UAE introduces new higher education guidelines and accreditation fee framework

The UAE Ministry of Education has introduced 13 digital guidance requirements to help students transition from school to university for the 2026-2027 academic year. These guidelines establish specific subject and grade requirements linked to various university specializations. For example, medicine and dentistry tracks require a 90% average in mathematics alongside two subjects from chemistry, biology, or physics. Engineering requires an 80% average in both mathematics and physics, while law requires 70% in mathematics.

Separately, the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has approved a new framework for review fees regarding the licensing and accreditation of higher education and vocational institutions. These fees are intended to cover the costs of specialist reviews and assessments for institutional and program accreditation. Dr. Ahmed Al Shuaibi, Undersecretary at the Ministry, stated that the measure aims to modernize the regulatory environment, improve institutional competitiveness, and ensure the sustainability of the higher education system in line with international standards.