List of 66 best universities in the United Arab Emirates

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 1.23M citations received by 96.1K academic publications made by 66 universities from the United Arab Emirates, the popularity of 26 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. United Arab Emirates University

#261 in Asia

#1073 in the World

Founded: 1976

2. American University of Sharjah

#556 in Asia

#1893 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1997

3. University of Sharjah

#590 in Asia

#1997 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Founded: 1997

4. Zayed University

#656 in Asia

#2189 in the World

Founded: 1998

5. New York University Abu Dhabi

#811 in Asia

#2573 in the World

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

6. Khalifa University

#877 in Asia

#2782 in the World

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

7. Higher Colleges of Technology

#1022 in Asia

#3162 in the World

Founded: 1988

8. Ajman University

#1257 in Asia

#3727 in the World

Founded: 1988

9. Masdar Institute of Science and Technology

#1517 in Asia

#4355 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 400
Founded: 2007

10. American University in Dubai

#1552 in Asia

#4429 in the World

Founded: 1995

11. Abu Dhabi University

#1616 in Asia

#4579 in the World

Founded: 2003

12. University of Wollongong in Dubai

#1657 in Asia

#4673 in the World

Founded: 1993

13. University of Dubai

#1776 in Asia

#4960 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1997

14. American University in the Emirates

#1913 in Asia

#5265 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Founded: 2006

15. Gulf Medical University

#1971 in Asia

#5399 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1998

16. Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government

#2090 in Asia

#5713 in the World

Founded: 2005

17. Al Ain University of Science and Technology

#2176 in Asia

#5897 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Founded: 2004

18. British University in Dubai

#2244 in Asia

#6050 in the World

Founded: 2004

19. American University of Ras Al Khaimah

#2274 in Asia

#6120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Founded: 2009

20. Canadian University of Dubai

#2405 in Asia

#6381 in the World

Enrollment: 2,074
Founded: 2006

21. Skyline University College

#2449 in Asia

#6474 in the World

Founded: 1990

22. Emirates College for Advanced Education

#2802 in Asia

#7200 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 2007

23. Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management

#2838 in Asia

#7277 in the World

Founded: 2001

24. Al Ghurair University

#2914 in Asia

#7451 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 1999

25. Ras al-Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University

#2936 in Asia

#7499 in the World

Founded: 2006

26. City University College of Ajman

#2952 in Asia

#7545 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 2012

27. Dubai Pharmacy College

#2978 in Asia

#7608 in the World

Founded: 1992

28. Emirates College of Technology

#3021 in Asia

#7698 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1993

29. Institute of Management Technology Dubai

#3056 in Asia

#7785 in the World

Founded: 2006

30. ALHOSN University

#3118 in Asia

#7949 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2005

31. Al Wasl University

#3515 in Asia

#8950 in the World

Founded: 1986

32. Middlesex University Dubai

#3569 in Asia

#9072 in the World

Enrollment: 3,500
Founded: 2005

33. Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences

#3669 in Asia

#9265 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 2014

34. Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi

#3794 in Asia

#9542 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000

35. Amity University Dubai

#3851 in Asia

#9687 in the World

Founded: 2011

36. Manipal University, Dubai

#4044 in Asia

#10083 in the World

Founded: 2000

37. Emirates Aviation University

#4077 in Asia

#10155 in the World

Founded: 2010

38. Murdoch University Dubai

#4390 in Asia

#10791 in the World

Founded: 2008

39. Al Qasimia University

#4535 in Asia

#11072 in the World

Founded: 2014

40. Abu Dhabi Polytechnic

#4582 in Asia

#11175 in the World

Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2010

41. Al Falah University - Dubai

#4585 in Asia

#11178 in the World

Founded: 2015

42. Fatima College of Health Sciences

#4632 in Asia

#11288 in the World

Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2006

43. Khawarizmi International College

#4645 in Asia

#11309 in the World

Founded: 1985

44. Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies

#4686 in Asia

#11405 in the World

Founded: 1983

45. MODUL University Dubai

#4886 in Asia

#11820 in the World

Founded: 2016

46. Dubai Medical College

#4923 in Asia

#11917 in the World

Founded: 1985

47. Imam Malik College for Islamic Sharia and Law

#4930 in Asia

#11932 in the World

Founded: 2011

48. Al Dar University College

#4974 in Asia

#12026 in the World

Founded: 1994

49. Jumeira University

#4988 in Asia

#12063 in the World

Founded: 2011

50. Abu Dhabi School of Management

#5037 in Asia

#12201 in the World

Founded: 2013

51. University of Fujairah

#5063 in Asia

#12255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Founded: 2006

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

#5111 in Asia

#12370 in the World

Founded: 1995

53. University of Modern Sciences, UAE

#5166 in Asia

#12478 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Founded: 2011

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

#5218 in Asia

#12623 in the World

Founded: 2003

55. American College of Dubai

#5329 in Asia

#12877 in the World

Founded: 1990

56. MENA College of Management

#5346 in Asia

#12911 in the World

Founded: 2014

57. European University College

#5406 in Asia

#13047 in the World

Founded: 2006

58. Emirates Canadian University College

#5434 in Asia

#13118 in the World

Founded: 2011

59. Emirates College for Management and Information Technology

#5454 in Asia

#13173 in the World

Founded: 1998

60. Mohammed V University Abu Dhabi

#5470 in Asia

#13219 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 2009

61. University College of Mother and Family Sciences

#5480 in Asia

#13253 in the World

62. Ittihad University

#5499 in Asia

#13310 in the World

Founded: 1999

63. College of Fashion and Design

#5546 in Asia

#13439 in the World

64. European International College

#5562 in Asia

#13479 in the World

Founded: 2006

65. University of Jazeera

#5612 in Asia

#13621 in the World

Founded: 2008

66. Maktoum Bin Hamdan Dental University College

#5812 in Asia

#14091 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, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi.

Average cost of living for students in the United Arab Emirates is $655 + $175-1251 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).