Abu Dhabi, UAE – Abu Dhabi University achieved a notable achievement in the Times Higher Education Ranking of Arab Universities for the year 2026.
It advanced seven places to rank seventh among 268 educational institutions representing 18 countries in the Arab region.
Abu Dhabi University, in the UAE, ranked among the top three universities, one place ahead of last year.
The university also achieved remarkable success across the classification pillars.
It won first place nationally in the “Education” pillar and second place in the “Scientific Research Environment”.
These results reflect Abu Dhabi University’s continued commitment to academic excellence and consolidate its position as a leading institution in the region.
This highlights its pivotal role in enhancing the status of Emirati higher education on the global stage.
Competition and evaluation criteria have increased this year, with the number of ranked institutions rising from 238 last year to 268 this year.
Despite this increase in participation, Abu Dhabi University continued its progress, confirming its position as a major contributor to the UAE’s knowledge economy and a supporter of the competitive global academic landscape.
The Times Higher Education Ranking of Arab Universities for the year 2026 is the only global ranking that evaluates educational institutions with intensive research activity by performing their pivotal tasks, which are: education, scientific research, knowledge transfer, and international vision, which provides a comprehensive view of performance and impact.
This year saw an improvement in Abu Dhabi University’s ranking across four out of five pillars.
This highlights its comprehensive approach to providing high-quality education, promoting innovation, and encouraging scientific research.
Abu Dhabi University’s successive successes in the Times Higher Education rankings embody its commitment to preparing future generations of leaders and professionals.
In addition to strengthening its mission of providing high-quality education that enjoys global recognition and is consistent with the UAE’s vision towards a knowledge-based economy.


