Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi has climbed to 147th place in the QS World University Rankings 2027, securing its position as the UAE's top-ranked university for a ninth consecutive year. The institution also rose to second place among universities across the Arab world.
Professor Ebrahim Al Hajri, President of Khalifa University, said the achievement reflects the research strength, talent and international partnerships the university is building in the UAE and beyond. "Khalifa University's rise to second place in the Arab region reflects the research strength, talent and international partnerships we are building in the UAE and beyond," he said.
The university's strong QS showing was driven in part by its performance in research-intensive indicators, including papers published per faculty member and citations per paper, as well as a high proportion of international faculty and professors holding doctoral degrees.
The result comes as the UAE continues to invest heavily in research infrastructure and in attracting international academic talent, aiming to bring its domestic universities up to globally competitive standards. Khalifa University, formed through the merger of several of the UAE's higher-education institutions, has steadily climbed global rankings in recent years and is now regarded as one of the clearest symbols of the country's progress in higher education.