UAE reports 88 advertising breaches and 32 corrective plans in education oversight drive
The UAE's Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research is combining AI monitoring with on-site inspections to identify rule breaches at universities, technical and vocational institutions, and training centers. In an update Thursday, it reported checking 3,970 digital advertisements since the start of 2026 and conducting 228 regulatory visits and inspection campaigns through the third quarter.
Mariam Al Mansoori
Advertising checks and penalties
The ministry, known as MoHESR, found violations in 88 of the digital advertisements it reviewed, reporting a compliance rate of about 98%. It said digital monitoring helped contain the circulation of noncompliant ads and address the breaches.
AI and other digital tools also support scrutiny of academic and educational practices. The ministry said it uses those findings alongside field visits and data analysis to direct attention toward priority issues and higher-risk cases.
Misleading advertising carries specific penalties under Cabinet Resolution No. 143 of 2026. Ads that misrepresent an institution, program, qualification or accreditation status are subject to a first-level fine of Dh20,000 per ad. Repeat or more serious cases can bring stronger measures, according to Khaleej Times and the resolution.
An earlier Khaleej Times report detailed the ministry's first-quarter activity: 1,976 digital ads reviewed across 89 higher education institutions and training centers, with 46 found in breach. During that quarter, 72 field inspections uncovered 21 violations, and the ministry closed one training center.
Inspections lead to corrective action
The ministry's Higher Education Oversight and Quality Department said its 228 regulatory visits and inspection campaigns through the end of the third quarter assessed compliance with approved rules and requirements. Those checks resulted in 32 corrective action plans; 84% of the entities concerned have since implemented their plans.
MoHESR described the follow-up as an effort to resolve the underlying causes of violations, rather than stop at identifying them. It said its results in 2025 and 2026 reflect a broader move toward risk prevention, early detection and verification that institutions have made the required corrections, with the aim of improving the quality and competitiveness of UAE higher education.
The ministry applies graduated measures, allowing institutions to correct breaches and bring themselves into compliance. It also takes appropriate action where violations affect educational quality, academic integrity or students' access to learning and training.
Practical training under scrutiny
MoHESR and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation have jointly made nearly 90 field visits since the beginning of 2026 to assess practical training for higher education students. They verified training for 441 students across 90 institutions and companies.
Institutions that received training-related corrective plans took the required steps, the ministry said. The work is intended to improve students' training experiences, uphold approved requirements and protect their rights.
Resolution 143 also addresses "fictitious practical training," according to Khaleej Times. This includes enrolling a student in training that never takes place or does not provide the intended skills. Institutions may be required to refund students and cover the cost of repeating the training.
The legal framework
MoHESR said its oversight work aligns with Cabinet Resolution No. 143 of 2026, which governs violations, penalties and administrative measures related to the ministry's mandates and services. According to its Future of Higher Education Dialogues presentation, the resolution was issued on July 24, 2026, and took effect on September 12.
The ministry's checks examine institutional licensing and program accreditation; the accuracy and transparency of advertising and information supplied to students; educational quality and academic integrity; the reliability of data and records; and completion of corrective measures. The resolution covers licensing, accreditation, data accuracy, oversight and evaluation, academic integrity, practical training and academic advertising. MoHESR said protecting students' and trainees' rights remains a priority.
Depending on the breach and its circumstances, sanctions can include fines of up to Dh500,000 and restrictions affecting an institution's activities, licensing, accreditation or student admissions, Khaleej Times reported.
The ministry identifies Resolution 143 as one of four Cabinet resolutions issued in 2026 to implement Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2025 on Higher Education and Scientific Research. The others are Resolution No. 104 on the National Framework for Licensing Higher Education Institutions, No. 92 on review fees, and No. 103 on fees and financial guarantees.
Self-reporting and challenges to decisions
The rules provide a limited incentive for institutions to disclose problems themselves. According to Khaleej Times, administrative fines will not apply in certain circumstances if an institution reports a deficiency or violation before authorities detect it. That protection requires that the breach did not arise from gross negligence or a deliberate act.
Institutions may also challenge a decision, procedure, penalty or administrative measure by submitting a reasoned written grievance within 60 days of becoming aware of it. The ministry has 60 days to decide the grievance, but filing one does not automatically put the disputed measure on hold, the newspaper reported.
