The UAE has taken a keen interest in the education sector. Nonetheless, they have set themselves to take the lead in professional excellence and educational activities.
UAE is home to top-tier universities, well-reputed colleges, and outstanding international and national schools. This is supported by a robust legal framework and strict labor regulations. UAE makes sure that every professional operates inside with an authentic qualification.
There have been reported cases where forged university degrees were involved. It continues to surface and raises some serious questions on institutions and authorities of the UAE.
Therefore, the government of UAE has declared academic forgery as a very serious criminal offense. This grave offense can result in severe penalties. The UAE has imposed harsher punitive measures to preserve the integrity of the educational standard and the labor force in the educational sector. Lawyers in Dubai and established law firms in Dubai play an instrumental role in enforcement practices in the UAE. The legal professionals and attorneys in Dubai can offer guidance and legal recourse for individuals and institutions. They also make efforts to ensure compliance to avoid any penalties.
Understanding University Degree Forgery in UAE
Degree forgery refers to the act of falsifying educational documents. It is done to claim a qualification or degree that is not rightfully gained or earned. For instance, fake degrees from non-existent educational institutions, altered or morphed genuine papers, misuse of honor degrees to seek work, and counterfeit certificates purchased online. Under the UAE penal code, article no. 216, the forgery of official documents is declared as a criminal offense. It is not only unethical and unprofessional but also a serious criminal action.
Besides, article 217 also specifies that anyone who is found guilty of forging documents intentionally will face serious legal consequences. It could lead to a jail imprisonment of up to 10 years. This depends upon the severity and intent of the offense. In addition, foreigners or expatriates who are found guilty may also face legal consequences like deportation, travel bans, and employment bans. This highlights the intensity of the crime. Besides, it is extremely risky for them to work or be job seekers in the UAE.
The legal consequences of Degree Forgery in UAE:
Degree forgery can result in various punishments and penalties in the UAE for academic documents. It can lead to up to 10 years of jail imprisonment where public documents are involved. Besides, it also leads to heavy fines that range from AED 100,000 that can go up to AED 500,000.
It can also result in the deportation of foreigners and expatriates. Numerous non-citizens of the UAE have faced deportation. An employment ban is imposed by the government of UAE. This may restrict the individuals from future job opportunities within the Emirates.
Additionally, civil lawsuits may be imposed that allow employers to seek damages from the workers. Here the lawyers in Dubai can be useful and handy. They can assist in preparing sound defense strategies. It also allows for mitigating potential penalties.
Enforcement of Law in UAE:
All the emirates, especially Dubai are very active in taking proactive steps to identify the degree of forgery in UAE. Furthermore, it helps in identifying and penalizing university degree forgery in the UAE. Furthermore, for enforcement, the authorities may verify the educational degrees, certifications, and diplomas via universities, educational institutions, and embassies. It is compulsory that all the foreign degrees and certificates are attested.
The background is also scrutinized by the recruitment agencies in the UAE to authenticate the degrees and certificates. Besides, whistleblower hotlines are established all around the UAE. This helps in reporting fraud, degree forgery, and other suspicious activities in the Emirates.
Mainly, the enforcement is carried out the professional departments like police, law enforcement agencies, immigration authorities, and labor ministries’ in UAE.
The key Role of Human Resource HR Departments in UAE:
The employers and HR departments have a prominent role in UAE-based companies. They have the ethical and legal obligation to verify the employee’s credentials before hiring the worker or employee. Moreover, they are responsible for conducting the background checks regarding the academic institutions and university degrees.
Additionally, they are also responsible for ensuring the degree attestation from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Any suspicions of forgeries are directly reported to the concerned authorities. Any failure to comply with this will also lead to legal liability for the company.
Seek Professional Guidance:
Any person who is found innocent of intent must seek legal representation from attorneys in Dubai. They will assist in seeking compensation in monetary terms. They help in recovering from reputational damages. The lawyers in Dubai understand the UAE laws and will use them to build a solid defense. They will also prepare documentation and prosecution arguments depending on the case and its severity.
