stage of institutional licensing, including provisions for establishing new institutions, risk assessment and compliance mechanisms, sustainability requirements, and licence renewals for existing institutions. It also defines governance and ownership structures, clarifying the roles of owners, executive management and academic leadership while requiring a clear separation between ownership, administration and academic decision-making.

The framework introduces financial and operational sustainability requirements, including financial guarantees, audited financial statements, student protection measures and academic continuity plans to safeguard institutions under different operational scenarios.