Universities in the United Arab Emirates ^New

Explore the uniRank League Table and University Ranking of 57 Universities in the United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates consists of 7 emirates (Arabic: imarat). The majority of higher education institutions meeting the uniRank selection criteria are located in the most populated emirate, Dubai, as well as in Abu Dhabi, the emirate that hosts the capital city. The following uniRank sub-rankings and league tables take into account all emirates that include at least one Emirati higher education institution meeting the uniRank selection criteria.

Abu Dhabi (14)  
Ajman (3)  
DubaI (31)  
Fujairah (2)  
Ras al-Khaimah (2)  
Sharjah (4)  
Umm al-Quwain (1)  

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Overview of UAE Universities

The United Arab Emirates higher education system features a dynamic mix of public and private institutions established rapidly since the 1970s. With English widely used as the language of instruction, UAE universities attract significant international students and faculty. The federal government regulates standards through the Ministry of Education and Commission for Academic Accreditation. Public universities receive state funding and emphasize national workforce development, while private institutions include international branch campuses and specialized schools. Universities offer comprehensive and specialized programs across undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels, with growing emphasis on STEM fields, artificial intelligence and professional accreditation.

Top 10 UAE Universities

1. University of Sharjah (UoS) - جامعة الشارقة
   Country Rank #1, World Rank #1522. Private university established in 1997 in Sharjah.
2. United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) - جامعة الإمارات العربية المتحدة
   Country Rank #2, World Rank #1712. Public non-profit university founded in 1976 in Al-Ain, Abu Dhabi.
3. Khalifa University (KUSTAR) - جامعة خليفة
   Country Rank #3, World Rank #1984. Private university established in 2007 in Abu Dhabi.
4. New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) - جامعة نيويورك أبوظبي
   Country Rank #4, World Rank #2363. Private university founded in 2010 in Abu Dhabi.
5. American University of Sharjah (AUS) - الجامعة الأمريكية في الشارقة
   Country Rank #5, World Rank #2497. Private non-profit institution established in 1997 in Sharjah.
6. Zayed University (ZU) - جامعة زايد
   Country Rank #6, World Rank #2721. Public non-profit university founded in 1998 in Dubai.
7. Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) - كليات التقنية العليا
   Country Rank #7, World Rank #2821. Public non-profit institution established in 1988 in Al-Ain, Abu Dhabi.
8. Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) - جامعة محمد بن زايد للذكاء الاصطناعي
   Country Rank #8, World Rank #3469. Public university founded in 2019 in Abu Dhabi.
9. Ajman University (AU) - جامعة عجمان
   Country Rank #9, World Rank #3733. Private university established in 1988 in Ajman.
10. American University in Dubai (AUD) - الجامعة الأمريكية في دبي
    Country Rank #10, World Rank #4231. Private for-profit institution founded in 1995 in Dubai.

Analysis of University Types

The UAE hosts 57 universities nationwide. Private institutions dominate the landscape with 51 universities, representing 89% of all higher education institutions. Public universities constitute a smaller segment with just 5 institutions, accounting for 9% of the total. This distribution highlights the UAE's distinctive reliance on private education providers within its higher education ecosystem.

Global Ranking and Standing

Currently no UAE universities rank within the global top 200 institutions. Similarly, none appear among the world's top 1,000 universities. These metrics indicate ongoing development opportunities for UAE universities in global academic rankings despite the nation's significant investments in higher education infrastructure and international partnerships.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How many universities exist in the UAE?
A: The UAE has 57 accredited universities across its seven emirates.

Q: What is the #1 ranked university in the UAE?
A: University of Sharjah currently holds the top position according to uniRank's Country Rank.

Q: Are there public universities in the UAE?
A: Yes, there are 5 public universities including United Arab Emirates University and Zayed University.

Q: Do UAE universities teach in English?
A: Most private universities and many public programs use English as the primary language of instruction.

Q: What percentage of UAE universities are private?
A: Approximately 89% (51 of 57) are private institutions.

Q: Are there any UAE universities in global top rankings?
A: Currently no UAE universities rank within the top 1,000 globally according to available data.

Since 2005, UniRank provides original research, valuable information and resources to help you explore and make informed decisions about Emirati universities and their online presence.

• Oldest Universities in the United Arab Emirates
  Explore the most traditional and long-established Emirati post-secondary institutions according to uniRank's original research.
• A-Z Universities in the United Arab Emirates
  Search for Emirati higher education institutions listed alphabetically from A to Z.
• Emirati Universities by Town
  Look for tertiary institutions located in a particular Emirati town or city.
• Top Public Universities in the United Arab Emirates
  Discover Emirati public higher education institutions with potentially lower tuition fees.
• Top Private Universities in the United Arab Emirates
  Find out about Emirati private higher education institutions.
• Top Non-Profit Universities in the United Arab Emirates
  Explore Emirati not-for-profit higher education institutions that may offer lower tuition fees.
• Top For-Profit Universities in the United Arab Emirates
  Look for Emirati for-profit higher education institutions.
• Top Emirati Universities on Facebook
  See which tertiary institutions in the United Arab Emirates have the most followers on Facebook, according to uniRank's original research.
• Top Emirati Universities on Twitter
  Discover the Universities in the United Arab Emirates that are most followed on Twitter, based on uniRank's original research.
• Top Emirati Universities on Instagram
  Find out which post-secondary institutions in the United Arab Emirates are the most followed on Instagram, according to uniRank's original research.
• Top Emirati Universities on YouTube
  Explore the Universities in the United Arab Emirates with the most subscribed channels on YouTube, based on uniRank's original research.