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QS Arab Region University Rankings 2026
16 October 2025
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QS Arab Region University Rankings 2026
QS Arab Region University Rankings 2026 results in brief:
- In the QS Arab Region University Rankings 2026, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) and Qatar University maintain 1st and 2nd position respectively. Khalifa University, now 3rd, has leapfrogged King Saud University, now 4th.
- 296 institutions have been ranked, an increase of 51 on last year's edition, 20 locations are now represented.
- Hamad bin Khalifa University is the highest ranked institution in four indicators.
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals maintains 1st place
With excellent performance in Employer and Academic Reputation, KFUPM secures 1st place for another year. Despite improving Academic Reputation and Citations per Paper, Qatar University was unable to improve its rank.
Khalifa University, following significant improvements in Academic and Employer Reputation, and Web Impact, is now ranked 3rd, with King Saud University moving down into 4th, despite improving its Employer Reputation rank.
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.
The top 10 in the QS Arab Region University Rankings 2026
1. King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM)
2. Qatar University
3. Khalifa University
4. King Saud University
5. United Arab Emirates University
6. American University of Beirut (AUB)
7. King Abdulaziz University (KAU)
8. Sultan Qaboos University
9. American University of Sharjah
10. University of Jordan
Country highlights
With 32 debuting institutions, Algeria now has the most ranked institutions in the Ranking. Qatar, establishing itself as a regional leader, has the highest average score in six of the 10 indicators. The other four indicators are led by the UAE.
Amman, in Jordan, has the highest number of ranked institutions in the region (12).
Ranking changes per location
Of locations with more than 10 ranked institutions, 16 of Iraq’s institutions have moved up in the Ranking – the most in the region. Only Jordan and Egypt also saw 10 or more institutions move up this year. Iraq’s largest upward movement was the University of Anbar.
Indicator-level insights
- King Abdulaziz University, from Saudi Arabia is the top ranked institution for Academic Reputation. In this indicator, the UAE has the highest average score.
- Tissemsilt University, making its debut in the Rankings, is the highest ranked institution in the Citations per Paper indicator.
- Qatar’s Hamad bin Khalifa University is the top ranked institution for Papers per Faculty. The UAE also has the highest average score in this indicator.
- In Employer Reputation, a key measure for prospective students, KFUPM is the highest ranked institution. The UAE has the highest average score. The University of Sadat City has the largest upward movement, climbing 52 places.
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