New Arab University Rankings Show Strength of Higher Education Institutions Across Region

New regional ranking of 125 universities across 14 countries focuses on priorities and missions of universities across the Arab world

July 27, 2021

New regional ranking of 125 universities across 14 countries focuses on priorities and missions of universities across the Arab world
Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz University tops inaugural table with the Kingdom claiming four of the top five positions and five of the top 10
Qatar University claims second place
United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Egypt also claim positions in the top 10
Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Kuwait, Tunisia and Morocco all achieve top 50 positions
Palestine, Iraq and Algeria appear in top 100
Top 10 tables provided for universities based on size, public/private and research output
View the full table online: http://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2021/arab-university-rankings
View the methodology: http://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/arab-university-rankings-2021-methodology

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz University has been named the best in the Arab Region according to Times Higher Education (THE)’s inaugural Arab University Rankings, released today.

Ranking 125 institutions across 14 countries, the new THE Arab University Rankings demonstrate the strength of higher education across the region for the first time based on a unique methodology including new regional measures on reputation and collaboration, as well as the inclusion of metrics related to social impact, reflecting the focuses of Arab universities.

The results see Saudi Arabia claim four of the top five positions, with only Qatar University breaking the Kingdom’s monopoly (2^nd). Five countries are represented in the top 10 as the UAE takes two places through Khalifa University (6^th) and United Arab Emirates University (7^th) while Saudi Arabia’s King Saud University claims eighth place. Lebanon’s American University of Beirut (9^th) and Egypt’s Zewail City of Science and Technology (10^th) complete the contingent at the very top of the table.

University Name	Country	Rank
King Abdulaziz University	Saudi Arabia	1
Qatar University	Qatar	2
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)	Saudi Arabia	3
Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University	Saudi Arabia	4
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals	Saudi Arabia	5
Khalifa University	United Arab Emirates	6
United Arab Emirates University	United Arab Emirates	7
King Saud University	Saudi Arabia	8
American University of Beirut	Lebanon	9
Zewail City of Science and Technology	Egypt	10

ABOVE: Overall Top Ten Universities in the THE Arab University Rankings

Elsewhere in the table, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Kuwait, Tunisia and Morocco are all represented in the top 50 with Palestine, Iraq and Algeria claiming places in the top 100.

Country	University	Rank
Saudi Arabia	King Abdulaziz University	1
Qatar	Qatar University	2
United Arab Emirates	Khalifa University	6
Lebanon	American University of Beirut	9
Egypt	Zewail City of Science and Technology	10
Bahrain	Arabian Gulf University	15
Oman	Sultan Qaboos University	16
Jordan	The University of Jordan	22
Kuwait	American University of the Middle East	=24
Tunisia	University of Tunis El Manar	39
Morocco	University of Marrakech Cadi Ayyad	41
Palestine	An-Najah National University	51-60
Iraq	University of Baghdad	51-60
Iraq	University of Technology, Iraq	51-60
Algeria	Ferhat Abbas Sétif University 1	91-100
	University of Béjaïa	91-100
	Université Frères Mentouri Constantine 1	91-100
	University of Abou Bekr Belkaïd	91-100

ABOVE: Highest Ranked Universities by Country (more than one university given where tied for highest rank)

The new methodology means that the results include 55 ranked universities that do not meet the criteria to be included in THE’s latest globally-recognised World University Rankings, which require institutions to publish a minimum of 1,000 academic papers over a rolling five-year period and teach undergraduates. Three of these newly ranked universities appear in the overall top 10, with Saudi Arabian postgraduate institution King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) finishing highest and ranking third overall.

University Name	Country	Position in overall ranking
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)	Saudi Arabia	3
Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University	Saudi Arabia	4
Zewail City of Science and Technology	Egypt	10
Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST)	Egypt	11
Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University	Saudi Arabia	12
Arabian Gulf University	Bahrain	15
American University of the Middle East	Kuwait	=24
Al Ain University	United Arab Emirates	27
Beirut Arab University	Lebanon	=36
The British University in Egypt	Egypt	38

ABOVE: Ten Highest Ranked Universities in THE Arab University Rankings that do not appear in the latest THE World University Rankings

University performance by size

Universities ranked in the THE Arab University Rankings range in size from less than 500 full-time students to more than 375,000. There are 20 very large universities in the rankings (50,000+ students), with Egypt claiming all of the top 10 places within this segment (topped by Mansoura University – 13^th overall). King Abdulaziz University (1^st) is the best large university (30,000-49,999 students), Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (12^th) tops the list of medium universities (10,000-29,999 students) and Qatar University (2^nd) tops a contingent of 31 small universities.

