To ensure clarity and consistency in recognizing academic qualifications, the Ministry of Education has issued the Academic Certificate Equivalency Guide for private schools licensed in the UAE. The guide outlines the conditions and requirements for students graduating from private schools, both those that follow the Ministry’s curriculum and those that implement international curricula.
The guide is divided into two main categories:
Private schools that follow the Ministry of Education’s curriculum: Students are treated the same as those in public schools and receive the official General Secondary Certificate upon passing Grade 12 exams.
Private schools that follow other international curricula: Students are subject to equivalency conditions that vary depending on the curriculum (e.g., American, British, IB, Canadian, Australian, French).
Key elements include:
General and special conditions for equivalency
Subject and test requirements by system (SAT, IELTS, IB, BTEC, etc.)
Arabic and Islamic Studies regulations
Required documentation and academic pathways for each curriculum
Exemptions for the 2024–2025 cohort in select curricula
This guide is an essential reference for students, parents, school administrators, and university admissions teams.
📘 To review full requirements by curriculum type and academic year, access the full guide here:
🔗 Academic Certificate Equivalency Guide – Private Schools (2024–2025)