Federal Decree by Law No. (31) of 2025 Regarding Higher Education and Scientific Research

Purpose and legislative background

The law consolidates federal governance of higher education and scientific research around national quality, licensing and accreditation frameworks while coordinating with competent local authorities.

No amendment to the decree-law was identified in the official source reviewed on 31 August 2026. Cabinet Resolution No. (14) of 2026 is a significant related national licensing framework and should be reviewed with current Ministry decisions.

Scope and who it applies to

• Public and private higher-education institutions in the UAE.
• Universities, colleges, institutes, specialised higher-education institutions and international branches within the statutory definition.
• Higher-education institutions in free zones.
• Technical and vocational education and training institutions.
• Owners, operators and persons promoting or offering higher-education programmes/services.

Key definitions

• Important defined terms include Higher Education, Higher Education Institution, Institutional Licensure, Program Accreditation, National Qualifications Framework, national licensing/quality/research/TVET frameworks, Local Permit and Institutional Accreditation for TVET.

Main rights and obligations

• Institutions must obtain institutional licensure before operating or promoting higher-education services.
• Academic programmes must obtain programme accreditation before being offered, advertised, opened to students or commenced.
• Institutions must cooperate with Ministry oversight and provide accurate information.
• Free-zone institutions must satisfy the statutory federal and local-authority interface.
• Existing institutions must rectify their status within the transitional period.

Procedures and compliance

• Obtain required local approvals where applicable.
• Apply to the Ministry for institutional licensure under the national framework.
• Apply separately for programme accreditation before student admission or programme delivery.
• Track renewal dates and submit data for Ministry evaluation within the required period.
• For free-zone institutions, coordinate federal licensure with the competent local authority.

Deadlines and time limits

• Effective date: 1 January 2026.
• Article 7 permits an additional 90-day period in specified circumstances for data needed for institutional-licence renewal.
• Article 11 contains a corresponding 90-day mechanism for programme-accreditation renewal in specified circumstances.
• Article 25 gives existing higher-education and TVET institutions one year from entry into force to rectify status, with possible extension for similar periods.

Enforcement, violations and penalties

['Article 22 provides a verified criminal penalty framework for specified conduct, including unlicensed operation or unaccredited programme activity; the official text states imprisonment up to one year and/or a fine from AED 100,000 to AED 10,000,000 for the listed acts. Administrative penalties may also apply under the Article 20 framework.']

Source distinction: A penalty or enforcement measure stated as part of the legislation must be checked against the enacted article. Administrative details may be supplied by Cabinet, ministry, regulator or judicial-authority instruments. The practical commentary here is not a substitute for those instruments.

Practical scenarios

1. A university branch in a free zone should not treat its free-zone permit as the only approval; it must map Article 14 and Ministry licensing requirements.
2. An institution planning a new degree cannot begin advertising, enrolment or teaching before programme accreditation where Article 10 applies.
3. An existing TVET provider should document its transition plan against Article 25 and current Ministry frameworks.
4. A university using online delivery should align teaching methods, data protection, intellectual-property and quality controls with Article 15 and implementing frameworks.

Amendments and related legislation

No amendment to the decree-law was identified in the official source reviewed on 31 August 2026. Cabinet Resolution No. (14) of 2026 is a significant related national licensing framework and should be reviewed with current Ministry decisions.

Related legislation and official guidance listed in the manifest and research notes should be checked together with the principal law, especially where the principal law delegates detail to an executive regulation, Cabinet resolution, regulator rule or judicial guide.

What businesses and individuals should check

• Institutional licensure and programme accreditation are separate regulatory requirements.
• Free-zone authorisation does not by itself replace the federal institutional-licensing requirements described by the law.
• Institutions should map the 2026 national licensing framework and any current Ministry decisions onto their existing licences/programmes.
• Existing institutions were given a one-year rectification period from 1 January 2026, subject to permissible extension.
• Confirm that the version of the law and implementing instruments being used is current on the date of the transaction or dispute.
• Keep a copy or citation of the official source used for any compliance decision.
• Do not rely on the cover artwork as evidence of official publication or government endorsement.

When legal advice may be useful

Professional interpretation may be useful where the applicable legal regime is disputed, a licence or regulatory perimeter is unclear, a transitional rule affects an existing right or contract, a penalty or enforcement action is possible, or facts span multiple Emirates, free zones or foreign jurisdictions.

Information status

This explanation was researched and checked on 2026-08-31. It provides general legal information and should be re-verified against the official source for any later amendment or implementing decision.