Abu Dhabi University (ADU) has made a major leap on the global academic stage, climbing 110 places in the prestigious QS World University Rankings 2026 to reach rank 391, placing it officially among the top 400 universities in the world.
The result reflects the university’s continuous efforts to elevate academic standards, strengthen research output, and enhance student employability. The improved position comes in a year when Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the higher education analytics firm behind the ranking system, applied more rigorous data validation methods to improve the accuracy of institutional comparisons.
The rankings acknowledge ADU’s strong performance across key indicators, demonstrating the university’s rising profile in research, innovation, and the real-world success of its graduates.
Regionally, ADU has also moved up two spots to become the fifth highest-ranked university among 12 UAE-based institutions, highlighting its growing influence and reputation in the region. The top five UAE universities according to the latest QS World University Rankings are:
- Khalifa University, ranked first in the UAE and 177 globally.
- United Arab Emirates University, second in the UAE and 229 globally.
- American University of Sharjah, third in the region and 272 globally.
- University of Sharjah, fourth in the region and 328 globally.
- ADU, fifth in the region and 391 globally.