The UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has granted automatic recognition to 41 universities under its initiative for academic and professional qualifications. As of mid-August, 20,536 certificates have been automatically recognised, with graduates at participating institutions receiving their qualifications digitally without manual submission.
How the Automatic Recognition System Works
Under the scheme, partner institutions electronically transmit certificates, academic transcripts, and related data directly to the Ministry's systems. The Ministry verifies the documents, completes recognition procedures, and sends them back electronically to the institution and the student's digital wallet. Graduates can access their recognised documents through university portals or the UAE's unified digital identity platform, which also provides tools for verifying qualification authenticity.
The Ministry held two separate meetings as part of its expansion effort. The first brought together the 41 institutions already using the service to review progress. The second gathered 45 higher education institutions planning to join the initiative. Electronic integration is currently being finalised with 18 universities ahead of their formal enrolment.
Ministry's Push for Expansion
Abdul Wahab Abdullah Al Jamhi, Director of the Higher Education Qualifications Recognition Services Department, said the initiative moves graduates away from paper-based, manual processes towards a fully digital and proactive service. He noted that the Ministry is continuing to work with institutions to complete their enrolment and monitor the performance of integrations already in place, aiming to speed up graduates' access to recognised qualifications and strengthen their readiness to enter the job market.
According to Gulf News, Al Jamhi praised the institutions that have already joined, describing their cooperation as central to building a credible national model for proactive digital government services. He called on remaining higher education institutions to join without delay.
Links to Employment Through Nafis
Beyond recognition, the initiative has had a direct impact on employment. More than 9,837 UAE nationals have been connected to job opportunities through the automatic creation of a Nafis file linked to their recognised qualifications, reducing the steps they need to take before accessing employment pathways.
The process of joining the programme involves receiving technical requirements and documentation from the Ministry, attending preparatory meetings, completing registration, and undergoing technical testing before going live. The integration method differs depending on whether an institution is federal, local, or private, to account for the different systems each category uses.
Data Security and Future Steps
The meetings also covered data security, the technical requirements for integration, and the steps institutions must follow during testing and launch. The Ministry said it will continue monitoring service performance in coordination with partner institutions to reduce paperwork, cut processing times, and deliver a more efficient experience for students and graduates.
