The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) is one of the regulatory bodies for academic institutions in the UAE. It is headed by Nahayan Mubarak Al-Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research.The MOHE was established by Federal Law No. (4) of 1992, to oversee higher education and scientific research policies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

The Ministry is responsible for the general planning of higher education and scientific research in the UAE; licensing private institutions of higher education, accrediting their programs and overseeing them to ensure their quality standards within the context of the master plan of higher education; preparing draft laws for the establishment of federal governmental institutions of higher education and scientific research and; achieving coordination and integration between federal institutions of higher education and scientific research in terms of budgets, fields of specialization and academic degrees awarded by each of them. 

The Ministry is also responsible for coordinating students’ admission policies and the criteria for their placement in the various fields of specialization in the UAE higher education institutions in response to the needs of the community; accrediting foreign bodies and institutions of higher education and equalizing their certificates; laying down the general policy of scholarships and academic aid, and following-up their affairs inside and outside the UAE, taking into account the needs of the community and the specializations provided by the higher education institutions in the UAE and; developing scientific research institutions, transferring technologies in the context of developmental requirements of the community, and coordinating between higher education and scientific research bodies and institutions on the one hand, and public education on the other. 

The Ministry coordinates with other ministries and with both government and private bodies in order to achieve the goals of the overall development, and participates with the ministries and stakeholders in laying down a licensing system for the practice of professions that require high qualifications. The Ministry also performs any other responsibilities entrusted to it pursuant to any laws and regulations.

The Commission for Academic Accreditation(CAA) is a division of the MOHE. The CAA is the Federal Government’s Quality Assurance Agency charged with promoting educational excellence across diverse institutions of higher learning in the UAE. Through licensure of post-secondary educational institutions, and accreditation of individual programs, the Commission strives to assure high quality education, consistent with international standards.

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is one of the regulatory bodies for academic institutions in Dubai. Dr. Abdulla Al Karam is the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of the KHDA.

Under the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE, Ruler of Dubai, Knowledge and Human Development Authority was established by decree 30/2006 to develop all knowledge and human resource sectors in the Emirate of Dubai. The KHDA oversees education, both private and public with the aims to develop the education and human resource sectors and bring them on par with international standards and prevalent best practices, while keeping in mind the requirements of the job market. Licensing of all educational institutes in Dubai (including those located in freezones) is governed by the KHDA.

Keeping in line with the economic and social growth in the region and particularly in Dubai, the authority is established to ensure the continuous development of the education sector and to improve the quality and outcomes of education on all fronts and at all stages. KHDA initiative keeps in mind the current economic and social development and was initiated to create a UAE knowledge economy.www.khda.gov.ae