UAE Degree Equivalency (Recognition): DataFlow and QuadraBay Guide

UAE degree equivalency is the process that gives your university degree from outside the UAE official recognition in the country. If you graduated from a university abroad and plan to work or continue your studies in the UAE, you have probably come across overlapping terms such as “degree equivalency”, “recognition”, “DataFlow” and “QuadraBay”. Many applicants mix these procedures up, paying for services they do not need or submitting incomplete applications. This guide explains the differences, the application steps, the documents, and the timelines, based on the latest official information we could verify.

Equivalency, recognition, and verification: what is the difference?

Degree recognition: The official procedure that confirms your foreign university degree meets national and academic standards. The “University Degree Recognition” system replaced the “University Degree Equivalency” system in June 2023 (Ministry of Education).
Primary Source Verification (PSV): A step before recognition, carried out by approved companies that contact the university or issuing body to confirm the degree is authentic. Verification is not recognition in itself. It is a technical report on which the Ministry bases its decision.
Attestation: A different procedure that certifies the authenticity of signatures and seals at official bodies. It does not mean academic recognition and cannot replace it.
High School equivalency: A separate track for Grade 12 graduates from outside the country or from curricula that do not match the UAE curriculum (official u.ae portal).
Professional licensing: A requirement set by certain regulatory bodies, such as health authorities, which goes beyond academic recognition.

Which authority is responsible? The transfer from equivalency to recognition

On 22 June 2023, the Ministry of Education launched the “University Degree Recognition” system to replace “University Degree Equivalency”. It covers qualifications issued by accredited higher education institutions outside the country. The recognition report is an official reference for employment, further study, visas, or access to government services inside the UAE (official u.ae portal).

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR) is now the authority responsible for recognizing higher education qualifications issued outside the country, after the service was previously provided through the Ministry of Education.

In April 2025, the Ministry issued Ministerial Resolution No. (34) of 2025 on the recognition system for higher education qualifications from outside the country. Its main outcomes, according to the Ministry, are:

The number of documents required for a recognition request was reduced from 14 to 4.
The applicable requirements were reduced by more than 70% compared with before.
Only two unified criteria apply across all disciplines and universities.
The system is linked with sponsoring bodies inside the country so that the qualifications of scholarship students can be recognized automatically.

One of the key conditions for recognition is that all the information in the qualification is accurate, and that the awarding institution is legally established, licensed, and accredited by the accreditation body in the country of study. Some applications may not meet the conditions and be rejected, so always check the official service card at the time you apply (MOHESR service card).

Recognition in two stages

Recognition of a degree issued outside the country takes place in two consecutive stages:

Stage 1: Verify the degree through an approved partner

Before applying for recognition, the degree must be verified through one of the partners approved by the Ministry. The Ministry’s “Request for degree recognition” page lists six partners, and you choose one:

DataFlow: A partner of the Ministry of Higher Education since 2020. Available for applications.
Cleansheet Group (CSG): Provides degree verification and equivalency services internationally. Available for applications.
QuadraBay: A company specialized in verifying the authenticity of certificates. Available for applications.
HelloVerify: A global Primary Source Verification (PSV) platform. Available for applications.
Validate: Coming soon.
VFS Global: Its services are not currently available, and the page advises contacting them directly before taking any step.

The Ministry page explains that the partner may verify the degree in one of two ways: by verifying the primary source with the university, or by verifying a letter confirming the degree’s validity issued by the embassy of the country of study. This letter is different from embassy attestation (MOHESR pre-assessment page).

Stage 2: Submit the recognition request through the Ministry portal

After you receive the verification report from the partner and its reference number, you move to the Ministry portal to complete the recognition request and pay the government fees. After review, the official recognition report is issued.

DataFlow vs QuadraBay: a comparison

Function: Both verify the degree from its issuing source (PSV).
Status with the Ministry: DataFlow is an approved Ministry partner for degree verification. QuadraBay was selected by the Ministry for verifying academic qualifications, experience, and professional qualifications.
Verification fees: Not published on the page we reviewed. They appear during the application.
Letter of Authorization (LoA): Required by DataFlow’s guide. Required by QuadraBay, and signed electronically or downloaded, signed, and uploaded.
How to apply: DataFlow through the DataFlow portal linked to the Ministry. QuadraBay through the Ministry portal using UAE PASS, following the QuadraBay guide.

Required documents

Documents vary by qualification type, country of issue, and track. They usually include: the graduation certificate, the transcript or academic record, a copy of the passport, the Letter of Authorization, a legal translation if the documents are in a language other than Arabic or English, and the verification report or its reference number. If your name on the certificate differs from your current name, you may need a name change document. The authority may also request additional documents during review, so check the list of requirements shown on the official portal when you apply.

Step-by-step: UAE degree equivalency

Step 1: Start the request and choose a verification partner

Start from the service card “Recognition of higher education qualifications issued outside the country” on the Ministry website, and log in with UAE PASS (service card).
Choose the approved partner you want and log in to its portal.
Choose the request type: new request, transfer of a previous report, or status follow-up. Then enter your personal details and the degree details (the QuadraBay guide).
Upload the required documents, mainly the final degree certificate, the full transcript or academic record, and a copy of your passport (DataFlow support centre).
Sign the Letter of Authorization, which allows the partner to contact the issuing institution on your behalf. It can be signed electronically, or downloaded, signed, and uploaded.
Pay the verification fee after reviewing the final amount, and track the request in the partner portal until the verification report and its reference number are issued.

