List of universities and colleges in the United Arab Emirates
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Higher education institutions in the United Arab Emirates need to be recognized by the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA), which operates as part of the Ministry of Education.[1] While the Ministry of Education is the federal governing body for higher education and education in general, some emirates might still have their own agencies which oversee certain aspects of higher education within the emirate, such as Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) or Abu Dhabi's Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK).
Only institutions that have received CAA accreditation from the Ministry of Education are listed below.[2]
List of universities
International rankings
These are the universities' rankings of 2024, 2025 & 2026 according to QS (Quacquarelli Symonds).[6] Definitions of categories used for measurement of QS are missing. It would be helpful if the UAE provided its own rankings according to its own measurement system.
| Institution | 2024 (QS) | 2025 (QS) | 2026(QS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khalifa University | 230 | 202 | 177 |
| United Arab Emirates University | 290 | 261 | 229 |
| American University of Sharjah | 364 | 332 | 272 |
| University of Sharjah | 465 | 434 | 328 |
| American University of Ras Al Khaimah | - | 485 | 591 |
| Ajman University | 440 | ||
| Al Ain University | 552 | 552 | 558 |
| Abu Dhabi University | 580 | 501 | 391 |
| Canadian University Dubai | 551 | 523 | 604 |
| American University in Dubai | 621-630 | 601-610 | 678 |
| University of Dubai | 851-900 | 801-850 | 851-900 |
Institutions located within free zones
The Ministry of Education does not recognize educational institutions based in free zones. While individual Emirates are responsible for managing the standards of educational institutions within their free zones, Dubai is the only Emirate that does so through the Knowledge and Human Development Authority's (KHDA) University Quality Assurance International Board. The Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah is currently working on tightening rules and regulations that govern higher academic institutions within free zones in the Emirate.[7]
New schools and universities
The UAE is intensifying efforts to expand its higher education sector as it prepares to accommodate an additional 120,000 students over the next decade, addressing both population growth and the demand for high-quality education. In line with this vision, several new schools and universities are set to open in 2026 through partnerships with international institutions. Among the upcoming institutions are Harrow International School Dubai, Ash Mount School, Dubai International Academy, Queen Elizabeth’s School, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad, American University of Beirut (AUB) and Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences.[8]