Verifying Certificates in Saudi Arabia 2026: Mu'ahhal, Nataeji, and Foreign Equivalency

Many job applications, university admissions, and government transactions ask for "official verification" of your certificate. In Saudi Arabia this goes through two different services depending on the certificate type, plus a completely separate service if your certificate was issued abroad. This guide explains which one you need and when.

The two core services — and how they differ

Mu'ahhal — for university qualifications

The idea: the Ministry of Education links a unified data repository to every body that issues university certificates (Saudi universities and some accredited bodies). You log in and see what's registered under your name.

What can you do in it?

How to access it

1. Open the Jameah portal (jameah.moe.gov.sa).
2. Select "Mu'ahhal Service" from the services list.
3. Sign in (National SSO or a service account).
4. Your registered qualifications appear — review them for accuracy.

Important note: Mu'ahhal is primarily a personal lookup tool for the certificate holder, not a public verification portal any outside party can enter without an account — unlike Nataeji. If a party (an employer, a university) asks for verification of your university certificate, the safer route is to ask your university's admissions and registration office for an official verification letter sent directly to that party.

Nataeji — for general-education certificates

A separate service for pre-university certificates (secondary school and below):

1. Sign in to Nataeji (nataeji.moe.gov.sa) to issue or reissue your digital certificate.
2. The digital certificate carries a QR code.
3. Any party needing to verify it scans the code or opens the verification link on the Education Portal (edugate.moe.gov.sa/certificate/verify) — no account or login needed.
4. The certificate's validity is shown instantly, with no physical stamp required.

This is the easier path if the certificate to be verified is from the general-education stage (for example, applying to a university abroad with a high-school certificate).

Certificate equivalency — a completely different path

If your certificate was issued outside Saudi Arabia and needs to be recognised as equivalent to a Saudi certificate (for a government job, or for local graduate studies), this is not verification, it's equivalency, and a different body handles it:

• Authority: the University Certificate Equivalency Committee at the Ministry of Education.
• Application system: the University Certificate Equivalency System (eqs.moe.gov.sa) for checking application status; the actual application is submitted through the Safeer 2 portal (safeer2.moe.gov.sa).
• Objecting to a decision: a separate objections system, also reached via eqs.moe.gov.sa.

Note: some unofficial sources attribute certificate equivalency to the Education and Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC) — this is inaccurate. ETEC is responsible for accrediting education programs and national exams (Qudurat, Tahsili); equivalency of individual certificates is the Ministry of Education's direct responsibility through the committee above.

Do you also need diplomatic (Apostille) attestation?

Saudi Arabia joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 2022, which simplifies attesting official documents for member states via a single Apostille stamp instead of the traditional double attestation (Foreign Ministry + embassy). To know whether your destination accepts digital verification alone or requires an Apostille in addition, contact the receiving body in that country directly — requirements vary by purpose (employment, study, immigration) and by country, and there is no single rule that covers every case.

Common mistakes

• Confusing Mu'ahhal with Nataeji: Mu'ahhal is for university certificates, Nataeji for general education. Using the wrong service means not finding your certificate.
• Assuming Mu'ahhal is a public verification portal: it's a personal lookup tied to your account, not a link you share with an outside party the way Nataeji works.
• Confusing verification with equivalency: your Saudi certificate needs "verification," a foreign certificate needs "equivalency" — two different bodies.
• Assuming ETEC handles individual equivalency: its role is accrediting programs and exams, not equating individuals' certificates.

When these systems fall short of your need

• Training certificates (Doroob, Coursera…): not in Mu'ahhal or Nataeji — verify from the issuing platform itself.
• Professional certifications (PMP, CFA): verify from the global issuing body.
• Civil documents (birth certificate, marriage contract): other systems (Civil Affairs via Absher, Najiz).
• Employment contracts and service certificates: via the Qiwa platform, not Mu'ahhal or Nataeji.

Related articles

• Saudi universities unified admission
• Qiwa platform — labour market
• Absher — the complete guide

Sources:

• Jameah portal — Mu'ahhal service — jameah.moe.gov.sa
• Nataeji — nataeji.moe.gov.sa
• Education Portal — certificate verification — edugate.moe.gov.sa
• University Certificate Equivalency System — eqs.moe.gov.sa
• Ministry of Education — moe.gov.sa

See also: How to Know Your Tabby & Tamara Limit 2026