13 best universities in United Arab Emirates in 2026
Ranking based on the average of the three main global rankings: Shanghai (ARWU), Times Higher Education and QS.
University of Sharjah
Average rank: #293
No. 1University of Sharjah
A major public university founded in 1998 by the Ruler of Sharjah: medicine, engineering, law and the sciences.
No. 2Abu Dhabi University
A large multi-campus private university (Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai): business, engineering, law and health.
No. 3Khalifa University of Science and Technology
The UAE's top-ranked research university (QS 2027: 147th worldwide), dedicated to STEM and medicine.
No. 4United Arab Emirates University
The UAE's first national university, founded in 1976 in Al Ain: a comprehensive model from bachelor's to PhD.
No. 5American University of Sharjah
A non-profit American university founded in 1997, ranked among the best in the UAE by QS.
No. 6Ajman University
A pioneering university founded in 1988: medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, engineering, business and law.
No. 7Al Ain University
A private university ranked in the world's top 500 (QS), on two campuses: Al Ain and Abu Dhabi.
No. 8Zayed University
A federal UAE university founded in 1998, with campuses in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
No. 9American University of Ras Al Khaimah
An American-style university founded in 2009 in Ras Al Khaimah, covering engineering, business, computing and the humanities.
No. 10Canadian University Dubai
A private Canadian-style university in central Dubai, ranked first in Dubai by the QS Arab Region Rankings.
No. 11American University in Dubai
An American-style Dubai university accredited in the United States (SACSCOC), in the heart of the city's creative district.
No. 12University of Dubai
A private university founded by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce: business, computing, law and cybersecurity.
No. 13Gulf Medical University
A leading private health-sciences university in Ajman: medicine, pharmacy, dentistry and the allied health professions.