Country education guide
United Arab Emirates
Federal policy operates alongside emirate regulators and public, private, and international curricula.
📚 School stages
Grades, stages, and local pathways
KG / curriculum-specific early years
The 2026–27 age guide maps Ministry, British, French, and other international-curriculum entry labels.
Cycle 1 / curriculum-specific primary grades
Transfer placement uses the last successfully completed grade and approved equivalency procedures.
Cycle 2 / curriculum-specific middle grades
The responsible regulator depends on emirate, school, and curriculum.
Cycle 3 / Grade 12 / international qualification
Ministry and foreign-curriculum schools have different pathways; Grade 12 certificates may require equivalency.
Vocational / higher education
Institutions and recognition services apply programme-specific qualification rules.
📝 Examinations and qualifications
Selectable records for United Arab Emirates
Each record links to the authority that publishes its current rules.
Grade 12 certificate and equivalency pathway
The UAE combines national Cycle 3 pathways with formal services for transfer and equivalency of Grade 12 and international certificates.
- Completion or score rule
- Required subjects, documents, attestations, and equivalency decisions depend on the curriculum, certificate, issuing country, and current service rules.
- Where it applies
- United Arab Emirates federal and emirate-level education authorities
🔗 Official source library