Accreditation Agencies and Other National Bodies in UAE

Accreditation is a validation procedure in which higher education institutions are evaluated. Following are the accrediting authorities and other national bodies in the UAE:

The Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) under the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research is the federal government’s quality assurance authority that is responsible for the accreditation of the institutions of higher learning and degrees in the UAE. Through licensure of higher education institutions, and accreditation of individual academic programmes, the CAA attempts to assure high quality education, accordant with international norms.

The Ministry of Education is responsible for the administration of education in the UAE. It develops the educational policies and plans. The Ministry of Education administers and oversees the adult education programmes, general education, and literacy. 

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research was set up in 1992 Federal Law No. (4). It administers  the higher education in the UAE, licenses and accredits the programmes of private higher education institutions; develops general policy for academic aid and scholarships; and coordinating between the higher education institutions and scientific research bodies; and additionally coordinate with the private agencies and ministries for education, scientific research and to assure overall developmental objectives.

The NAPO was set up in 1996 to make better the transition from secondary to higher education.  The National Admission and Placement Office (NAPO) is in charge for processing the applications for admission of pupils who wish to either receive a scholarship to study abroad or attend a federal higher education institution in the UAE, i.e. the United Arab Emirates University, the Higher Colleges of Technology and Zayed University.  Pupils who apply through NAPO must sit for the Common Educational Proficiency Assessment (CEPA). 

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is a regulatory authority in the government of Dubai that is in charge for the development, management and quality of private education and learning  and institutes in Dubai. 

The National Institute for Vocational Education (NIVE), set up in 2006 in the UAE, is an independently managed organisation affiliated with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). It focuses on lifting the status of vocational education in the UAE and develop a highly skilled and employable workforce.  

Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) was set up as per the law No. 24 of 2005, issued by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the UAE President, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and the Ruler of Abu Dhabi. The ADEC develops educational institutions and plans that improve education in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, execute advanced and modern educational policies, and help educational institutions and staff to attain the objectives of national development in conformity with the highest international norms.

The University Quality Assurance International Board (UQAIB) was formed by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) to assure the quality of education at institutions of higher learning in the free zones. All higher education institutions located in Dubai’s Free zones have to go through the UQAIB quality assurance procedure.  

For latest updates see official website of United Arab Emirates Ministry of Education www.moe.gov.ae