In a historic move to elevate higher education standards, the UAE Ministry of Education (MoE) has unveiled the first-ever rankings for the country’s universities. This initiative, known as the National Higher Education Institutions Classification Framework, aims to enhance educational quality and align with the UAE’s strategic vision.
Dr. Mohammad Al Mualla, Undersecretary for Higher Education Academic Affairs, highlighted the significance of this framework, which allows students to choose institutions that match their academic interests while encouraging universities to boost their competitiveness and attract international students. He stated, “Working on the development of the framework has spanned six years, in collaboration with relevant entities. Ministry teams have conducted standard comparisons with internationally accredited university ranking systems.”
The framework, approved by the UAE Cabinet, classifies MoE-licensed higher education institutions (HEIs) based on transparent criteria. The new system classifies institutions into two main categories: the Research Cluster, for those offering postgraduate studies, and the Non-research Cluster, for those offering only undergraduate programs.
Research Cluster Pillars:
- Research and Innovation (35%)
- Teaching Quality and Student Life (35%)
- Employment and Labour Market Alignment (20%)
- International Collaboration (10%)
The initial phase has already seen the classification of various HEIs, with updates planned annually. The framework does not include institutions established within the last five years, those offering only master’s and doctoral programs, or universities with suspended licenses.
Top-Ranked Universities (‘Outstanding’):
- American University of Sharjah
- United Arab Emirates University
- Khalifa University
- Mohammed bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences
- New York University Abu Dhabi
Very Good UAE Universities:
- Abu Dhabi University
- American University in Dubai
- The British University in Dubai
- Al Sharekah University
- Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- Zayed University
- Ajman University
- University of Wollongong in Dubai
Good UAE Universities:
- American University in the Emirates
- The American University of Ras Al Khaimah
- Emirates College for Educational Development
- Gulf Medical University
- Sorbonne University
- Al Ain University
- Canadian University in Dubai
- Institute of Business Administration Technology in Dubai
- University of Dubai
- Dubai College of Pharmacy
- Raydan Academy
- Saint Joseph University Dubai
Satisfactory UAE Universities:
- Horizon University College
- Emirates Aviation University
- Imam Malik College of Islamic Sharia and Law
- University of Fujairah
- City University Ajman
- Al Wasl University
- Jumeirah University
- Ras Al Khaimah University of Medicine and Health Sciences
The MoE emphasizes neutrality, fairness, and transparency in these rankings by gathering data from various sources, including official entities, international bodies, and surveys from students, employees, employers, and alumni. This comprehensive approach ensures the accuracy and reliability of the rankings, providing institutions with tools to review and improve their standings.
As the framework continues to evolve, the Ministry will announce the assessment pillars for Non-research Cluster HEIs in the next phase, further solidifying the UAE’s commitment to educational excellence.
