United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) has ranked joint first in the UAE alongside Khalifa University and 235th globally in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027, reflecting its continued progress in academia and research and its growing standing among higher education institutions worldwide.

Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, Cultural Adviser to the UAE President and Chancellor of UAEU, said the university’s joint top national ranking alongside Khalifa University reflects the position the UAE’s national university has built over the past five decades and demonstrates its ability to maintain an influential presence in global academia and research.

He added that the achievement brings a responsibility to continue investing in knowledge, research and human capital. The university will seek to strengthen its role in advancing national priorities and producing knowledge whose impact extends beyond the campus to society and the wider world.

Professor Ahmed Ali Al Raisi, Vice Chancellor of UAEU, said the university continues to develop its education and research system in line with international standards, focusing on areas of national priority and strengthening the links between education, research and innovation.

He said the ranking reflects the university’s progress while also raising its ambitions for the next phase, with the aim of further enhancing its competitiveness and global presence in higher education and scientific research.

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings are among the leading international university assessment systems, evaluating higher education institutions in areas including teaching quality, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry engagement.

The 2027 edition includes 2,297 universities from 118 countries and territories, making it the largest edition to date and highlighting the increasing competition among higher education institutions worldwide.

The achievement coincides with the 50th anniversary of UAEU’s establishment. Founded in 1976 as the UAE’s national university, it continues five decades later to advance education and research, nurture national talent, and produce knowledge, research and innovation aligned with the UAE’s strategic and development priorities.