The UK Ambassador to UAE, Philip Parham, and the Director General of the UAE’s National Qualifications Authority, Dr Thani Al-Meheiri, both signed (picture below) and published a referencing document that completes Phase 1 of a recognition programme for the UAE and its national qualifications framework.

Alignment of frameworks between the UK and UAE and the ongoing co-operation will build confidence and trust amongst educators, industry and learners within both countries.

The referencing work, done by UK NARIC and UAE’s NQA working jointly, and facilitated and supported by the British Council, will help ensure international comparability for UAE’s national qualifications.

The UK will be the first country to have its national qualifications framework referenced to UAE’s framework, the ‘QFEmirates’. This opens up study opportunities and makes skilled migration easier. It paves the way for full mutual recognition of qualifications between the UK and UAE.

The United Arab Emirates has been ranked among the fastest growing economies in the world. Over one million British nationals visit the UAE every year and more than 120,000 British citizens live and work in the country at present. 

The UAE’s National Qualifications Authority, the British Council and UK NARIC have been working collaboratively for the last two years and the publication of the new referencing document represents a key milestone in the implementation of the  memorandum of understanding signed between the UK and UAE in May 2013 to work towards mutual recognition of qualifications and training.