List of 66 best universities in the United Arab Emirates

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Top 66 universities in the United Arab Emirates ranked by EduRank based on research outputs, non-academic prominence, and alumni influence. The rankings are determined by analyzing 2.09M citations received by 120K academic publications made by 66 universities from the United Arab Emirates, the popularity of 25 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. United Arab Emirates University

#257 in Asia

#1054 in the World

Founded: 1976

2. American University of Sharjah

#578 in Asia

#1941 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1997

3. University of Sharjah

#586 in Asia

#1960 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Founded: 1997

4. Khalifa University

#608 in Asia

#2019 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2007

5. Zayed University

#662 in Asia

#2163 in the World

Founded: 1998

6. New York University Abu Dhabi

#816 in Asia

#2580 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 1,300
Founded: 2010

7. Higher Colleges of Technology

#1007 in Asia

#3104 in the World

Founded: 1988

8. Ajman University

#1197 in Asia

#3582 in the World

Founded: 1988

9. American University in Dubai

#1532 in Asia

#4388 in the World

Founded: 1995

10. Abu Dhabi University

#1598 in Asia

#4528 in the World

Founded: 2003

11. Masdar Institute of Science and Technology

#1624 in Asia

#4588 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 400
Founded: 2007

12. University of Wollongong in Dubai

#1651 in Asia

#4660 in the World

Founded: 1993

13. University of Dubai

#1756 in Asia

#4882 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1997

14. American University in the Emirates

#1768 in Asia

#4913 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Founded: 2006

15. Al Ain University of Science and Technology

#1849 in Asia

#5121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Founded: 2004

16. Gulf Medical University

#1931 in Asia

#5294 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1998

17. Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government

#2082 in Asia

#5675 in the World

Founded: 2005

18. British University in Dubai

#2235 in Asia

#6044 in the World

Founded: 2004

19. American University of Ras Al Khaimah

#2364 in Asia

#6304 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Founded: 2009

20. Skyline University College

#2373 in Asia

#6318 in the World

Founded: 1990

21. Canadian University of Dubai

#2389 in Asia

#6354 in the World

Enrollment: 2,074
Founded: 2006

22. Emirates College for Advanced Education

#2808 in Asia

#7204 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 2007

23. Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management

#2826 in Asia

#7249 in the World

Founded: 2001

24. City University College of Ajman

#2877 in Asia

#7363 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 2012

25. Ras al-Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University

#2893 in Asia

#7403 in the World

Founded: 2006

26. Al Ghurair University

#2915 in Asia

#7452 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 1999

27. Dubai Pharmacy College

#2949 in Asia

#7533 in the World

Founded: 1992

28. Emirates College of Technology

#3054 in Asia

#7773 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1993

29. Institute of Management Technology Dubai

#3090 in Asia

#7850 in the World

Founded: 2006

30. ALHOSN University

#3111 in Asia

#7910 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2005

31. Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi

#3423 in Asia

#8761 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000

32. Al Wasl University

#3425 in Asia

#8768 in the World

Founded: 1986

33. Middlesex University Dubai

#3589 in Asia

#9110 in the World

Enrollment: 3,500
Founded: 2005

34. Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences

#3686 in Asia

#9298 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 2014

35. Amity University Dubai

#3864 in Asia

#9716 in the World

Founded: 2011

36. Manipal University, Dubai

#4058 in Asia

#10104 in the World

Founded: 2000

37. Emirates Aviation University

#4093 in Asia

#10181 in the World

Founded: 2010

38. Murdoch University Dubai

#4401 in Asia

#10811 in the World

Founded: 2008

39. Al Qasimia University

#4540 in Asia

#11084 in the World

Founded: 2014

40. Abu Dhabi Polytechnic

#4586 in Asia

#11188 in the World

Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2010

41. Al Falah University - Dubai

#4589 in Asia

#11191 in the World

Founded: 2015

42. Fatima College of Health Sciences

#4637 in Asia

#11303 in the World

Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2006

43. Khawarizmi International College

#4650 in Asia

#11324 in the World

Founded: 1985

44. Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies

#4695 in Asia

#11423 in the World

Founded: 1983

45. MODUL University Dubai

#4895 in Asia

#11834 in the World

Founded: 2016

46. Dubai Medical College

#4930 in Asia

#11927 in the World

Founded: 1985

47. Imam Malik College for Islamic Sharia and Law

#4937 in Asia

#11942 in the World

Founded: 2011

48. Al Dar University College

#4979 in Asia

#12036 in the World

Founded: 1994

49. Jumeira University

#4993 in Asia

#12072 in the World

Founded: 2011

50. Abu Dhabi School of Management

#5042 in Asia

#12209 in the World

Founded: 2013

51. University of Fujairah

#5068 in Asia

#12262 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Founded: 2006

52. Islamic Azad University U.A.E. Branch

#5113 in Asia

#12373 in the World

Founded: 1995

53. University of Modern Sciences, UAE

#5168 in Asia

#12482 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Founded: 2011

54. Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology Dubai

#5219 in Asia

#12626 in the World

Founded: 2003

55. American College of Dubai

#5331 in Asia

#12881 in the World

Founded: 1990

56. MENA College of Management

#5349 in Asia

#12916 in the World

Founded: 2014

57. European University College

#5408 in Asia

#13050 in the World

Founded: 2006

58. Emirates Canadian University College

#5436 in Asia

#13122 in the World

Founded: 2011

59. Emirates College for Management and Information Technology

#5456 in Asia

#13177 in the World

Founded: 1998

60. Mohammed V University Abu Dhabi

#5473 in Asia

#13224 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 2009

61. University College of Mother and Family Sciences

#5483 in Asia

#13258 in the World

62. Ittihad University

#5501 in Asia

#13314 in the World

Founded: 1999

63. College of Fashion and Design

#5549 in Asia

#13444 in the World

64. European International College

#5564 in Asia

#13483 in the World

Founded: 2006

65. University of Jazeera

#5614 in Asia

#13625 in the World

Founded: 2008

66. Maktoum Bin Hamdan Dental University College

#5813 in Asia

#14092 in the World

Founded: 2013

The best cities to study in the United Arab Emirates based on the number of universities and their ranks are Al Ain, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai.

Average cost of living for students in the United Arab Emirates is $667 + $173-1238 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).