Strategic Investments Drive MENA Universities Up in QS World Rankings
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Universities across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region have made major strides in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, marking a significant rise in institutional performance and international presence. A total of 115 MENA institutions were listed this year, up from 88 in the 2024 edition, an increase that highlights the success of long-term national strategies.
Leading the charge is Saudi Arabia, with 22 universities now featured in the rankings. The country’s flagship, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, broke into the global top 100 at rank 67, a first for the region. This success reflects the country’s Vision 2030 plan, which prioritises global recognition through funding for research, university-industry collaboration, and partnerships.
The United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations have also demonstrated exceptional growth, particularly in internationalisation indicators. These include metrics such as international faculty and student ratios, as well as research collaboration, areas where GCC institutions consistently outperform regional averages.
Outside the GCC, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon have also improved significantly. Egypt now has 13 universities in the QS rankings, with Cairo University and the American University in Cairo leading. Lebanon saw unexpected gains despite political instability; the Lebanese University climbed over 60 places to rank 515 globally.
Jordan’s capital, Amman, has been named the best student city in the Middle East by QS, with several of the country’s universities seeing marked improvement. Investment in STEM faculties and partnerships with Gulf institutions are driving progress.
According to QS experts, the region’s upward trend is tied to improved research output, strategic global partnerships, and strong national education visions. Continued investment suggests more MENA universities could enter the top 200 by 2030.
This momentum positions the MENA region, and particularly countries like Saudi Arabia and Egypt, as rising powers in the global higher education landscape.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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