UAEU ranks joint first in UAE, 235th globally in THE World University Rankings 2027
In short
United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) ranked joint first in the UAE alongside Khalifa University and 235th globally in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027, according to the university's announcement carried by WAM and three other outlets. UAEU chancellor Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh said the position reflects standing built over five decades, while Vice Chancellor Prof. Ahmed Ali Alraeesi said it measures progress and raises the university's ambitions. One outlet reported the 2027 edition covers 2,297 universities in 118 countries and territories, the largest edition to date.
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United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) has ranked joint first in the United Arab Emirates with Khalifa University and 235th globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027, according to the university's announcement carried by the state news agency WAM and by Aletihad, Gulf News and Emirates 24|7. The documents describe the result as reflecting continued advancement in academic and research performance and strengthening the university's position among higher education institutions worldwide. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, Cultural Advisor to H.H. the President of the UAE and Chancellor of UAEU, said the joint first-place position “reflects the standing that the National University has established over five decades” and affirms its ability to sustain “an influential presence in the global academic and research landscape.” He added that the university views the achievement as a responsibility to keep investing in knowledge, research and people. Prof. Ahmed Ali Alraeesi, Vice Chancellor of UAEU, said the university continues to advance its academic and research ecosystem in line with international standards, focusing on areas of national priority and greater integration across education, research and innovation, and described the result as “an important measure of the progress we have achieved” that raises its ambitions for the next phase. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings assess university performance across teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry engagement, drawing on a set of performance indicators to compare institutions across multiple dimensions, according to the documents. Aletihad reported that the 2027 edition includes 2,297 universities across 118 countries and territories, making it the largest edition to date and reflecting expanding competition among higher education institutions. The other documents do not give the size of the edition. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
The documents carry the same set of quotes and largely identical wording, indicating the material circulated from the university's announcement. Three of the four documents dateline the story to Sharjah — WAM, Gulf News and Emirates 24|7 — while Aletihad datelines it to Abu Dhabi; the documents do not explain the difference. The documents give no previous-year ranking for UAEU and no national table listing other UAE institutions. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The ranking places UAEU level with Khalifa University at the top of the UAE's table in an international assessment that the university says measures teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry engagement. The result is presented by an official outlet and by UAE business outlets as a marker of the country's higher-education sector, and the university says it intends to use it to push for greater competitiveness in the next phase.
Key facts
- UAEU ranked joint first in the UAE with Khalifa University and 235th globally in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- UAEU Chancellor and Cultural Advisor to the President Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh said the joint first-place position reflects the standing the National University has established over five decades. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- UAEU Vice Chancellor Prof. Ahmed Ali Alraeesi said the result is an important measure of progress achieved and raises the university's ambitions for the next phase. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The Times Higher Education World University Rankings assess performance across teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry engagement. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The 2027 edition of the rankings includes 2,297 universities across 118 countries and territories, making it the largest edition to date, according to Aletihad. [ 2 ]
- Aletihad and Gulf News are the only documents that dateline the story to Abu Dhabi and Sharjah respectively; WAM and Emirates 24|7 also dateline it to Sharjah. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- United Arab Emirates University ranked joint first in the UAE with Khalifa University and 235th globally in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh is Cultural Advisor to the President of the UAE and Chancellor of United Arab Emirates University. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Prof. Ahmed Ali Alraeesi is Vice Chancellor of United Arab Emirates University. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The rankings assess university performance across teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry engagement. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- UAEU's ranking in the previous edition of the Times Higher Education rankings and the scores behind its joint first-place position in the UAE. The documents state the 2027 result but give no prior-year comparison or underlying indicator scores.
- Which other UAE institutions were ranked, and where, below the two joint-first universities. The documents name only UAEU and Khalifa University and give no national table.
- The location of the announcement. WAM, Gulf News and Emirates 24|7 dateline the story to Sharjah while Aletihad datelines it to Abu Dhabi; the documents do not explain the difference.