Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates continue to dominate the Times Higher Education Arab University Rankings, consolidating their position as regional higher education powerhouses. Together, the two countries account for 16 of the top 20 institutions in the 2026 table — an increase from nine last year.
Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) retains the number one position for the third consecutive year, followed by the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM). Qatar University remains the only institution outside Saudi Arabia and the UAE in the top three. Other strong performers include Khalifa University and United Arab Emirates University, while Abu Dhabi University rises into the top 10.
This year’s rankings use a revised methodology aligned with the global World University Rankings, making year-to-year comparisons challenging. However, the scale of regional participation continues to expand. Iraq now has 57 ranked universities, up from 45 last year and just 16 in 2021. Egypt follows with 47 institutions, while Algeria has 42.
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