Best universities in the Arab World 2022
Explore the top universities in the Arab world according to the Times Higher Education Arab University Rankings 2022
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Top 10 universities in the Arab world 2022
| Arab rank 2022 | Arab rank 2021 | University | Country/region |
| 1 | 1 | King Abdulaziz University | Saudi Arabia |
| 2 | 3 | King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) | Saudi Arabia |
| 3 | 2 | Qatar University | Qatar |
| 4 | 4 | Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University | Saudi Arabia |
| 5 | 6 | Khalifa University | United Arab Emirates |
| 6 | 5 | King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals | Saudi Arabia |
| =7 | 8 | King Saud University | Saudi Arabia |
| =7 | 7 | United Arab Emirates University | United Arab Emirates |
| 9 | =19 | University of Sharjah | United Arab Emirates |
| 10 | 10 | Zewail City of Science and Technology | Egypt |
If you’re considering studying at a university in the Arab region, the Times Higher Education Arab University Ranking 2022 will be a useful resource for you.
Overall, 169 universities across 15 countries in the Middle East and North Africa are ranked. A further 48 institutions are listed with “reporter” status, meaning that they provided data but did not meet our eligibility criteria for inclusion in the league table.
The top university is King Abdulaziz University, in Saudi Arabia. All the universities in the top five are in the Middle East, while universities situated in North Africa – including universities in Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria – feature further down the list.
The most represented country in the ranking is Egypt, with 34 universities altogether. Saudi Arabia is next, with 32 institutions.
Many of the universities featured in the ranking are specialist science and technology universities.
The full methodology of the Arab University Ranking 2022 can be viewed here.
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5. Khalifa University, United Arab Emirates
Khalifa University covers teaching and research in science, engineering and medicine across three colleges, three research institutes, 18 research centres, and 36 academic departments.
The university, located in Abu Dhabi in the UAE, was founded in 2007.
The average class size at Khalifa University is 15 students, ensuring an excellent student-to-staff ratio.
4. Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, Saudi Arabia
Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University is located in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia. It was founded by Prince Mohammad bin Fahd, the former governor of the Eastern Province.
The university comprises six colleges: engineering, architecture and design, business, computer engineering and science, human studies and science and law. The university is in the process of setting up a college of medicine.
3. Qatar University, Qatar
Qatar University is a public university located in the city of Doha in Qatar.
The university is home to 10 colleges, including arts and sciences, business and economics, engineering, and law. The university offers 47 bachelor’s, 29 master’s and 20 PhD programmes, as well as nine diplomas and a doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) programme. Courses at the university are taught in both Arabic and English.
Students can benefit from a range of amenities on campus, including a library, male and female student activities buildings, a student learning support centre, and the student counselling centre.
2. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is a relatively young university, having been established in 2009.
The university is the first mixed gender campus to be located in Saudi Arabia.
As the name would suggest, teaching and learning are focused on science and technology, with courses available in bioengineering, computer science, statistics, earth science and engineering and many other areas.
The official language of instruction is English.
1. King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia
King Abdulaziz University was established in 1967 in Jeddah, on the shore of the Red Sea. The university was named after the founder of Saudi Arabia, King Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud. It was initially established as a private university but was converted to a public university in 1974.
Students who attend the university receive free education and housing. It has a comprehensive learning programme across faculties, including the arts and humanities, science and technology, and medicine. The university also offers some courses that are unavailable at any other universities in Saudi Arabia, such as marine science, meteorology and astronomy.
King Abdulaziz University adheres to Islamic regulations by having separate campuses for men and women, each equipped with a library and athletic and recreational facilities.
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Top universities in the Arab world 2022
Click each institution to view its full World University Rankings 2023 results
