Equivalency of Academic Certificates
A foreign degree doesn’t automatically count in the UAE. The Ministry of Education equivalency certificate is what makes it official — and it depends on a step most applicants get wrong.
Why This Certificate Is Requested
Government employment, professional licensing and continuing education applications in the UAE commonly require proof that a foreign degree is recognised as equal to its UAE counterpart. Without it, a genuinely qualified applicant can be turned down on a technicality, not on merit.
What Gets Reviewed
Institution Accreditation
The Ministry checks that your issuing institution is properly accredited in its home country — this is often where applications stall.
Degree Level
Requirements can differ between bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.
Mode of Study
On-campus and distance-learning degrees can be treated differently, depending on the institution’s accreditation status for that mode.
The Step Most People Get Wrong
MOE equivalency is a separate, sequential step after your original degree has already been through MOFA/embassy attestation — not instead of it. Submitting to MOE before attestation is complete is one of the most common, entirely avoidable causes of delay we see, and it’s an easy mistake to make if you’re not familiar with the sequence.
What Hayakom Handles
- Document review and eligibility check before submission
- Attestation coordination (home country and UAE) ahead of the MOE application
- Ministry of Education equivalency submission
- Follow-up through to certificate issuance
- Support for degrees from multiple countries and institutions
How It Works
1. Eligibility Review
We check your degree and documents against MOE requirements.
2. Attestation
We coordinate home-country and UAE attestation if not already complete.
3. MOE Submission
We submit your equivalency application through the Ministry’s portal.
4. Certificate Issued
You receive your equivalency certificate.
Once You Have It
An MOE equivalency certificate is generally a one-time document tied to a specific degree, not something that needs periodic renewal — but keep the original safe, since employers, licensing bodies and institutions will typically ask to see it directly rather than accept a description of it.
Related Services
Questions We Get Asked
What applicants ask before starting the equivalency process.