What you need it for

Degree equivalency in the UAE

Short answer

UAE degree equivalency is now called qualification recognition. For a higher-education award issued outside the UAE, MoHESR requires verification through an authorised partner before the Ministry issues a recognition decision. This is separate from MoFAIC attestation: attestation confirms signatures and seals, while recognition assesses whether the qualification meets UAE standards.

Responsible authority
Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
First stage
Qualification verification through an authorised partner
Published verification fee
AED 350 on the current service card
Recognition report fee
AED 100–200 by qualification level
Published service time
18 working days; difficult cases can take longer
Every fee sourced to the authority that charges it Total cost shown — embassy, translation and courier included Reviewed 29 August 2026

Start by checking which output the recipient wants

“Equivalency” is often used as a catch-all word, but three different checks can sit behind it. MoFAIC attestation confirms the official signatures and seals in a legalisation chain. Qualification verification checks the degree with the awarding institution. MoHESR recognition decides whether the foreign qualification meets the Ministry’s standards.

Ask the recipient to name the output in writing. If an employer only asks for an attested degree, paying for recognition may be unnecessary. If a regulator asks for a MoHESR recognition report, an attestation stamp alone does not answer that request.

The request saysLikely outputWhere to start
“Attested degree” or “MoFA attestation”Legalisation of signatures and sealsThe country-of-issue chain, then MoFAIC
“Verified qualification”Confirmation from the awarding institutionA partner linked by MoHESR
“Equivalency” or “recognition report”MoHESR qualification recognitionVerification first, then the Ministry application

An attested degree can still be refused recognition

Attestation does not decide whether the university was accredited or whether the programme meets recognition standards. Keep the two decisions separate when budgeting and planning.

How to get an equivalency certificate in the UAE

The current process starts with a Ministry-authorised verification partner. MoHESR lists DataFlow, Quadrabay and VFS Global on its service page. The partner contacts the awarding institution. Once verification finishes, the applicant receives a link to continue to the Ministry’s recognition stage.

The Ministry’s live service card says the general required documents are the original graduation certificate and a clear passport copy. It also reserves the right to request more evidence. That matters more than long generic checklists: the additional request depends on the qualification and whether the institution can verify its record.

Prepare before starting

  • The original graduation certificate or a replacement obtained from the awarding institution
  • A clear passport copy, with any name change explained by supporting evidence
  • Contact details that the university or verification partner can use
  • The written request from the employer, university or regulator stating which output it needs
  • Time for the awarding institution to answer; the published service time is not a guarantee

How much degree equivalency costs

The current Ministry page publishes a two-part price. Verification is AED 350. The recognition report is then AED 100 for a diploma or bachelor’s degree, AED 150 for a postgraduate diploma or master’s degree, and AED 200 for a doctorate. That gives a published total of AED 450–550.

This is not an all-in promise. It excludes any separate attestation chain, replacement university records, translation or other evidence requested for the case. Pay through a partner reached from the Ministry’s page and check the live checkout before confirming.

Indian and Pakistani degrees

MoHESR does not publish a separate recognition service for Indian or Pakistani qualifications. The same two-stage framework applies: verification, then recognition. What changes is the awarding institution and the evidence available to the verification partner.

Avoid pages that promise a nationality-specific shortcut or a guaranteed result. Accreditation status, authenticity and compliance with the recognition standards are assessed for the actual qualification. A familiar university name does not replace verification.

Why applications are delayed or refused

Why these applications get rejected

  • The awarding institution does not confirm the record Follow the partner’s request and contact the institution through its official records office. Do not submit altered scans or unofficial transcripts.
  • The institution was not accredited during the period of study Check the accreditation status for the dates you attended, not only the institution’s status today.
  • The name differs between passport and certificate Provide the legal name-change evidence requested rather than editing the certificate.
  • The application is incomplete for 30 working days MoHESR says it may return or discontinue an incomplete request. Answer additional-document requests promptly.
  • The applicant ordered attestation but the recipient requires recognition Return to the recipient’s written requirement and apply for the correct output.

Recognition is likely relevant if…

  • A government entity, regulator, university or employer specifically asks for a MoHESR recognition report
  • The foreign qualification is being assessed for employment, further study, visa or residency requirements
  • You have completed partner verification and received the continuation link

Do not order it automatically if…

  • The recipient asks only for MoFAIC attestation
  • You are relying on a consultant’s generic checklist without confirming the recipient’s requirement
  • The qualification was issued in the UAE and the requested service is the separate automatic-recognition route for UAE institutions

What Easy Attestation does

Easy Attestation is an information and referral website. It is not MoHESR, MoFAIC, a verification partner or the company that performs a referred service. If you submit an enquiry, we may pass the details to an independent provider that appears relevant to the request. You can also use every government link on this page directly without submitting your phone number.

