Higher education institutions in the United Arab Emirates need to be recognized by the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA), which operates as part of the Ministry of Education. [1] While the Ministry of Education is the federal governing body for higher education and education in general, some emirates might still have their own agencies which oversee certain aspects of higher education within the emirate, such as Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) or Abu Dhabi's Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK).
Only institutions that have received CAA accreditation from the Ministry of Education are listed below. [2]
These are the universities' rankings of 2024 & 2025 according to QS (Quacquarelli Symonds). [5] Definitions of categories used for measurement of QS are missing. It would be helpful if the UAE provided its own rankings according to its own measurement system.
Institution | 2024 (QS) | 2025 (QS) |
---|---|---|
Khalifa University | 230 | 202 |
United Arab Emirates University | 290 | 261 |
American University of Sharjah | 364 | 332 |
University of Sharjah | 465 | 434 |
Ajman University | 551 | 477 |
American University of Ras Al Khaimah | - | 485 |
Abu Dhabi University | 580 | 501 |
Canadian University Dubai | 551 | 523 |
American University in Dubai | 621-630 | 601-610 |
University of Dubai | 851-900 | 801-850 |
The Ministry of Education does not recognize educational institutions based in free zones. While individual Emirates are responsible for managing the standards of educational institutions within their free zones, Dubai is the only Emirate that does so through the Knowledge and Human Development Authority's (KHDA) University Quality Assurance International Board. The Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah is currently working on tightening rules and regulations that govern higher academic institutions within free zones in the Emirate. [6]
United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) (Arabic: جامعة الإمارات العربية المتحدة) is a public research university located in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Founded in 1976 by the country's first President, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, it is the oldest university in the United Arab Emirates and offers courses in various subjects up to post-graduation.
The American University of Sharjah is a private university in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. It was founded in 1997 by Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. Located in University City in Sharjah, AUS has more than 5,000 students from more than 94 countries and a full-time faculty of more than 360 from 48 countries.
Zayed University is a public university in the United Arab Emirates. It has campuses in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus is a satellite campus of Heriot-Watt University based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Established in 2005, it was the first campus of an overseas university to open in Dubai International Academic City.
The British University in Dubai (BUiD) (Arabic: الجامعة البريطانية في دبي) is a research-based, non-profit institution in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Founded in 2003 by the country's Vice President and Prime Minister Maktoum bin Rashid al-Maktoum, it is licensed by the UAE's Ministry of Education's Higher Education Affairs and all its programmes are accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA).
Private education in Dubai is regulated by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority. The UAE Ministry of Education is responsible for public schools in Dubai. Currently, more than 90% of school education in Dubai takes place in the private sector, served by 194 private schools offering 17 different curricula to more than 280,000 students from 182 nationalities. Dubai has 26 international branch campuses of universities from 12 different countries - including the UK, Australia and India. More than 30,000 students attend these universities, with the majority studying business, engineering and media & design. The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) was founded in 2006 to develop education and human resource sectors in Dubai, and license educational institutes.
The Indian High School is a CBSE-affiliated Indian school in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It was established in 1961 to provide education to the children of Indian expatriates and was the first expatriate educational institution in the UAE. The school is one of the small number of not-for-profit schools in the emirate, and is rated "Very Good" by Dubai's KHDA. It is one of the oldest and largest educational institutions in the Persian Gulf region.
The University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) Arabic: جامعة ولونغونغ في دبي) is an offshore campus of the University of Wollongong in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Established in 1993, the university is located in the Dubai Knowledge Park and serves over 3,500 students from more than 108 countries.
Abu Dhabi University (ADU) (Arabic: جامعة أبوظبي) is a private research university with its main campus in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and satellite campuses in Al Ain, Dubai and Madinat Zayed. Founded in 2003 by Ali Saeed bin Harmal al-Dhaheri, it is the largest private institution in the country that offers courses in various subjects up to post-graduation.
The Rochester Institute of Technology of Dubai is a satellite campus of Rochester Institute of Technology, New York, USA, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The college is located in the Dubai Silicon Oasis and started offering part-time graduate courses in Fall 2008. In 2009, the university began its full-time graduate program. RIT Dubai's first graduating class was in 2010, with the graduation ceremony taking place in Rochester, NY. In 2010, a full-time undergraduate program was started as part of the university's planned expansion. In the fall of 2011, RIT Dubai moved its campus to a new premises to accommodate the growing student body. By 2019, RIT plans to expand the campus to 1,000,000 square feet (93,000 m2) to provide facilities for 4,000 students.
Provision of education in the UAE began shortly after the establishment of the federation with the inception of the first university, the United Arab Emirates University, located in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi. Since then, the country has progressed with efforts of ensuring high literacy rates, modern programs and women's share in education. It works on improving its youth's education which is why the agenda 2021 has been set. The UAE currently devotes approximately 16 percent of total federal government spending to education. In 2019, the overall literacy rate was 96%, and in the year 2022, the literacy rate increased to 98.29.
Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University is the first smart university in the United Arab Emirates, established in 2002. The President of the university is the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Being the first e-learning institute in the UAE, its working model has paved the way for the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR), UAE to design standards for accreditation for an e-learning institution. Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) follows in its delivery of learning a blended learning. These methods may include a mixture of face-to-face classrooms, online classrooms, and self-paced learning.
Repton School Dubai, part of Excella, is an international, co-educational school founded in 2007. The school caters to students from ages 3 to 18 and has boarding facilities for students from age 11. It is a partner school of the original Repton School in the UK, founded in 1557.
The Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) is the national quality assurance and regulatory agency responsible for evaluation and accreditation of higher educational institutions and universities in the United Arab Emirates. Established in 2000, it comes under the country's Ministry of Education.
Knowledge and Human Development Authority(KHDA) (Arabic: هيئة المعرفة والتنمية البشرية) is the educational quality assurance and regulatory authority of the Government of Dubai, United Arab Emirates which is responsible for evaluation and accreditation of higher educational institutions and universities in the Emirate of Dubai. Established in 2006 by the country's Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, it is the main body that oversees the growth of private education sector in the emirate, including early childhood education centers and schools.
The Higher Colleges of Technology(HCT) (Arabic: كليّات التقنيّة العليا) is a public institute of technology with 16 campuses and facilities throughout the United Arab Emirates. Founded in 1988 by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak al-Nahyan, it is the largest applied higher educational institution in the country.
Al-Mizhar American Academy (AAM) is an American school offering American curriculum based on US Common Core standards. The school is located in Al-Mizhar Mirdif, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is a private institution managed by Taaleem, a UAE-based company and one of the largest education providers in the Middle East.
The Russian International School in Dubai is a Russian private school located in Muhaisnah 4, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It follows the Russian Curriculum, the only school in Dubai to do so. Originally established in 1996 as the Dubai Russian School; it was a villa-based school with 60 students, founded by Najibullah Najib.
Credence High School is a CBSE-affiliated co-educational Indian school in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It was established in 2014 to provide education to the children of Indian expatriates and is located off Sheikh Zayed Road, in Al Quoz. The school is rated Very Good by Knowledge and Human Development Authority, the education regulating body of the UAE and hosts students of over thirty nationalities.
Middlesex University (MDX) Dubai is an offshore campus of Middlesex University London in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Situated across two locations in Dubai Knowledge Park and Dubai International Academic City, the campus was inaugurated in 2005 and currently has over 5,600 students from over 120 nationalities studying across both locations. Professor Cedwyn Fernandes is the Director of Middlesex University Dubai, alongside his duties as Pro-Vice Chancellor of Middlesex University London.