Top 10 universities in the Arab World 2024
| Arab Rank 2024 | University | Country/Region |
| 1 | King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) | Saudi Arabia |
| =2 | King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals | Saudi Arabia |
| =2 | King Saud University | Saudi Arabia |
| 4 | Qatar University | Qatar |
| 5 | King Abdulaziz University | Saudi Arabia |
| 6 | Khalifa University | United Arab Emirates |
| 7 | United Arab Emirates University | United Arab Emirates |
| 8 | Cairo University | Egypt |
| 9 | The University of Jordan | Jordan |
| 10 | King Khalid University | Saudi Arabia |
If you’re considering studying at a university in the Arab region, you’ll find the Times Higher Education Arab University Rankings 2024 a useful resource.
Overall, 238 universities across 16 countries in the Middle East and North Africa are ranked. A further 112 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 Abdullah University of Science and Technology, 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 42 universities altogether. Algeria is next, with 37 institutions.
Many of the universities featured in the ranking are specialist science and technology universities.
The full methodology of the Arab University Ranking 2024 can be viewed here.
The top five universities in the Arab world
1. 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.
=2. King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia
KFUPM was established in 1963 as the College of Petroleum and Minerals to provide education about petroleum and minerals, two of the most valuable natural resources in Saudi Arabia.
It was elevated to university status in 1975 and has since expanded its course offerings to cover science, engineering, technology and business.
The admissions process is very competitive, with an acceptance rate of less than 10 per cent.
=2. King Saud University, Saudi Arabia
King Saud University is a public university located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It was the first university to be established in the country, originally named Riyadh University, in 1957. It became King Saud University in 1982.
The university has a total of 18 libraries, two university hospitals and a mosque.
Tuition to the university is free, and scholarships are also available for Saudi and international students. All programmes are taught in English and Arabic, and applicants are required to pass an Arabic examination if they are from a non-Arabic speaking country.
The university has four colleges: science, health, humanities and community. Within these colleges are smaller colleges for each subject.
4. Qatar University, Qatar
Qatar University is a public university located in the city of Doha in Qatar.
It 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.
5. King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia
King Abdulaziz University (KAU) was established in 1967 in the city of Jeddah by the Red Sea as a private university. In 1973, KAU joined the Saudi public university system.
The university offers a wide range of subjects across 24 faculties, including arts and humanities, medicine, law, dentistry, communication and media, computing and information technology and economics and administration, among others.
There are many services available to students, including financial services, transport, student housing and support for international students.
Top universities in the Arab world 2024
Click each institution to view its full World University Rankings 2024 results
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