Public and Private University Performance

100 of the 125 ranked institutions are public universities, with the remaining 25 private. Saudi Arabia’s Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University (4^th overall) is the highest ranked private institution, and is joined in the top 10 by Lebanon’s American University of Beirut (9^th) and Egypt’s Zewail City of Science and Technology (10^th). 14 of the 25 ranked private institutions (56%) appear in the top 50 overall compared to 36 of the 100 ranked public institutions (36%).

University Performance by Research Output

To be ranked in the THE Arab University Rankings, universities must publish a minimum of 500 research papers over a rolling five-year period (2016-2020). The majority of ranked institutions (85 or 68%) have a high research output (1,000+ publications), with nine out of the overall top 10, 17 of the top 20 and 41 of the top 50 meeting this criterion. The remaining 40 universities in the table (32%) have a medium research output (500-999 publications) with Saudi Arabia’s Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University coming highest (4^th), followed by the Kingdom’s Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (12^th) and Bahrain’s Arabian Gulf University (15^th).

Phil Baty, Chief Knowledge Officer at Times Higher Education, commented:

“We’re really excited to be able to launch the new THE Arab University Rankings, allowing more institutions to understand their performance in a regional context that reflects the rich diversity of the sector and accounts for their regional priorities and missions, including a clear commitment to sustainable development.

While Saudi Arabia dominates the top 5, to see five countries represented in the top 10 and 11 in the top 50 is testament to the strength of higher education across the Arab world regardless of a university’s size, status or research output.”

APPENDICES:

Full Ranking Table
Participation by Country
Top 10 Ranked Large and Very Large Universities (30,000+ Students)
Top 10 Ranked Medium Universities (10,000-29,999 Students)
Top 10 Ranked Small Universities (Less than 10,000 Students)
Top 10 Ranked Public Universities
Top 10 Ranked Private Universities
Top 10 Ranked Universities with High Research Output (1,000+ published papers over 5 year period)
Top 10 Ranked Universities with Medium Research Output (500-999 published papers over 5 year period)
About Times Higher Education
About the THE Arab University Rankings
Contact Details

