DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have warned against the use of forged academic qualifications after courts handed down prison sentences of up to three years and fines of as much as Dh30,000 in cases involving fraudulent educational credentials.
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research said on Monday that it is stepping up efforts to verify the authenticity and integrity of academic qualifications issued by higher education institutions.
According to the ministry, several defendants have already been convicted in cases involving forged qualifications, with penalties including prison terms of up to three years and financial fines reaching Dh30,000.
The ministry said practices that compromise the credibility and integrity of academic qualifications would not be tolerated, warning individuals against obtaining or using fraudulent educational credentials.
Cases in which suspected criminal offences are identified will be referred to the relevant authorities for legal action, the ministry said.
Despite the cases that have been detected, the ministry said academic credential forgery remains isolated and very limited in the UAE compared with the large number of qualifications processed and verified by authorities each year.
The ministry urged members of the public to obtain academic qualifications through legitimate channels and ensure that their credentials are properly verified.
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