Step 2: Request recognition through the Ministry portal

Log in to the Ministry portal with UAE PASS and choose the service for recognition of higher education qualifications issued outside the country.
Enter the reference number from the approved partner and your date of birth, and your details will be completed automatically.
Review the data, confirm it, then go to the payment gateway and pay the government fees.
Follow the result electronically. The recognition decision is sent by email and can be downloaded from your account on the Ministry portal.

UAE degree equivalency fees

We could not verify the current government fee amounts on the official pages we reviewed, so this article does not state them. The government fees and the approved partner’s fees appear inside the portal during the application, so check them there before you pay.

DataFlow offers an optional assistance service (Applicant Assist) for USD 42, including 5% VAT. This service does not include the primary source verification itself.

The Ministry of Education verification page, last updated in 2019, states that the fee for verifying one university certificate from outside the country was AED 300 plus 5% VAT, and that each additional certificate cost AED 280 plus 5% VAT. These fees do not include Ministry fees. Since the page describes the previous system, treat these figures as historical, not as current prices (DataFlow verification guide).

Legal translation costs for documents not in Arabic or English are additional, and some universities may charge extra fees to verify documents.

Expected timelines for UAE degree equivalency

Verification and review times depend on the country of study, whether the documents are complete, and how quickly the university responds. Check the timeline the partner shows at the time of application, and follow your request through its portal. Timelines can be longer if the verification body asks for additional documents or the university is slow to respond.

The 2019 Ministry of Education page gives DataFlow verification timelines in working days, by country group: 7 to 12 working days for Group A, 15 to 20 working days for Group B, and 20 working days for Group C. These timelines relate to the previous system, so check them when you apply.

Why UAE degree equivalency is delayed or rejected

Incomplete required documents.
Differences in name or personal details between the certificate and other documents.
Delays by the university in responding to the verification request.
The institution not meeting the licensing or accreditation requirements.
Inaccurate information in the certificate or submitted documents.
Need for additional documents or a review of the case under the applicable rules.

To reduce delays, check your certificate details before applying, upload clear documents, and follow up on messages from the verification partner and the Ministry.

Special cases

Distance learning high school certificates and GED

Certificates issued through distance learning, the Open School system, or GED (General Educational Development) certificates from outside the country cannot be recognized, because they do not match the educational system approved in the country.

Scholarship students

The updated system links with sponsoring bodies inside the country so that recognition of higher education qualifications issued outside the country can be issued automatically.

Degrees issued inside the UAE

Qualifications issued by higher education institutions inside the country have their own separate service and do not go through the external partner verification route. Verification is usually based on the QR code on the certificate or transcript, subject to the service requirements. The Ministry lists a processing time of three working days and a fee of AED 50 per document, with the academic record counted as one document. Confirm the current fees and requirements before you apply (MOHESR service page).

Service link: Recognition of qualifications issued inside the country

Health professionals: DataFlow and professional licensing

Do not confuse verification for academic recognition with verification for health licensing. Besides its role in the recognition track, DataFlow verifies documents for health professionals under contracts with health authorities in the country, including the Dubai Health Authority since 2007 and the Abu Dhabi Department of Health. Health professional documents are also reviewed through DataFlow in the professional assessment track of the Ministry of Health and Prevention. If you plan to work in the health sector, check the requirements of the licensing body first.

High school certificate equivalency

Requests for high school certificate equivalency are submitted through the main Ministry of Education offices in Abu Dhabi or Dubai, or electronically through the Ministry’s website (official u.ae portal).

Practical tips before you start UAE degree equivalency

Start attestation early, as it is often the longest step in the file. See our attestation service.
Make sure your name matches across your certificate, passport, and other documents. Small differences can delay the request.
Check the fees on the official portal when you apply, as they may change.
If you plan to work in a regulated profession, ask the licensing body about its additional requirements, since academic recognition does not replace them.

Frequently asked questions about UAE degree equivalency

Are DataFlow or QuadraBay government entities?

No. They are private companies and approved partners of the Ministry for verifying degrees from their source. The final recognition decision is issued only by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

Do I need this process if my degree is from a university inside the UAE?

No. This process applies to qualifications issued by institutions outside the country. Degrees issued inside the UAE have their own separate service.

What is the difference between this process and attestation?

Attestation certifies the authenticity of signatures and seals at official bodies. It does not mean academic recognition of the qualification and cannot replace it.

Can a degree from outside the UAE be recognized?

Yes, provided the applicable requirements are met, including that all the information in the qualification is accurate and that the awarding institution is legally established, licensed, and accredited in the country of study.

Can I apply for recognition from outside the UAE?

Yes. The official service page states that applications for recognition of qualifications issued outside the country can be submitted from abroad, without requiring a UAE residence just to submit the request.

Do I need an embassy letter?

The partner may ask for it instead of verifying directly with the university. The Ministry page says the partner may verify an embassy letter confirming the degree’s validity from the country of study, and that this letter is different from embassy attestation, so neither replaces the other. The partner you choose will tell you which method is available to you.

Is there a way to verify without the approved partners?

Under the current first phase, verification must be done through one of the Ministry’s approved partners. The previous system offered a regular alternative verification route through the Ministry of Education, so check the current service card before you pay.

Conclusion

UAE degree equivalency has become the “University Degree Recognition” system, run by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in two stages: verification of the degree through an approved partner, then a complete online recognition request through the Ministry portal with UAE PASS. Prepare your certificate, transcript, and translations where needed, confirm your university’s accreditation in the country of study, check the final fees at each stage before you pay, and always refer to the official service card for the rules in force when you apply.

If you need help preparing your UAE degree equivalency file or understanding the required documents, you can explore Enjaz services or contact us with your questions.

UAE Degree Equivalency: DataFlow and QuadraBay Guide