The UAE’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has urged people to obtain and verify academic credentials through legitimate channels after courts convicted several defendants in qualification forgery cases.

According to the ministry, sentences in these cases ranged up to three years in prison, and fines reached Dh30,000. The figures reflect penalties handed down in the reported cases.

The ministry said checking the authenticity of qualifications issued by higher education institutions remains a priority. It warned that it would refer suspected criminal conduct uncovered during verification to the appropriate authorities for legal action.

Despite the convictions, the ministry described academic qualification forgery as rare in the UAE. The cases detected represent a very small proportion of the credentials it reviews and processes each year.

Its message to the public was clear: use legitimate routes to secure and authenticate qualifications. The ministry stressed that it would not tolerate practices that damage confidence in academic credentials.