The United Arab Emirates has been recognised as the most improved higher education system in the Arab region, according to the QS World University Rankings: Arab Region 2026, released on Thursday.
The UAE achieved a remarkable performance this year, with 15 universities featured in the rankings — nine improving their positions, one maintaining its rank, and four dropping. The University of Fujairah entered the rankings for the first time, debuting in the 151–160 band.
The UAE, alongside Saudi Arabia, continues to shape the region’s academic landscape. Both nations have three universities in the top 10 and six in the top 20, outperforming every other Arab country.
Khalifa University achieved its highest-ever ranking, climbing one place to third, driven by stronger academic and employer reputation scores. The United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) maintained its fifth position, while the American University of Sharjah (AUS) advanced to ninth place.
The University of Sharjah made a notable leap, entering the top 20 for the first time at 14th place, reflecting the UAE’s expanding higher education excellence.
Dr. Ashwin Fernandes, QS Executive Director for the AMESA region, highlighted the UAE’s rising global stature in higher education.
“This year’s Arab Region Rankings are our most extensive to date and serve as a valuable tool for students and policymakers. The UAE and Saudi Arabia continue to dominate, setting new benchmarks for excellence in higher education,” he said.
Dr. Fernandes added that the UAE leads the region in internationalisation, with Al Ain University and The British University in Dubai ranking among the Arab world’s most international institutions.
According to QS data, the number of international students in the UAE is projected to reach 120,000 by the end of the decade, underlining the country’s growing appeal as a global study destination.
The UAE recorded the highest overall system-wide improvement among Arab nations, posting a 33 per cent progress rate. The country’s strongest gains came in employer reputation, web impact, and the international student ratio.
In QS’s internationalisation metrics, nine of the region’s top 10 universities for international faculty are based in the UAE, while seven Emirati institutions feature among the top 10 for international students.
The top UAE universities in this year’s rankings include:
| 2026 Rank | 2025 Rank | Institution | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | KFUPM | Saudi Arabia |
| 2 | 2 | Qatar University | Qatar |
| 3 | 4 | Khalifa University | United Arab Emirates |
| 4 | 3 | King Saud University | Saudi Arabia |
| 5 | 5 | United Arab Emirates University | United Arab Emirates |
| 6 | 6 | American University of Beirut (AUB) | Lebanon |
| 7 | 7 | King Abdulaziz University (KAU) | Saudi Arabia |
| 8 | 8 | Sultan Qaboos University | Oman |
| 9 | 10 | American University of Sharjah | United Arab Emirates |
| 10 | 9 | University of Jordan | Jordan |
| 11 | 12 | Abu Dhabi University | United Arab Emirates |
| 12 | 17 | Ajman University | United Arab Emirates |
| 13 | 13 | The American University in Cairo | Egypt |
| 14 | 22 | University of Sharjah | United Arab Emirates |
| 15 | 14 | Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (IAU) | Saudi Arabia |
| 16 | 16 | Jordan University of Science & Technology | Jordan |
| 17 | 11 | King Khalid University | Saudi Arabia |
| 18 | 15 | Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University | Saudi Arabia |
| 19 | 23 | American University of the Middle East | Kuwait |
| 20 | 21 | Cairo University | Egypt |
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