Middle East Higher Education Ranking 2025!

The Times Higher Education from the UK has published the Best Universities Ranking for 2025, which includes 2,855 universities from 115 countries. Topping the list is the University of Oxford in the UK, followed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the USA.

In Asia, the highest-ranked university is Tsinghua University in China, ranked 12th globally. Peking University is the second-best in Asia, and the National University of Singapore ranks third. Several Middle Eastern universities also provide high-quality education.

In the 2025 rankings, Iraq has 79 listed universities, Saudi Arabia has 34, Jordan has 20, and the United Arab Emirates has 15. Israel has 8, Palestine 7, Oman 9, Yemen 2, Qatar 1, Kuwait 5, and Bahrain 4 universities.

King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia is among the top 200, ranking 176th. Abu Dhabi University in the UAE is ranked 191st, and Tel Aviv University in Israel is between 201st and 250th. Iraqi universities such as the University of Sulaimani and the University of Technology are between 1,001st and 1,200th.

King Saud University in Saudi Arabia ranks between 251st and 300th. Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University is in the same range, being the third-best in the country. King Abdulaziz University falls between 351st and 400th, King Khalid University between 301st and 350th, Prince Sultan University between 401st and 500th, and Princess Noura bint Abdulrahman University between 501st and 600th.

In the UAE, Khalifa University is ranked between 201st and 250th. The University of the United Arab Emirates is between 251st and 300th, and the University of Sharjah is between 301st and 350th globally.

Qatar University ranks between 201st and 250th, and the American University of the Middle East is between 401st and 500th. Kuwait University is between 1,201st and 1,500th. Sultan Qaboos University in Oman ranks between 601st and 800th. The Applied Science Private University in Jordan is between 501st and 600th, while the University of Jordan ranks between 601st and 800th.

Despite conflict issues, An-Najah National University in Palestine is ranked between 1,201st and 1,500th. The Arabian Gulf University in Bahrain is between 501st and 600th. Albayda University in Yemen is also on the global list.

The Middle East is making significant investments in higher education, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE leading in global competitiveness. Despite facing numerous challenges, the region is striving to enhance education quality, even in areas affected by conflict.

Sources: Times Higher Education.

Sherazur Rahman, Teacher and Writer, Singra, Natore, Bangladesh. sherazbd@gmail.com