The UAE has temporarily closed a training centre, issued fines and referred its managers to prosecutors after inspections uncovered what it described as serious breaches of education rules.
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research took action after the establishment – which has not been revealed – was found to have an unlicensed nursery, to have enrolled students without obtaining the necessary approvals and promoted unaccredited programmes.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHESR) reported additional offences relating to public safety and the employment of unlicensed workers.
The MoHESR noted that the centre was fined and would remain shut until the required licenses were obtained. It did not say in which emirate the centre operates or offer further details on the programmes it runs.
Enforcement action was completed with the support of the Ministry of Education and the Department of Economic Development.
MoHESR is also working with the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority to block the centre’s online accounts and websites used to promote its programmes.
The authority said it was committed to "protecting students, and ensuring all educational and training institutions in the country are properly licensed and accredited".
It said it would continue to conduct inspection campaigns to strengthen supervision of the UAE's higher education institutions and training centres.
MoHESR urged parents and students to verify that educational and training institutions are licensed, with their programmes accredited, before enrolling.
Verification of centres can be made through the ministry's website or by contacting its customer services centre on 800 511.
