The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has solidified its position as the Arab world’s most improved higher education system, according to the recently released QS World University Rankings: Arab Region 2026. This year, 15 UAE universities were featured in the rankings, with nine institutions climbing the ladder, one maintaining its position, and four experiencing slight declines. Notably, the University of Fujairah made its debut in the 151–160 band, marking a significant milestone for the nation’s academic landscape. The UAE, alongside Saudi Arabia, continues to dominate the region’s higher education sector, with both countries boasting three universities in the top 10 and six in the top 20—double the number of any other nation. Khalifa University achieved its highest-ever ranking, securing third place, while United Arab Emirates University held steady at fifth. The American University of Sharjah rose to ninth, and the University of Sharjah entered the top 20 for the first time, ranking fourteenth. Dr. Ashwin Fernandes, QS Executive Director for AMESA, highlighted the UAE’s excellence in internationalisation, with institutions like Al Ain University and The British University in Dubai ranking among the region’s most international universities. QS data projects that international student enrollment in the UAE will surge to nearly 120,000 by 2030. The UAE also recorded the highest system-wide improvement rate among Arab nations at 33%, with significant gains in employer reputation, web impact, and international student ratios. Nine of the top 10 universities for international faculty and seven for international students are based in the UAE, underscoring its growing global appeal.