Full Ranking Table

University Name	Country	Rank
King Abdulaziz University	Saudi Arabia	1
Qatar University	Qatar	2
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)	Saudi Arabia	3
Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University	Saudi Arabia	4
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals	Saudi Arabia	5
Khalifa University	United Arab Emirates	6
United Arab Emirates University	United Arab Emirates	7
King Saud University	Saudi Arabia	8
American University of Beirut	Lebanon	9
Zewail City of Science and Technology	Egypt	10
Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST)	Egypt	11
Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University	Saudi Arabia	12
Mansoura University	Egypt	13
Umm Al-Qura University	Saudi Arabia	14
Arabian Gulf University	Bahrain	15
Sultan Qaboos University	Oman	16
Kafrelsheikh University	Egypt	=17
Suez Canal University	Egypt	=17
Alexandria University	Egypt	=19
University of Sharjah	United Arab Emirates	=19
Lebanese American University	Lebanon	21
The University of Jordan	Jordan	22
American University in Cairo	Egypt	23
American University of the Middle East	Kuwait	=24
Jordan University of Science and Technology	Jordan	=24
Lebanese University	Lebanon	26
Al Ain University	United Arab Emirates	27
Al-Azhar University	Egypt	=28
Beni-Suef University	Egypt	=28
Assiut University	Egypt	30
American University of Sharjah	United Arab Emirates	=31
Tanta University	Egypt	=31
Zagazig University	Egypt	33
Cairo University	Egypt	34
King Faisal University	Saudi Arabia	35
Ain Shams University	Egypt	=36
Beirut Arab University	Lebanon	=36
The British University in Egypt	Egypt	38
University of Tunis El Manar	Tunisia	39
University of Sfax	Tunisia	40
University of Marrakech Cadi Ayyad	Morocco	41
University of Bahrain	Bahrain	42
Kuwait University	Kuwait	43
King Khalid University	Saudi Arabia	44
German University in Cairo	Egypt	45
Menoufia University	Egypt	46
Benha University	Egypt	=47
Prince Sultan University (PSU)	Saudi Arabia	=47
Aswan University	Egypt	49
University of Monastir	Tunisia	50
Alfaisal University	Saudi Arabia	51–60
An-Najah National University	Palestine	51–60
Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport	Egypt	51–60
University of Baghdad	Iraq	51–60
University of Carthage	Tunisia	51–60
Helwan University	Egypt	51–60
King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences	Saudi Arabia	51–60
Mohammed V University of Rabat	Morocco	51–60
Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth	Lebanon	51–60
University of Technology, Iraq	Iraq	51–60
University of Babylon	Iraq	61–70
Birzeit University	Palestine	61–70
Fayoum University	Egypt	61–70
Université Hassan II de Casablanca	Morocco	61–70
Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University	Saudi Arabia	61–70
Minia University	Egypt	61–70
University of Mosul	Iraq	61–70
University of Sousse	Tunisia	61–70
Yarmouk University	Jordan	61–70
Zayed University	United Arab Emirates	61–70
University of Basrah	Iraq	71–80
Damietta University	Egypt	71–80
Effat University	Saudi Arabia	71–80
Ibn Tofaïl University	Morocco	71–80
University of Kufa	Iraq	71–80
University of Manouba	Tunisia	71–80
Mustansiriyah University	Iraq	71–80
Port Said University	Egypt	71–80
South Valley University	Egypt	71–80
Suez University	Egypt	71–80
Al-Balqa Applied University	Jordan	81–90
Al-Nahrain University	Iraq	81–90
Future University in Egypt	Egypt	81–90
Hashemite University	Jordan	81–90
Mutah University	Jordan	81–90
Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University	Saudi Arabia	81–90
Qassim University	Saudi Arabia	81–90
Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University	Morocco	81–90
University of Tabuk	Saudi Arabia	81–90
Taif University	Saudi Arabia	81–90
University of Abou Bekr Belkaïd Tlemcen	Algeria	91–100
Ajman University	United Arab Emirates	91–100
University of Anbar	Iraq	91–100
University of Béjaïa	Algeria	91–100
Ferhat Abbas Sétif University 1	Algeria	91–100
Université Frères Mentouri Constantine 1	Algeria	91–100
University of Hail	Saudi Arabia	91–100
Northern Border University	Saudi Arabia	91–100
Northern Technical University	Iraq	91–100
University of Sadat City	Egypt	91–100
Université 8 Mai 1945 Guelma	Algeria	101+
University Abdelhamid Ibn Badis Mostaganem	Algeria	101+
Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University	Iraq	101+
University of Al-Qadisiyah	Iraq	101+
Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan	Jordan	101+
Applied Science Private University	Jordan	101+
Badji Mokhtar University – Annaba	Algeria	101+
University of Balamand	Lebanon	101+
University of Biskra	Algeria	101+
Blida 1 University	Algeria	101+
Damanhour University	Egypt	101+
University of Diyala	Iraq	101+
Université Hassan 1er	Morocco	101+
University of Jeddah	Saudi Arabia	101+
University of Jijel	Algeria	101+
Jouf University	Saudi Arabia	101+
University of Kerbala	Iraq	101+
M’Hamed Bougara University of Boumerdès	Algeria	101+
Middle Technical University	Iraq	101+
University of Mohamed Boudiaf at M’Sila	Algeria	101+
MSA University	Egypt	101+
Notre Dame University Louaize	Lebanon	101+
Oran 1 University	Algeria	101+
University of Science and Technology of Oran Mohamed-Boudiaf	Algeria	101+
Tikrit University	Iraq	101+

Participation by Country

Country	Number of Ranked Universities
Algeria	14
Bahrain	2
Egypt	31
Iraq	16
Jordan	8
Kuwait	2
Lebanon	7
Morocco	6
Oman	1
Palestine	2
Qatar	1
Saudi Arabia	22
Tunisia	6
United Arab Emirates	7

Top 10 Ranked Large and Very Large Universities (30,000+ Students)

University Name	Country	Rank
King Abdulaziz University	Saudi Arabia	1
King Saud University	Saudi Arabia	8
Mansoura University	Egypt	13
Umm Al-Qura University	Saudi Arabia	14
Kafrelsheikh University	Egypt	=17
Suez Canal University	Egypt	=17
Alexandria University	Egypt	=19
The University of Jordan	Jordan	22
Lebanese University	Lebanon	26
Al-Azhar University	Egypt	=28
Beni-Suef University	Egypt	=28

Top 10 Ranked Medium Universities (10,000-29,999 Students)

