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QS Arab Region University Rankings 2026 results
16 October 2025
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QS Arab Region University Rankings 2026 results
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) is the top-ranked university in the QS Arab Region University Rankings 2026, retaining first place ahead of Qatar University and Khalifa University.
The 2026 rankings feature 296 institutions across 20 locations, an increase of 51 universities from the previous edition. Explore the top 10 universities, country-level performance and key indicator results across the Arab region.
QS Arab Region University Rankings 2026: Key results
- King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) retains first place, followed by Qatar University in second. Khalifa University rises to third, ahead of King Saud University in fourth.
- 296 institutions across 20 locations are ranked in 2026, an increase of 51 institutions from the previous edition.
- Hamad bin Khalifa University leads four ranking indicators, the most of any institution.
Which university ranks first in the Arab region in 2026?
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) retains first place, supported by strong performance in Employer Reputation and Academic Reputation. Qatar University remains second despite improving its performance in Academic Reputation and Citations per Paper.
Khalifa University rises to third, following improvements in Academic Reputation, Employer Reputation and Web Impact, overtaking King Saud University in fourth.
The only other change in the top 10 is the American University of Sharjah has replaced the University of Jordan in 9th place – however, the University of Jordan remains in the top 10.
Top 10 universities in the QS Arab Region University Rankings 2026
How did countries perform in the Arab Region rankings 2026?
- Algeria has the most ranked institutions in 2026, following the debut of 32 universities.
- Qatar records the highest average score in six of the 10 ranking indicators, while the UAE leads the remaining four.
- Amman, Jordan, has more ranked institutions than any other city in the region, with 12.
Number of institutions ranked by location in the QS Arab Region University Rankings 2026
Which countries improved most in the 2026 Arab Region rankings?
Iraq recorded the largest number of improving institutions among locations with more than 10 ranked universities, with 16 institutions moving up in 2026. Jordan and Egypt were the only other locations where at least 10 universities improved their position.
The University of Anbar recorded Iraq's largest upward movement.
Which universities performed best across the ranking indicators?
- Academic Reputation: King Abdulaziz University is the highest-ranked institution, while the UAE records the highest average score.
- Citations per Paper: Debutant Tissemsilt University ranks highest.
- Papers per Faculty: Hamad bin Khalifa University ranks highest, while the UAE records the highest average score. University is the top ranked institution for Papers per Faculty. The UAE also has the highest average score in this indicator.
- Employer Reputation: KFUPM ranks highest, while the UAE has the strongest average performance. University of Sadat City records the largest upward movement, climbing 52 places.
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