The government acknowledges the challenges Indian Chartered Accountants (CAs) face in gaining professional recognition abroad, including in the UAE. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) makes decisions on professional agreements and has signed Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) with eight global accountancy bodies, though none are currently in effect with professional bodies in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. However, ICAI has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with associations in Kuwait and Qatar for technical cooperation. To facilitate global recognition, the government has supported several initiatives. The UK National Recognition Information Centre (ECCTIS) previously benchmarked ICAI’s final course as equivalent to a master’s degree and the intermediate course to a bachelor’s degree under both UK and UAE frameworks. A new benchmarking exercise is underway to align with the revised 2023 curriculum and the UAE’s qualification framework. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has also recognized the ICAI qualification as a postgraduate degree for Ph.D. admissions. The Government of India and the ICAI have engaged in diplomatic and bilateral consultations with UAE authorities to advocate for the professional recognition of the ICAI qualification.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1824
ANSWERED ON TUESDAY, THE 5th AUGUST 2025
14 SRAVANA, 1947 (SAKA)
RECOGNITION OF INDIAN CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS ABROAD
QUESTION
1824 Shri Vivek K. Tankha:
Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
a. whether Government is aware of the difficulties faced by Indian Chartered Accountants (CAs) in getting professional recognition in countries such as United Arab Emirates (UAE);
b. whether the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has signed any Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) with foreign counterparts, especially with professional bodies in the UAE;
c. the steps taken by the Government in facilitating ICAI to ensure global recognition of Indian CA qualifications, particularly in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region; and
d. whether Government has conducted any diplomatic or bilateral consultations to resolve these issues with the UAE Government?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS.
(SHRI HARSH MALHOTRA)
a. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) takes its decisions on professional considerations. Professional recognition agreements (Memorandum of Understanding, Mutual Recognition Agreement) with foreign professional bodies are entered into on mutual agreement basis.
b. ICAI has entered into Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) with eight premier global accountancy bodies. Though ICAI does not currently have an MRA with professional bodies in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, ICAI had signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) for technical cooperation with the Kuwait Accountants and Auditors Association and the Qatar Financial Centre Authority on November 21, 2019 and June 28, 2021 respectively. The MoU with Qatar Financial Centre Authority is under process for renewal.
c. Several initiatives have been taken to facilitate global recognition of ICAI qualifications. These include benchmarking of ICAI’s qualification by United Kingdom National Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC) (now Education Centre for Career, Training and Information Services (ECCTIS), which assessed the Final Course of ICAI as comparable to a Master’s degree and the Intermediate Course of ICAI to a Bachelor’s degree under both UK and UAE frameworks valid till September, 2024. A fresh benchmarking exercise aligned with the revised 2023 curriculum has been undertaken which includes specific reference to the UAE qualifications framework.
University Grants Commission (UGC) has recognized ICAI qualification as equivalent to a postgraduate degree for admission to Ph.D. Further, ICAI has also continued with institutional engagement and outreach including communication with relevant authorities in the GCC region and Indian diplomatic missions in GCC countries to advocate for recognition of its qualification.
d. The Government of India, through its Economic Affairs Wing of the Indian Mission, along with ICAI Dubai and Abu Dhabi Chapters of ICAI, has actively pursued the matter with the relevant authorities in the UAE for academic equivalence and professional recognition of the ICAI qualification through formal representations and communications.
