A certificate from a KHDA-licensed training institute shows that your course was delivered by an institute that Dubai’s education regulator has permitted to train. It is a professional training certificate, not a university degree or diploma. This guide explains what KHDA does, what your certificate is and is not, how to check an institute, and how KHDA attestation works.

What is KHDA?

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is the Dubai government authority that regulates private education in the emirate: private schools, higher education providers and training institutes. A training institute in Dubai needs an Educational Services Permit from KHDA, renewed every year, and must give KHDA the list of courses it offers (KHDA permit guide).

Designers Collective Institute (DCI) holds KHDA Educational Services Permit 630245.

What your training certificate is, and what it is not

A KHDA-licensed training certificate	It is not
Proof that you completed a named course, with its dates, at an institute licensed by KHDA	A bachelor’s or master’s degree
Evidence of practical skills, which you show with your portfolio	A university diploma: training institutes in Dubai cannot award degree programmes or diplomas (British Council summary of KHDA rules)
A document KHDA can attest for an authorised course	A licence to practise a regulated profession

Is a KHDA training certificate recognised?

Recognition depends on who you are showing it to.

• Employers and clients in design mostly judge your portfolio and software skills. A certificate from a licensed institute adds credibility, because it shows the training came from a regulated provider.
• Government or official procedures may ask for the certificate to be attested. KHDA offers attestation of training institute certificates (see below).
• Universities do not treat a short-course certificate as a degree. They do value a strong portfolio, which a portfolio course helps you build.
• Outside the UAE, acceptance is decided by the employer or institution in that country.

How to check that an institute is licensed

1. Open the KHDA training institutes directory.
2. Search for the institute’s name.
3. Check that it is listed and that the course you want is one it offers. Ask the institute for its permit number; DCI’s is 630245.

KHDA attestation of training certificates

KHDA has an e-service for attesting certificates issued by private training institutes in Dubai (KHDA service page). According to KHDA:

• The request is made by the training institute, for trainees registered on an authorised course.
• The institute provides the course name, start date and end date.
• The fee is AED 70, and the attested certificate is issued once the fee is paid.

If you need your DCI certificate attested, ask us when you enrol or when you finish your course.

Frequently asked questions

Is a KHDA certificate the same as a degree?

No. It is a training certificate for a professional course. Degrees are awarded by universities, not by training institutes.

Can I get my training certificate attested by KHDA?

Yes, for authorised courses at private training institutes in Dubai. The institute submits the request through KHDA’s e-service, and KHDA’s fee is AED 70.

How do I know an institute is KHDA licensed?

Search for it in the KHDA training institutes directory and ask for its Educational Services Permit number.

Is DCI licensed by KHDA?

Yes. Designers Collective Institute holds KHDA Educational Services Permit 630245. See our accreditation page.

Will employers accept my certificate?

In design, employers mainly look at your portfolio and software skills; a certificate from a licensed institute supports them. Some employers or roles ask for a degree, so check the requirements of the jobs you want.

Courses at DCI

Explore our interior design, fashion design, architecture and AutoCAD courses, or read how much an interior design course costs in Dubai. Call or WhatsApp 055 578 2280.