Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai has approved a resolution establishing the National Framework for Licensing Higher Education Institutions, setting a unified standard for how universities and colleges are licensed, monitored, and governed across the UAE.
The framework applies to all higher education institutions, including those based in free zones, and is designed to bring greater consistency to a sector that has historically been regulated across multiple overlapping authorities. It sits within the broader Federal Decree-Law on Higher Education and Scientific Research.
“The approval of the National Framework for Licensing Higher Education Institutions by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum reflects the UAE’s commitment to building an integrated licensing system involving the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR), local authorities and higher education institutions. It provides greater clarity and consistency in licensing and oversight, reduces procedural duplication and facilitates access to services,” Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research said in a statement.
On the regulatory side, the framework introduces a data-driven monitoring system built on electronic integration between institutions and national records, supporting what the ministry describes as evidence-based decision-making. It covers the full lifecycle of institutional licensing: initial applications, risk assessment, compliance checks, renewal procedures, and continuity planning.
Governance is also directly addressed. The framework sets out requirements around ownership structures, executive leadership, and academic management, with a clear separation mandated between ownership, operational management, and academic decision-making. Financial sustainability criteria, including audited statements and student protection measures, are also embedded in the provisions.
The move is framed as part of a wider national effort to develop skilled talent for the labour market and strengthen the UAE’s standing as a destination for higher education and scientific research.
