Certificate of Recognition · MOHESR · DataFlow
Get a degree earned abroad recognised in the UAE
The Certificate of Recognition, what everyone still calls the equivalency certificate, is the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research confirming that a qualification you earned outside the UAE counts here. It comes in two stages: DataFlow verifies the degree with the university that issued it, then MOHESR issues the recognition decision. We prepare and file both, and chase them to an answer.
What it is
A Certificate of Recognition is MOHESR's formal statement that a degree issued outside the UAE is genuine and is equivalent to a UAE qualification at the same level. It was called an equivalency certificate until the Ministry renamed it in 2024, and both names describe the same document. It is issued digitally, as a report you download once the decision is made.
Recognition is decided in two stages, in this order. First the qualification is verified: DataFlow, the Ministry's verification partner, goes back to the awarding university itself to confirm you hold the degree you say you hold. Only then does MOHESR assess the qualification and issue the recognition. There is no way to skip the first stage.
When you need one
Anywhere a UAE body has to treat a foreign degree as a real qualification rather than a piece of paper:
- Federal and local government employment, and most semi-government roles
- Licensed professions, where the regulator asks for a recognised qualification
- Admission to a UAE university for a higher degree
- Visa categories and sponsorship rules that are set by education level
- Employers who ask for it as a condition of an offer or a promotion
Recognition is not attestation. They answer different questions and neither replaces the other. Attestation is the chain of stamps that makes your original certificate admissible here. Recognition is the Ministry's judgement on what that certificate is worth. Many people are asked for both, and if you are, we do them together.
What you need before we start
- The final degree or graduation certificate, original or a legalised copy
- The full academic transcript or mark sheet for a bachelor's degree or diploma; a thesis abstract for a master's or doctorate
- Passport and Emirates ID, and the passport you held while studying if it has changed
- A legal translation of anything not already in English or Arabic
- Clear scans, PDF or JPEG, under 2 MB each, which is what the portals accept
One condition sits underneath all of it: the institution that awarded the qualification has to have been accredited by the competent authority in that country at the time you enrolled. Send us the certificate before you pay for anything and we will tell you whether it clears that bar.
Pricing
Starting fromAED 550per qualification
AED 550 is the starting price for Level 1, the DataFlow verification of one qualification. It is made up of exactly two charges: the AED 370 DataFlow verification charge, and the AED 180 DocuGulf service fee for preparing, submitting and following up your DataFlow application.
Level 2, the MOHESR recognition, is charged separately. MOHESR fees are not included in the AED 550 and are not part of this quotation. If your case goes on to Level 2, we tell you the MOHESR charges, which depend on the degree level, before anything is paid. Attestation of the original certificate, or MOJ-certified translation, is quoted separately if your case needs it.
How this price works. AED 550 covers Level 1 only: the AED 370 DataFlow charge and the AED 180 DocuGulf service fee. It does not include any MOHESR (Level 2) fee. You get the exact figure in writing before any work begins, and it does not change afterwards. If your case needs Level 2 or any other stage, we tell you what it costs before we start, never after. Our assistant does not quote a figure at all: a person prices your case and sends the quotation.
How it works
- 1Send us the certificateYou send the degree and transcript. We check the institution, the level and the route your case takes, and send you the quotation in writing.
- 2Level 1: DataFlow verificationWe submit the qualification for primary-source verification. DataFlow writes to the university itself, which is the part that takes the time.
- 3Level 2: MOHESR applicationWith the verification in hand the recognition application is filed with the Ministry. MOHESR charges for this stage are separate and are not part of the Level 1 quotation.
- 4Your recognition reportMOHESR issues the decision digitally. We send you the report and keep a copy on your file.
FAQ
Is this the same thing as the equivalency certificate?
Yes. MOHESR renamed it in 2024 to Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications, and the document it issues is the Certificate of Recognition. Employers and universities still ask for "equivalency", and they mean this.
Do I have to do DataFlow first?
Yes. Verification is stage one and recognition is stage two, and MOHESR will not assess a qualification it has not had verified. If you have already completed a DataFlow verification for this degree, tell us, we may be able to use it, which brings your quote down.
How long does it take?
Six to ten weeks is normal. DataFlow usually takes around two to five weeks, because it depends on how fast your university answers, and MOHESR's own decision commonly takes several weeks after that. Neither is a queue we can jump, and we would rather tell you that than promise a date we do not control.
My documents are not in English or Arabic.
They need a legal translation before they are submitted. We arrange MOJ-certified translation as part of the same job so the two stages do not stall waiting for each other.
Can you guarantee my degree will be recognised?
No, and nobody honestly can: the decision is MOHESR's. What we can do is read your documents first and tell you plainly where your case stands, including when we think it will not clear, before you spend anything on it.
A note on scope: DocuGulf is a documentation facilitation service. All kinds of work is performed by licensed notaries, translators and approved typing centres. Recognition is granted by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, not by us. Reach us at info@docugulf.com or +971 58 569 3628.
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Send us the certificate and we will tell you which route it takes, what it costs, and how long it should be.
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