Job seekers and employers across the UAE are being put on notice: forging an academic qualification is no longer a risk worth taking. The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has confirmed that individuals caught fabricating or altering degrees and diplomas could face up to three years behind bars, alongside financial penalties reaching Dh30,000 (roughly $8,170).
The warning comes as the volume of certificate verification requests handled by the ministry has climbed sharply, reflecting both the growing scrutiny applied to academic credentials and the scale of the country’s white-collar workforce.
A Surge in Verification Demand
Figures released by the ministry reveal that 178,600 qualification verification requests were processed throughout the whole of 2025. Remarkably, that number had already climbed to 253,000 by the start of September 2026 — a sign of just how central credential-checking has become to hiring practices across both the public and private sectors.
Ahmed Al Hammadi, director of the ministry’s legal affairs department, said protecting the integrity of academic qualifications — whether issued domestically or abroad — remains a top institutional priority. “Any case involving suspected forgery, manipulation or alteration of information contained in academic certificates is handled in accordance with approved legal procedures and referred to the competent judicial authorities whenever there is a suspected criminal offence,” he said.
What the Law Actually Says
The legal basis for prosecution rests on Article 252 of Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, which governs crimes and penalties in the UAE. Under this law, forging an official document can result in a prison sentence of up to ten years, while the forgery of an unofficial document carries a lesser penalty of detention. The ministry’s own enforcement framework — including the Dh30,000 fine and three-year prison term specifically tied to falsified academic credentials — operates alongside this broader legal structure.
Officials were quick to stress that instances of forged qualifications remain relatively limited when measured against the sheer volume of legitimate certificates processed each year. Still, the ministry’s public messaging makes clear that even isolated cases are treated with the full weight of the law, given the potential consequences for public trust, workplace safety and professional standards.
How the System Works
The ministry operates a dedicated monitoring and verification framework designed to authenticate qualifications issued both inside the UAE and by international institutions. This system allows for the early detection of suspicious documents before they reach an employer’s desk, reducing the risk of unqualified individuals entering sensitive roles — particularly in fields like healthcare, engineering, aviation and education, where credential accuracy can carry serious real-world consequences.
To support this effort, the ministry works in close coordination with the Ministry of Justice, the Federal Public Prosecution and local prosecution authorities whenever a suspected case of fraud is identified. This inter-agency cooperation is designed to ensure that flagged cases move swiftly from administrative review to formal legal proceedings when warranted.
A Message to Employers
Beyond the penalties themselves, the ministry has used this announcement to issue a direct appeal to businesses: verify before you hire. Public and private sector employers are being urged to routinely check the authenticity of academic qualifications presented by job candidates, rather than relying solely on the documents themselves.
This guidance reflects a broader shift in the UAE’s labour market, where credential verification has increasingly become a standard part of recruitment due diligence — particularly as the country continues to attract a highly international workforce spanning dozens of nationalities and education systems.
Why It Matters for Residents
For the UAE’s vast expatriate population, many of whom arrive with qualifications earned overseas, the message is equally significant. Genuine degree holders benefit from a system that actively polices fraud, since it protects the value and credibility of legitimate credentials in a competitive job market. At the same time, anyone tempted to embellish or fabricate their academic history now faces a clearly defined — and significant — legal risk.
As verification numbers continue to climb month on month, the ministry’s crackdown signals that credential fraud will remain firmly in the regulatory spotlight for the foreseeable future, reinforcing the UAE’s broader reputation for strict enforcement of professional and academic standards.
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