The new law enhances quality, governance, and global competitiveness of UAE universities.
UAE Unveils Seven Key Reforms Under New Higher Education Law
Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has outlined seven major reforms introduced under the new Higher Education Law, aimed at strengthening the UAE’s higher education system and boosting its global competitiveness.
The reforms include:
- Establishing a clearer regulatory framework to support confident institutional planning.
- Shifting the focus of quality outcomes toward compliance with procedures.
- Introducing national quality standards and real-time data to ensure transparency and build trust.
- Strengthening partnerships between the Ministry, educational institutions, and local authorities.
- Implementing governance supported by data and performance indicators to guide decision-making.
- Enhancing the use of data and transparency in institutional decisions.
- Aligning with international best practices to boost competitiveness.
The announcement was made during the conclusion of the Ministry’s “Future of Higher Education Dialogues”, a series of sessions designed to explain the practical implications of the Federal Decree-Law on Higher Education and Scientific Research. The initiative forms part of the Ministry’s efforts to strengthen communication with higher education institutions and clarify the operational aspects of the new law.
Three dialogue sessions were conducted under the “Customer Councils” initiative, with the final session held in Abu Dhabi, following earlier meetings in Dubai and Sharjah. The sessions brought together academic leaders from across the UAE to discuss the law’s implementation, answer queries from institutions, and align practices with the Ministry’s strategic objectives.
Focus on quality, excellence, and governance
Ibrahim Fikri, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for the Higher Education Regulation and Governance Sector, said the law is centred on quality and excellence. “It enhances institutions’ ability to adapt to future changes, supports the use of technology and data to improve academic and administrative performance, and establishes an environment of clarity, credibility, and information exchange,” he said.
Fikri highlighted the law’s benefits, including:
- Strengthening governance and addressing regulatory gaps, particularly in free zones.
- Providing a single reference point to reduce conflicting instructions, increase efficiency, and speed up decision-making.
- Reducing risks for students, preventing early marketing of unlicensed programmes, and improving programme quality.
- Enhancing transparency, positive competition, and trust among students, parents, and investors.
- Supporting smoother alignment with international accreditations and labour market needs.
He added that the law will improve compliance levels, regulate coordination with local authorities regarding penalties, and enable faster implementation across all Emirates, reducing overlaps and operational confusion.
National regulatory frameworks
The UAE’s higher education system will operate under five national regulatory frameworks:
- National Framework for Classification, Quality Performance, and Oversight of Higher Education Institutions
- National Framework for Licensing Higher Education Institutions
- National Framework for Technical and Vocational Education and Training
- UAE National Qualifications Framework
- National Framework for Scientific Research in Higher Education Institutions
The dialogues were attended by 400 representatives from higher education and technical and vocational institutions, reviewing the law’s provisions and its role in shifting the system from an input-based model to one focused on quality outcomes, aligning academic programmes with labour market needs and future development requirements.
