Nepal’s government has launched a sweeping crackdown on unaccredited colleges and universities in the United Arab Emirates, halting the issuance of no objection certificates (NOCs) for institutions accused of deceiving Nepali students with misleading accreditation claims, false marketing and undelivered academic promises. The move comes after a wave of testimonies from affected students who say they were lured into expensive academic programmes that turned out to be fraudulent or unrecognised by UAE authorities. According to Birendra Jung Thapa, chief of the NOC department, NOCs are now being issued only after rigorous screening, marking the strictest oversight Nepal has ever enforced for UAE-bound students. The decision follows major complaints submitted to both the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as police reports filed against consultancies operating in Nepal.
At the heart of the issue is a troubling pattern: dozens of Nepali students report being recruited into institutions located in UAE “free zones”—special economic areas in Dubai, Ajman and Sharjah. These zones operate under commercial rules that differ significantly from the UAE mainland, allowing institutions to function without academic oversight from the UAE Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA). Students allege that certain colleges have capitalised on this regulatory gap to authorize themselves as degree-granting universities, despite lacking accreditation. Complaints submitted to Nepal’s foreign ministry, including a detailed letter from the Nepali Consulate General in Dubai, identify 10 to 12 institutions accused of systematically misleading Nepali students.
Many affected students describe a stark contrast between the slick online branding of these institutions and the reality on arrival. Websites and social media pages allegedly showcase “massive infrastructure,” “smart classrooms,” and partnerships with universities in France, the UK and other European nations. But several students report that the colleges they were taken to were nothing more than a few small rooms, lacking the facilities, staff, or degree-granting authority advertised. Others claim that institutions falsely promised transfer opportunities to European universities after one year of study—promises that turned out to be baseless.
Twenty-three-year-old Manish Tiwari, who enrolled in a Bachelor in Hospitality Management (BHM) programme at a Sharjah-based university college in 2023, described being refused entry to the campus and pushed into online classes. When he insisted on attending physical classes, he discovered that the “university” consisted of four rooms. The institution was later listed as unaccredited by the UAE CAA. Similarly, Nepali student Bishwajeet Kumar Yadav enrolled in a PhD programme at British University College International in Ajman—only to learn from official documents that the institution held only a training licence, not degree-granting status. Yadav returned home and has since become a leading voice demanding accountability.
Students report paying between Rs750,000 and Rs1.5 million in consultancy fees alone—excluding visas, flights and living expenses. Many say Nepali consultancies aggressively pushed UAE programmes while promising part-time job opportunities that would cover living and study costs. Once overseas, students quickly discovered that the consultants’ claims were grossly misleading or entirely false. Yadav, who successfully recovered his fees after challenging his consultant, said many others were not so fortunate. Together with other affected students, he has launched the “Scan the Scammers Campaign”, a grassroots movement that is pressuring authorities to hold both consultancies and UAE-based institutions accountable.
Inside the UAE, students are also fighting back. A BHM student at the Central Academy of Management Studies in Sharjah said the administration threatened to cancel his visa when he questioned the authenticity of the programme. That same institution appears on the Dubai Consulate General’s list of non-accredited entities. Students now report coordinating efforts across Nepal and the UAE, emboldened by Nepal’s decision to restrict NOCs and investigate fraudulent institutions. As one Sharjah-based student noted, their confidence to demand refunds has grown because the Nepal government has “finally taken the matter seriously.”
According to Sagar Dhakal, advisor to Nepal’s Education Minister Mahabir Pun, the government is conducting a broader investigation into both institutions and consultancies. Diplomatic channels are also being used to explore whether the UAE can take action against the implicated colleges. Dhakal indicated that further measures will be announced “in a few weeks,” signalling that this crackdown is only the beginning.
CONCLUSION:
Nepal’s bold move to restrict NOCs marks a major turning point in protecting students from opaque and misleading academic operations in UAE free zones. By tightening regulations, investigating consultancies and demanding accountability through diplomatic channels, Nepal is signaling a commitment to safeguarding young people from fraudulent international education schemes. As students continue organising and sharing their experiences, the momentum for reform is growing—pushing both Nepal and the UAE toward greater transparency, stronger oversight and genuine academic integrity.