University Name	Country	Rank
Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University	Saudi Arabia	12
University of Sharjah	United Arab Emirates	=19
Jordan University of Science and Technology	Jordan	=24
King Faisal University	Saudi Arabia	35
The British University in Egypt	Egypt	38
University of Tunis El Manar	Tunisia	39
University of Sfax	Tunisia	40
University of Bahrain	Bahrain	42
German University in Cairo	Egypt	45
Aswan University	Egypt	49

Top 10 Ranked Small Universities (Less than 10,000 Students)

University Name	Country	Rank
Qatar University	Qatar	2
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)	Saudi Arabia	3
Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University	Saudi Arabia	4
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals	Saudi Arabia	5
Khalifa University	United Arab Emirates	6
United Arab Emirates University	United Arab Emirates	7
American University of Beirut	Lebanon	9
Zewail City of Science and Technology	Egypt	10
Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST)	Egypt	11
Arabian Gulf University	Bahrain	15

Top 10 Ranked Public Universities

University Name	Country	Rank
King Abdulaziz University	Saudi Arabia	1
Qatar University	Qatar	2
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)	Saudi Arabia	3
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals	Saudi Arabia	5
Khalifa University	United Arab Emirates	6
United Arab Emirates University	United Arab Emirates	7
King Saud University	Saudi Arabia	8
Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST)	Egypt	11
Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University	Saudi Arabia	12
Mansoura University	Egypt	13

Top 10 Ranked Private Universities

University Name	Country	Rank
Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University	Saudi Arabia	4
American University of Beirut	Lebanon	9
Zewail City of Science and Technology	Egypt	10
Arabian Gulf University	Bahrain	15
University of Sharjah	United Arab Emirates	=19
Lebanese American University	Lebanon	21
American University in Cairo	Egypt	23
American University of the Middle East	Kuwait	=24
Al Ain University	United Arab Emirates	27
American University of Sharjah	United Arab Emirates	=31

Top 10 Ranked Universities with High Research Output (1,000+ published papers over 5 year period)

University Name	Country	Rank
King Abdulaziz University	Saudi Arabia	1
Qatar University	Qatar	2
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)	Saudi Arabia	3
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals	Saudi Arabia	5
Khalifa University	United Arab Emirates	6
United Arab Emirates University	United Arab Emirates	7
King Saud University	Saudi Arabia	8
American University of Beirut	Lebanon	9
Zewail City of Science and Technology	Egypt	10
Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST)	Egypt	11

Top 10 Ranked Universities with Medium Research Output (500-999 published papers over 5 year period)

University Name	Country	Rank
Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University	Saudi Arabia	4
Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University	Saudi Arabia	12
Arabian Gulf University	Bahrain	15
American University of the Middle East	Kuwait	=24
Al Ain University	United Arab Emirates	27
Beirut Arab University	Lebanon	=36
The British University in Egypt	Egypt	38
University of Bahrain	Bahrain	42
Prince Sultan University (PSU)	Saudi Arabia	=47
University of Babylon	Iraq	61–70
Birzeit University	Palestine	61–70
University of Mosul	Iraq	61–70

About Times Higher Education

We are THE, the trusted global data partner for higher education. Drawing on five decades of expertise in the sector, millions of individual data points and with more unique institutions participating in our flagship university rankings than any other, we offer deeper and richer insight into university performance than anyone else. From powerful data-driven insights and strategic consultancy support to agenda-setting events and hiring solutions, our products and services enable everyone in higher education to make smarter, more informed decisions.

For more information, visit www.timeshighereducation.com or find us on Twitter @timeshighered @THEworldunirank and @THEuniadvice.

About the THE Arab University Rankings

Although THE’s global rankings provide a great source of insight into the progress of universities across the Middle East and North Africa, there are a number of factors that make the region worthy of further exploration. As well as the unique cultural heritage, there are also many universities that are in the process of growing their research capabilities and their visibility within the world of higher education. These institutions are reflecting the desires of their governments and citizens as their nations develop. The THE Arab University Rankings have been created to reflect the priorities and missions of universities across the Middle East and North Africa, allowing them to better understand their performance and strengths using measurements based solely on universities in the region. To ensure this, the methodology includes results from an Arab region-specific reputation survey of more than 12,000 votes from published academics in the region as well as measures based on participation and performance in the THE Impact Rankings, supporting the strong focus of universities in the Middle East on sustainability, and a measure based on research collaboration between universities in the Arab world.

New Arab University Rankings Show Strength of Higher Education Institutions Across Region

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