UAE universities face fines up to Dh500,000 for deliberately easing student assessments

UAE universities could face regulatory action under Cabinet Resolution No. 143 of 2026 for deliberately designing assessments to make it easier for students to pass. The resolution, effective September 12, introduces a unified violations framework covering academic integrity, examination security, licensing and accreditation, and other regulatory requirements for higher education institutions and technical vocational education and training institutions. Prof Amjad Qandil, Director of the Commission of Academic Accreditation for Higher Education, stated that assessments intentionally designed to pass students constitute a violation under the new framework. Penalties and administrative measures include fines up to Dh500,000, suspension of new student admissions, and measures affecting licensing and accreditation. Other violations include failing to enforce assessment verification processes, making material changes to approved programmes without prior approval, and offering qualifications without national accreditation. The framework emphasises prevention and early compliance, with the goal of protecting students' rights. Academic integrity violations specifically address institutional failures to establish and monitor policies ensuring integrity of examinations and research ethics.