Best 10 Universities in the Arab World in 2024 

The official ranking of the QS Arab Region University Rankings for 2024 was recently released. A total of 180 universities from the Arab world were included in the ranking. If you’re wondering which Arab university ranks the highest in the region, this article will guide you through the top 10 Universities in the Arab World in 2024  in 2024.

How are universities in the Arab region approached for rankings? 

The methodology for ranking Arab universities varies from one ranking to another. The three most famous university rankings worldwide are QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings, and Shanghai University Rankings. Despite slight differences in the evaluation and ranking mechanisms among these rankings,

This article will discuss the methodology followed in ranking Arab universities by QS World University Rankings.

The QS ranking of Arab universities specifically emerged in 2014. Since then, it has annually highlighted 160 leading universities in the Arab world.

Ten indicators have been identified to evaluate the academic performance of Arab universities, and a ranking of the best universities is subsequently compiled annually. For each indicator evaluated, a percentage is calculated as part of the overall assessment.

1. Academic Reputation (30%)

In this indicator, the opinions of numerous academics from around the world are relied upon. They are asked to name the universities they believe are doing the best work in their field. This indicator is a key component of the QS ranking of Arab universities and receives the highest percentage of the overall assessment which is 30%!

2. Employer Reputation (20%)

This indicator relies on a survey similar to the previous one. However, in this assessment, employers and supervisors of graduates from Arab universities undergoing evaluation are asked to name the universities they believe produce the best graduates.

3. Faculty/Student Ratio (15%)

This indicator evaluates the number of full-time academic staff in relation to enrolled students at the university. The goal is to determine the capacity and readiness of these universities in providing academic support to their students.

4. International Research Network (10%)

Using data provided by Scopus, this indicator assesses the international openness of the Arab university and its scientific and research collaboration with educational institutions in various locations around the world.

5. Web Impact (5%)

Many are unaware that the online presence of an Arab university affects its evaluation. Based on Webometrics ranking, the online presence of Arab universities can be assessed, providing an indicator of their commitment to international participation and continuous communication.

6. Proportion of Staff with a PhD (5%)

This relies on the proportion of faculty members holding a PhD or its equivalent, reflecting the overall level of experience and expertise within the Arab university.

7. Citations per Paper (5%)

This indicator is calculated using data from Scopus. It evaluates the number of citations per research paper published by the university, reflecting the impact of research of each Arab university included in the assessment.

8. Papers per Faculty (5%)

Also based on Scopus database, this measure concerns the number of research papers published per faculty member at the university, reflecting the rates of scientific research productivity in each academic faculty within the university.

9. Proportion of International Faculty (2.5%), and Proportion of International Students (2.5%)

These two indicators reflect each institution’s success in attracting faculty for teaching and students from other countries, providing an indicator of the international diversity of its educational environment.

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Best Universities in the Arab World in 2024

180 Arab universities are included in the QS ranking of Arab universities for the year 2024, and each university is ranked according to the total points it receives based on the indicators mentioned above. Here is a list of the best Arab universities for the year 2024:

1. King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals

In 2024, Saudi Arabia’s leading institution, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, tops the list as the best university in the Arab region, as per the QS Arab Region University Rankings.

This university holds the distinguished position of 180th among the world’s best universities. With a perfect score according to QS ranking criteria, it stands as the sole Arab university to achieve a full score of 100%.

Established in 1963, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals is a public university located in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Renowned for its programs in science, engineering, business, and management, it enjoys widespread recognition both nationally and regionally.

With over 10,000 students enrolled, the university offers a wide range of scientific disciplines, including geology, environmental sciences, aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, computer science, chemistry, mathematics and statistics, physics, accounting, finance, management, marketing, and many more.

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2. King Saud University

King Saud University ranks as the third-best university in Saudi Arabia and the second-best in the Arab world. King Saud University accumulated a total score equivalent to 99.3 according to the QS ranking criteria and occupies the 203rd position among the world’s best universities.

King Saud University is a public university located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Established in 1957 as the first university in Saudi Arabia, it offers instruction in both Arabic and English. The university boasts a student body exceeding 40,000 students, including 7% international students.

Offering a wide array of scientific programs across various fields, notable disciplines include architecture and planning, business administration, engineering, health sciences, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, arts, education, tourism and archaeology, physics, biochemistry, statistics, marketing, and many more.

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3. Qatar University

The third-best Arab university for the year 2024 is Qatar University, which also holds the 173rd position among the world’s best universities. The university achieved a total score equivalent to 99.2%, trailing behind King Saud University by only 0.1 points.

