The Cabinet Resolution No. (1) of 2025 establishes annual fees of 100,000 dirhams for the first licence of private universities and branches of foreign institutions with 50,000 dirhams set for each additional licence or extension. Public universities, technical colleges and TVET institutions face charges of 50,000 dirhams for the initial annual licence according to the resolution published on the official UAE legislation portal. One-time fees for establishing a new higher education institution reach 100,000 dirhams while new branches and TVET facilities are set at 50,000 or 25,000 dirhams depending on the category.
Curriculum review and licensing under the resolution costs 10,000 dirhams per programme for higher education institutions with technical colleges, TVET providers and professional training centres charged at 5,000 dirhams. Scientific research centres follow a parallel structure with 50,000 dirhams for the first annual licence and 25,000 dirhams for additional ones or extensions. Programme reviews for research centres are priced at 5,000 dirhams while branches incur 2,500 dirhams.
Administrative services carry separate charges with licence issuance at 1,000 dirhams and certificates at 500 dirhams, the resolution reported. Document copies and official letters are listed at 200 dirhams each while stamps, manuals and schedules fall to 100 dirhams. The framework also addresses administrative fines although specific penalty amounts were outlined in accompanying regulations.
MoHESR figures from May 2026 show the ministry reviewed 1,976 educational advertisements and conducted 72 inspection visits during that period. Officials issued warnings for unaccredited programmes, closed one training centre and blocked non-compliant advertisements as part of enforcement efforts. These actions reflect the regulatory scope that the new fee resolution is intended to resource.
The resolution took effect on June 27, 2025, following its publication in Official Gazette No. 802 on June 26. It applies to all licensing, review and administrative processes handled by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Institutions can consult the full text through the UAE legislation website for compliance guidance.
Qualification recognition services remain distinct with fees of 100 dirhams for bachelor degrees, 150 dirhams for masters and 200 dirhams for doctorates according to ministry data. These charges support individual certificate evaluations separate from institutional licensing. The combined fee system forms part of ongoing updates that have included new scholarship rules and governance standards issued throughout 2026.
