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

#260 in Asia

#1071 in the World

Founded: 1976

2. Khalifa University

#575 in Asia

#1914 in the World

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

3. University of Sharjah

#580 in Asia

#1923 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Founded: 1997

4. American University of Sharjah

#600 in Asia

#1986 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1997

5. Zayed University

#673 in Asia

#2201 in the World

Founded: 1998

6. New York University Abu Dhabi

#833 in Asia

#2637 in the World

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

7. Higher Colleges of Technology

#1072 in Asia

#3270 in the World

Founded: 1988

8. Ajman University

#1115 in Asia

#3403 in the World

Founded: 1988

9. American University in Dubai

#1484 in Asia

#4291 in the World

Founded: 1995

10. Abu Dhabi University

#1504 in Asia

#4332 in the World

Founded: 2003

11. University of Wollongong in Dubai

#1605 in Asia

#4572 in the World

Founded: 1993

12. Masdar Institute of Science and Technology

#1702 in Asia

#4775 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 400
Founded: 2007

13. Al Ain University of Science and Technology

#1734 in Asia

#4861 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Founded: 2004

14. University of Dubai

#1743 in Asia

#4877 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1997

15. American University in the Emirates

#1954 in Asia

#5346 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Founded: 2006

16. Gulf Medical University

#2026 in Asia

#5545 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1998

17. Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government

#2124 in Asia

#5766 in the World

Founded: 2005

18. British University in Dubai

#2216 in Asia

#6005 in the World

Founded: 2004

19. Skyline University College

#2345 in Asia

#6276 in the World

Founded: 1990

20. Canadian University of Dubai

#2363 in Asia

#6315 in the World

Enrollment: 2,074
Founded: 2006

21. American University of Ras Al Khaimah

#2366 in Asia

#6320 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Founded: 2009

22. City University College of Ajman

#2627 in Asia

#6861 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 2012

23. Emirates College for Advanced Education

#2821 in Asia

#7253 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 2007

24. Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management

#2860 in Asia

#7353 in the World

Founded: 2001

25. Ras al-Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University

#2874 in Asia

#7382 in the World

Founded: 2006

26. Al Ghurair University

#2901 in Asia

#7450 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 1999

27. Dubai Pharmacy College

#2951 in Asia

#7570 in the World

Founded: 1992

28. Institute of Management Technology Dubai

#3088 in Asia

#7884 in the World

Founded: 2006

29. ALHOSN University

#3094 in Asia

#7895 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2005

30. Emirates Aviation University

#3133 in Asia

#8018 in the World

Founded: 2010

31. Emirates College of Technology

#3175 in Asia

#8134 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1993

32. Al Wasl University

#3349 in Asia

#8594 in the World

Founded: 1986

33. Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi

#3373 in Asia

#8653 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000

34. Middlesex University Dubai

#3647 in Asia

#9247 in the World

Enrollment: 3,500
Founded: 2005

35. Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences

#3787 in Asia

#9517 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 2014

36. Amity University Dubai

#3894 in Asia

#9783 in the World

Founded: 2011

37. Manipal University, Dubai

#4226 in Asia

#10453 in the World

Founded: 2000

38. Al Qasimia University

#4296 in Asia

#10609 in the World

Founded: 2014

39. Abu Dhabi Polytechnic

#4453 in Asia

#10934 in the World

Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2010

40. Al Falah University - Dubai

#4603 in Asia

#11241 in the World

Founded: 2015

41. Fatima College of Health Sciences

#4614 in Asia

#11271 in the World

Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2006

42. Khawarizmi International College

#4627 in Asia

#11295 in the World

Founded: 1985

43. Murdoch University Dubai

#4630 in Asia

#11305 in the World

Founded: 2008

44. Abu Dhabi School of Management

#4718 in Asia

#11482 in the World

Founded: 2013

45. University of Fujairah

#4813 in Asia

#11692 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Founded: 2006

46. MODUL University Dubai

#4848 in Asia

#11767 in the World

Founded: 2016

47. Dubai Medical College

#4944 in Asia

#11976 in the World

Founded: 1985

48. Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies

#4946 in Asia

#11979 in the World

Founded: 1983

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

#5048 in Asia

#12216 in the World

Founded: 1995

50. Jumeira University

#5051 in Asia

#12221 in the World

Founded: 2011

51. Al Dar University College

#5093 in Asia

#12298 in the World

Founded: 1994

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

#5120 in Asia

#12348 in the World

Founded: 2003

53. University of Modern Sciences, UAE

#5209 in Asia

#12569 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Founded: 2011

54. Imam Malik College for Islamic Sharia and Law

#5262 in Asia

#12673 in the World

Founded: 2011

55. Emirates College for Management and Information Technology

#5378 in Asia

#12990 in the World

Founded: 1998

56. American College of Dubai

#5392 in Asia

#13014 in the World

Founded: 1990

57. European University College

#5400 in Asia

#13027 in the World

Founded: 2006

58. European International College

#5424 in Asia

#13110 in the World

Founded: 2006

59. MENA College of Management

#5430 in Asia

#13127 in the World

Founded: 2014

60. Emirates Canadian University College

#5472 in Asia

#13262 in the World

Founded: 2011

61. Ittihad University

#5565 in Asia

#13496 in the World

Founded: 1999

62. Mohammed V University Abu Dhabi

#5625 in Asia

#13655 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 2009

63. University of Jazeera

#5635 in Asia

#13691 in the World

Founded: 2008

64. College of Fashion and Design

#5652 in Asia

#13727 in the World

65. University College of Mother and Family Sciences

#5734 in Asia

#13900 in the World

66. Maktoum Bin Hamdan Dental University College

#5818 in Asia

#14097 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 $685 + $197-1408 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).