Bogus degree holders face life ban from UAE

LIFE BAN: The UAE is cracking down on people using fake documentation to get jobs. (Getty Images)

Anyone caught using fake certificates or degrees to get a job in the UAE will be banned for life from working in the Gulf state, UAE daily Khaleej Times reported on Wednesday.

The newspaper said those found guilty would also have their contract cancelled, citing a source at the labour ministry.

The report did not give any other details about the initiative.

The move comes after 68 people in the UAE were blacklisted by the US Department of Justice for purchasing fake high school and college degrees from a “degree mill” based in Washington.

More than 180 people from across the Gulf - out of almost 10,000 people worldwide - were blacklisted for holding fake US academic certificates allegedly bought from non-accredited institutions following an investigation by the justice department.

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fake degree holders and Expat registration
Posted by vaidhee on Friday 7 November 2008 at 02:13 UAE time


I recollect Mr./Ms. Motivated's comment on fake degree. Could anyone explain now how can they be able to register themselves with the fake certificate with a deadline of December 31, 2008. What if they are caught while registering and at the same time they cannot avoid the registration also. This is were being genuine plays a vital role. where are they going to land themselves if everything comes to light.

To Motivated
Posted by vaidhee on Sunday 12 October 2008 at 15:36 UAE time

Dear Motivated,
i dont understand why is your comment is in support of safeguarding those with fake degrees. actually it is not nasty to help law maintain the standards and protect the interest of all who are really educated to those level. there can be numerous cases a genuine person is denied of an opportunity because of this. though i am not a victim of that, i hope that i should not be a victim in the future. this is not only for one, but for all, which includes you and me too and overall for the welfare of the society. Simple, would you go for your health treatments to a person claiming to be a doctor who has done only till the school education. if your answer is yes, am sorry, mine will be different. There is a value for EDUCATION. and duplicates cannot be allowed to override it. Which one is better, a fake PG or a genuine UG.

To vaidhee
Posted by motivated on Wednesday 8 October 2008 at 13:54 UAE time


It doesn't sound like you are an employer vaidhee. Actually it reads that you are just not a very nice person intending on causing someone else harm. I don't agree with false degree's but I do think it is between employee and employer .. and not some external person wishing to just be nasty and get someone else into trouble. Perhaps you should take a moment to look in the mirror and ask what your motivations are for wanting to possible destroy someone's livelihood and harm their family!!

fake degree certificates
Posted by vaidhee, dubai on Tuesday 7 October 2008 at 17:34 UAE time


can someone let everyone know straight where one should complain if they come to know of a person taken a job in uae with a fake degree certificate.

Bachelor's plus MBA in JUST 4 YEARS? Come on...
Posted by bem, Dubai, UAE on Tuesday 7 October 2008 at 13:42 UAE time


I hope the authorities come up with a rigorous system of checks and cross-checks on people's credentials. Often times, since employers are in deep need of talent, they put in less effort to validate an applicant's claims or do a thorough background check. It's also sad to see that many employers look for the 3 big letter (MBA) after a candidate's name without even (1) verifying the authenticity of the degree and (2) without realizing that many of these MBA holders come from a country where Bachelor's plus MBA degrees are earned in JUST 4 YEARS, Bachelor's in JUST 3 YEARS, and Doctor of Medicine in JUST 5 YEARS! Come on, doctor of medicine in 5 years? What are they, quack doctors? Bachelor's plus MBA in 4 YEARS? Yea, right...
You can put all the letters after your name all you like but at the end of the day, your true worth comes out in the quality of work you deliver. Funny enough, many of them hide beneath the cloak of "wagging necks" and no-problem-no-problem acts to further step on their credibility.
May the government devise a system to put a stop to these bogus and "upselling" tendencies of many desperate yet seemingly guilt-free people. In the end, it's the company's loss.

What about the 'real' degrees
Posted by Geoff, Dubai, UAE on Monday 6 October 2008 at 11:43 UAE time


In addition to fake degrees there is another problem - I know teachers in this region that are put under considerable pressure to pass all of the males students (or lose their jobs). This means the students don't have to aquire the necessary knowledge to earn their degrees and therefore 'earn' a real degree but lack the skills in the real world. Very sad - if you always tie a kid's laces they'll never learn to tie their own!

bogus degree
Posted by vaidhee on Saturday 4 October 2008 at 14:09 UAE time


The article is silent about the place where a report can be made on someone who possess a fake degree certificate.

There are many..with those..
Posted by Kaptain Mirza, Dubai, UAE on Thursday 2 October 2008 at 11:04 UAE time


There are many with those makeshift college labels but no investigation is done.

It wasn't those 68 only roaming in the UAE. Many are coming in from the Eastern side as well, where talent is much boasted about above the surface through 'their' controlled media; dig in deeper and it's nothing but just glamourous labels just on paper.

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