United arab emirates: United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), celebrating its 50th anniversary, has solidified its global academic reputation by ranking among the world's leading universities in 21 subjects in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026.
According to Emirates News Agency, the 2026 edition evaluated over 18,300 academic programs across more than 1,700 universities in 100 locations, encompassing 55 disciplines and five broad faculty areas. UAEU showed improvement in eight subjects and maintained its presence across all five broad subject areas for the fourth consecutive year, with four areas demonstrating progress. Its global rankings include Engineering and Technology at 216, Social Sciences and Management at 272, Natural Sciences at 303, Life Sciences and Medicine at 310, and Arts and Humanities at 391.
At the national level, UAEU achieved first place in the UAE for Life Sciences and Medicine and Social Sciences and Management, and second place for Engineering and Technology and Natural Sciences. The university also topped the UAE rankings in seven individual subjects and shared first place in three others. It is among the top 200 globally in four subjects, showcasing its growing international influence.
The QS rankings are determined by factors such as academic and employer reputation, research impact through citations per paper and the H-index, and the International Research Network measuring global collaboration. Across the UAE, 96 programs from 14 institutions were ranked, underscoring the strength of the country's higher education sector.
Prof Ahmed Ali Alraeesi, Vice Chancellor of UAEU, remarked, "As we mark 50 years of UAEU's legacy, these results reflect our continued commitment to academic excellence, impactful research and global engagement." He further added, "Our performance in the QS Subject Rankings 2026 highlights the dedication of our faculty, researchers and students, and reinforces UAEU's role in advancing knowledge and innovation in the UAE and beyond."
UAEU stated that its performance mirrors its strategic vision to provide high-quality education, advance research, and contribute to national and global development.