List of 66 best universities in the United Arab Emirates

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 849K citations received by 49.8K academic publications made by 66 universities from the United Arab Emirates, the popularity of 22 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. United Arab Emirates University

#269 in Asia

#1121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Founded: 1976

2. American University of Sharjah

#564 in Asia

#1925 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 1997

3. New York University Abu Dhabi

#662 in Asia

#2233 in the World

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

4. University of Sharjah

#706 in Asia

#2354 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 1997

5. Khalifa University

#843 in Asia

#2702 in the World

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

6. Higher Colleges of Technology

#950 in Asia

#2991 in the World

Founded: 1988

7. Zayed University

#1062 in Asia

#3276 in the World

Founded: 1998

8. Masdar Institute of Science and Technology

#1255 in Asia

#3734 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Enrollment: 400
Founded: 2007

9. Ajman University

#1280 in Asia

#3797 in the World

Founded: 1988

10. American University in Dubai

#1456 in Asia

#4217 in the World

Founded: 1995

11. University of Wollongong in Dubai

#1572 in Asia

#4469 in the World

Founded: 1993

12. Abu Dhabi University

#1754 in Asia

#4902 in the World

Founded: 2003

13. Gulf Medical University

#1798 in Asia

#4997 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1998

14. American University in the Emirates

#1837 in Asia

#5088 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Founded: 2006

15. British University in Dubai

#2037 in Asia

#5539 in the World

Founded: 2004

16. American University of Ras Al Khaimah

#2086 in Asia

#5670 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Founded: 2009

17. Al Ain University of Science and Technology

#2288 in Asia

#6137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Founded: 2004

18. Canadian University of Dubai

#2315 in Asia

#6203 in the World

Enrollment: 2,074
Founded: 2006

19. University of Dubai

#2321 in Asia

#6219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Founded: 1997

20. Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government

#2638 in Asia

#6872 in the World

Founded: 2005

21. Skyline University College

#2679 in Asia

#6968 in the World

Founded: 1990

22. Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management

#2698 in Asia

#7006 in the World

Founded: 2001

23. Emirates College for Advanced Education

#2821 in Asia

#7293 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 2007

24. Al Ghurair University

#2864 in Asia

#7374 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Founded: 1999

25. City University College of Ajman

#2942 in Asia

#7567 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Founded: 2012

26. Dubai Pharmacy College

#2950 in Asia

#7583 in the World

Founded: 1992

27. Ras al-Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University

#2968 in Asia

#7633 in the World

Founded: 2006

28. Institute of Management Technology Dubai

#2973 in Asia

#7645 in the World

Founded: 2006

29. Emirates College of Technology

#2976 in Asia

#7651 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1993

30. ALHOSN University

#3075 in Asia

#7909 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 2005

31. Middlesex University Dubai

#3549 in Asia

#9044 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Enrollment: 3,500
Founded: 2005

32. Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences

#3645 in Asia

#9227 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 2014

33. Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi

#3808 in Asia

#9594 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000

34. Amity University Dubai

#3879 in Asia

#9757 in the World

Founded: 2011

35. Manipal University, Dubai

#4134 in Asia

#10271 in the World

Founded: 2000

36. Emirates Aviation University

#4177 in Asia

#10354 in the World

Founded: 2010

37. Murdoch University Dubai

#4390 in Asia

#10797 in the World

Founded: 2008

38. Al Qasimia University

#4514 in Asia

#11062 in the World

Founded: 2014

39. Al Falah University - Dubai

#4566 in Asia

#11180 in the World

Founded: 2015

40. Abu Dhabi Polytechnic

#4617 in Asia

#11287 in the World

Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2010

41. Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies

#4631 in Asia

#11319 in the World

Founded: 1983

42. Khawarizmi International College

#4643 in Asia

#11338 in the World

Founded: 1985

43. Fatima College of Health Sciences

#4670 in Asia

#11427 in the World

Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2006

44. MODUL University Dubai

#4773 in Asia

#11594 in the World

Founded: 2016

45. Abu Dhabi School of Management

#4801 in Asia

#11651 in the World

Founded: 2013

46. Dubai Medical College

#4930 in Asia

#11945 in the World

Founded: 1985

47. Imam Malik College for Islamic Sharia and Law

#4935 in Asia

#11956 in the World

Founded: 2011

48. Al Dar University College

#4971 in Asia

#12032 in the World

Founded: 1994

49. Al Wasl University

#4999 in Asia

#12094 in the World

Founded: 1986

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

#5011 in Asia

#12120 in the World

Founded: 1995

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

#5053 in Asia

#12217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 2003

52. University of Modern Sciences, UAE

#5059 in Asia

#12233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Founded: 2011

53. Jumeira University

#5075 in Asia

#12270 in the World

Founded: 2011

54. University of Fujairah

#5266 in Asia

#12724 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Founded: 2006

55. European University College

#5339 in Asia

#12922 in the World

Founded: 2006

56. College of Fashion and Design

#5362 in Asia

#12970 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%

57. American College of Dubai

#5373 in Asia

#12988 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Founded: 1990

58. Emirates Canadian University College

#5380 in Asia

#13002 in the World

Founded: 2011

59. MENA College of Management

#5393 in Asia

#13032 in the World

Founded: 2014

60. Emirates College for Management and Information Technology

#5461 in Asia

#13222 in the World

Founded: 1998

61. University College of Mother and Family Sciences

#5462 in Asia

#13224 in the World

62. European International College

#5512 in Asia

#13342 in the World

Founded: 2006

63. Ittihad University

#5520 in Asia

#13357 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Founded: 1999

64. University of Jazeera

#5560 in Asia

#13490 in the World

Founded: 2008

65. Mohammed V University Abu Dhabi

#5619 in Asia

#13649 in the World

Enrollment: 1,000
Founded: 2009

66. Maktoum Bin Hamdan Dental University College

#5812 in Asia

#14093 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 $632 + $121-865 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).