List of 66 best universities in the United Arab Emirates

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 2.43M citations received by 129K academic publications made by 66 universities from the United Arab Emirates, the popularity of 31 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. United Arab Emirates University

#219 in Asia

#1015 in the World

Founded: 1976

2. Khalifa University

#452 in Asia

#1725 in the World

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

3. American University of Sharjah

#462 in Asia

#1754 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1997

4. University of Sharjah

#471 in Asia

#1785 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Founded: 1997

5. Zayed University

#702 in Asia

#2438 in the World

Founded: 1998

6. Ajman University

#914 in Asia

#3018 in the World

Founded: 1988

7. Higher Colleges of Technology

#1000 in Asia

#3240 in the World

Founded: 1988

8. New York University Abu Dhabi

#1113 in Asia

#3515 in the World

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

9. University of Wollongong in Dubai

#1479 in Asia

#4351 in the World

Founded: 1993

10. American University in Dubai

#1481 in Asia

#4355 in the World

Founded: 1995

11. Abu Dhabi University

#1485 in Asia

#4369 in the World

Founded: 2003

12. Al Ain University of Science and Technology

#1613 in Asia

#4658 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Founded: 2004

13. University of Dubai

#1617 in Asia

#4666 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1997

14. Masdar Institute of Science and Technology

#1803 in Asia

#5100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 400
Founded: 2007

15. American University in the Emirates

#1909 in Asia

#5309 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Founded: 2006

16. Gulf Medical University

#2050 in Asia

#5627 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1998

17. British University in Dubai

#2104 in Asia

#5727 in the World

Founded: 2004

18. Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government

#2180 in Asia

#5889 in the World

Founded: 2005

19. Canadian University of Dubai

#2258 in Asia

#6057 in the World

Enrollment: 2,074
Founded: 2006

20. American University of Ras Al Khaimah

#2381 in Asia

#6307 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Founded: 2009

21. Skyline University College

#2482 in Asia

#6532 in the World

Founded: 1990

22. City University College of Ajman

#2529 in Asia

#6625 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 2012

23. Emirates College for Advanced Education

#2674 in Asia

#6919 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 2007

24. Ras al-Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University

#2703 in Asia

#6987 in the World

Founded: 2006

25. Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management

#2877 in Asia

#7411 in the World

Founded: 2001

26. Dubai Pharmacy College

#2886 in Asia

#7428 in the World

Founded: 1992

27. Institute of Management Technology Dubai

#3065 in Asia

#7913 in the World

Founded: 2006

28. Al Ghurair University

#3103 in Asia

#8022 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 1999

29. ALHOSN University

#3130 in Asia

#8066 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2005

30. Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi

#3202 in Asia

#8296 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000

31. Al Wasl University

#3240 in Asia

#8419 in the World

Founded: 1986

32. Middlesex University Dubai

#3346 in Asia

#8691 in the World

Enrollment: 3,500
Founded: 2005

33. Imam Malik College for Islamic Sharia and Law

#3353 in Asia

#8699 in the World

Founded: 2011

34. Emirates College of Technology

#3363 in Asia

#8715 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1993

35. Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences

#3777 in Asia

#9618 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 2014

36. Amity University Dubai

#3852 in Asia

#9770 in the World

Founded: 2011

37. Emirates Aviation University

#3903 in Asia

#9876 in the World

Founded: 2010

38. Manipal University, Dubai

#3957 in Asia

#9984 in the World

Founded: 2000

39. Al Qasimia University

#4129 in Asia

#10336 in the World

Founded: 2014

40. Abu Dhabi Polytechnic

#4231 in Asia

#10543 in the World

Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2010

41. Abu Dhabi School of Management

#4232 in Asia

#10544 in the World

Founded: 2013

42. Fatima College of Health Sciences

#4287 in Asia

#10660 in the World

Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2006

43. Murdoch University Dubai

#4365 in Asia

#10795 in the World

Founded: 2008

44. Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies

#4558 in Asia

#11216 in the World

Founded: 1983

45. University of Fujairah

#4591 in Asia

#11284 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Founded: 2006

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

#4791 in Asia

#11668 in the World

Founded: 1995

47. Dubai Medical College

#4835 in Asia

#11775 in the World

Founded: 1985

48. Khawarizmi International College

#4887 in Asia

#11892 in the World

Founded: 1985

49. Al Falah University - Dubai

#4941 in Asia

#12009 in the World

Founded: 2015

50. Jumeira University

#5045 in Asia

#12253 in the World

Founded: 2011

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

#5086 in Asia

#12348 in the World

Founded: 2003

52. MODUL University Dubai

#5240 in Asia

#12731 in the World

Founded: 2016

53. Al Dar University College

#5295 in Asia

#12852 in the World

Founded: 1994

54. MENA College of Management

#5449 in Asia

#13270 in the World

Founded: 2014

55. American College of Dubai

#5469 in Asia

#13313 in the World

Founded: 1990

56. European University College

#5475 in Asia

#13329 in the World

Founded: 2006

57. Emirates College for Management and Information Technology

#5501 in Asia

#13385 in the World

Founded: 1998

58. Ittihad University

#5524 in Asia

#13435 in the World

Founded: 1999

59. University of Jazeera

#5545 in Asia

#13494 in the World

Founded: 2008

60. University of Modern Sciences, UAE

#5573 in Asia

#13560 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Founded: 2011

61. College of Fashion and Design

#5599 in Asia

#13627 in the World

62. Mohammed V University Abu Dhabi

#5606 in Asia

#13641 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 2009

63. University College of Mother and Family Sciences

#5608 in Asia

#13646 in the World

64. Emirates Canadian University College

#5689 in Asia

#13812 in the World

Founded: 2011

65. European International College

#5690 in Asia

#13813 in the World

Founded: 2006

66. Maktoum Bin Hamdan Dental University College

#5790 in Asia

#14056 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, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Dubai.

Average cost of living for students in the United Arab Emirates is $681 + $195-1390 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).