Located in the northern suburbs of Doha, Qatar, Qatar University is the only public university in the country. Established in 1973, it is distinguished by its large intake of international students, constituting approximately 35% of the total student body. Instruction at Qatar University is conducted in both Arabic and English.

Qatar University comprises 10 academic Faculties, including Arts and Sciences, Business and Economics, Education, Engineering, Law, Sharia and Islamic Studies, Pharmacy, Health Sciences, Medicine, and Dentistry.

4. American University of Beirut (AUB)

The fourth-best Arab university on our list is the American University of Beirut (AUB) in Lebanon. It achieved a total score equivalent to 95.6% and is ranked among the top 226 universities in the world.

AUB is a private and independent university registered in New York with a campus in Beirut, Lebanon. Instruction at the university is conducted in English, and degrees conferred by the university are officially recognized by the Board of Regents in New York.

Founded in 1866 as the “Syrian Protestant College,” the university changed its name to the American University of Beirut in 1920. It boasts a student body of over 10,000 students.

The university has the following Faculties: Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Rafic Hariri School of Nursing, Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering & Architecture, and the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business.

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5. King Abdulaziz University

In fifth place, we have King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia, ranked 143rd among the world’s best universities. The university achieved a total score equivalent to 94%.

King Abdulaziz University is a public univeristy, located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Established in 1974, it boasts an enrollment of over 80,000 students. The university houses 19 academic faculties, including the following:

• Faculty of Engineering.
• Faculty of Economics and Administration.
• Faculty of Law.
• Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences.
• Faculty of Medicine.
• Faculty of Arts and Humanities.
• Faculty of Communication and Media.
• Faculty of Computing and Information Technology.
• Faculty of Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture.
• Faculty of Nursing.
• Faculty of Science.
• Faculty of Pharmacy.
• Faculty of Dentistry.
• Faculty of Earth Sciences.
• Faculty of Environmental Design.
• Faculty of Home Economics.
• Faculty of Marine Sciences.
• Faculty of Tourism.
• Faculty of Maritime Studies.

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6. United Arab Emirates University

In sixth place among the best universities in the Arab region is the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), a public university, which achieved a total score equivalent to 92.9%. According to the same ranking, UAEU holds the 290th position among the world’s best universities.

Located in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, it is the oldest university in the country, founded in 1976.

With a student population exceeding 16,000 students, UAEU boasts several prominent scientific faculties, including the Faculty of Business and Economics, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Information Technology, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, and Faculty of Science.

7. Khalifa University

In seventh place among the top Arab universities, we find Khalifa University with a total score equivalent to 91. It is a government university located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with a campus extension in Sharjah. Established in 2007, its student body comprises no more than 3,500 students.

Khalifa University offers 12 undergraduate programs through its Faculty of Engineering, including Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Communications Engineering/Computer Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Petroleum Geoscience, Chemistry, and Mechanical Mathematics and Statistics.

Additionally, it offers the equivalent of 15 graduate programs in the Faculty of Engineering and the Institute of International and Civil Security. These include International and Civil Security, Information Security, Chemical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering and Management, among others.

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8. American University of Sharjah

With a total score of 81.7, the American University of Sharjah secured the eighth position among the top Arab universities. It also holds the 364th position among the world’s best universities.

Established in 1997, this private Emirati university is renowned for being one of the most “international universities” globally. It boasts over 5,000 international students from 94 different countries and approximately 360 faculty members from 48 different countries.

The American University of Sharjah offers various academic programs across different fields. These include Architecture, Arts and Design, various disciplines in Arts and Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, and various Business Management specializations.

9. University of Jordan

In the ninth position with a total of 79.7, we have the University of Jordan, which is also among the top 498 universities in the world. Established in 1962 and located in Amman, Jordan, it is the largest and oldest institution of higher education in the country. The University of Jordan comprises 20 faculties and more than 95 departments, offering a diverse range of academic disciplines and programs.

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10 Sultan Qaboos University

Sultan Qaboos University has achieved its position as the tenth-best Arab university after scoring a total of 79.2 points. Additionally, the university ranks among the top 454 universities in the world.

Sultan Qaboos University is located in Al-Khoudh, Muscat Governorate, and it is the only government university in the Sultanate of Oman.

Currently, the university has approximately 15,000 male and female students, and it is divided into the following academic faculties: Agriculture and Marine Sciences, Arts and Social Sciences, Economics and Political Science, Education, Engineering, Law, Nursing, Medicine and Health Sciences, and Science.

The best Arab universities ranking from 11-30

In the following table, the ranking of the best Arab universities up to rank 30 are listed:

This was the list of the top Arab universities according to the QS Arab Region Universities Rankings for the year 2024. Best of luck in your search for the perfect university!