The process, step by step

  1. Confirm that recognition is actually required

    Ask the employer, university, regulator or government entity whether it requires a MoHESR recognition report. Attestation and recognition are different outputs.

  2. Choose a Ministry-authorised verification partner

    The current MoHESR page lists DataFlow, Quadrabay and VFS Global. The partner contacts the awarding institution and produces the verification result used by the Ministry.

    MoHESR-authorised verification partnerAED 350 on the current MoHESR service card

  3. Receive the verification link

    After verification, the partner sends an email with a direct route to the recognition application. Extra evidence may be requested if the awarding institution does not answer or the record is incomplete.

  4. Complete the MoHESR application

    Enter the verification reference and date of birth, review the imported details and pay the recognition-report fee. UAE PASS is used where available; the Ministry also describes passport login for applicants without UAE PASS.

    MoHESRAED 100 diploma/bachelor; AED 150 postgraduate diploma/master; AED 200 doctorate

  5. Download the recognition decision

    The Ministry sends a Recognised or Not Recognised decision by email and makes the report available in the applicant account.

    MoHESR⏱ Published total service time: 18 working days

What it costs

Published qualification verification and recognition fees
ItemPayable toAmount
Qualification verification The live MoHESR service card publishes this amount; partner checkout should still be checked before payment. Authorised verification partner AED 350
Diploma or bachelor recognition report MoHESR AED 100
Postgraduate diploma or master recognition report MoHESR AED 150
Doctorate recognition report MoHESR AED 200
Realistic totalAED 450–550 from the published stages, before translation, replacement records or any separate attestation cost

Figures: MoHESR — Recognition of higher education qualifications issued outside the UAE · Checked 29 August 2026. Government fees change — confirm with the issuing authority before you pay.

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Common questions

Is degree equivalency the same as degree attestation?
No. MoFAIC says attestation confirms signatures and seals; MoHESR qualification recognition evaluates a foreign higher-education qualification against UAE requirements. An attested certificate is not automatically a recognised qualification.
What is an equivalency certificate called now?
The current MoHESR service calls the output a Qualification Recognition Report or recognition decision. Many applicants and employers still search for “equivalency certificate”.
How much does UAE degree equivalency cost?
The current MoHESR service card publishes AED 350 for verification plus AED 100 for diploma or bachelor, AED 150 for postgraduate diploma or master, or AED 200 for doctorate recognition. This produces a published total of AED 450–550 before any separate document costs.
How long does MoHESR degree recognition take?
MoHESR publishes a service time of 18 working days and warns that further review or delayed documents can extend it. Do not plan around 18 days as a guaranteed deadline.
Can I apply from outside the UAE?
The service card says applicants without UAE PASS can log in using passport details. Check the live application before paying because identity and partner workflows can change.
Which companies can verify a degree for MoHESR?
The MoHESR qualification-recognition page currently lists DataFlow, Quadrabay and VFS Global as authorised verification partners. Use the links from the Ministry page rather than an unsolicited payment link.
What documents are required?
The current general list names the original graduation certificate and a clear passport copy. MoHESR and the verification partner may ask for additional documents based on the degree, institution and verification response.
Does an Indian degree need a separate UAE equivalency route?
No nationality-specific recognition service is published. An Indian qualification follows the same verification-and-recognition framework, while the evidence needed to verify it can differ by university and record availability.
Does a Pakistani degree need a separate UAE equivalency route?
No separate Pakistani recognition service is published. The same MoHESR framework applies, but the verification partner may request institution-specific evidence.
Why can a qualification be refused recognition?
MoHESR lists insufficient proof of authenticity, an institution not accepted by the Ministry, lack of accreditation in the country of study, or failure to meet recognition standards among the reasons.
Can a decision be reviewed?
Yes. MoHESR publishes a separate reconsideration service for recognition decisions. Use that official route rather than starting a duplicate application without understanding the reason.

Sources and last review

Reviewed 29 August 2026. Fees and procedures in this area change without notice — always confirm against the authority's own published information before paying. This page is general information, not legal advice.

Next steps

Degree certificate attestation→

See what the attestation chain proves and costs.

MoFAIC attestation→

Understand the final UAE attestation stage.

Verify a MoFAIC attestation→

Check an attestation reference separately from qualification recognition.

Attestation costs→

Keep attestation charges separate from recognition fees.

Request a provider referral→

Send the degree and issuing country for a route check.

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