Arabian Gulf University (AGU) has achieved a remarkable position in the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings 2025, ranking between 201 and 250, making it the first and only university from the region to attain this rank. This milestone reflects the university’s excellence in education and scientific research. The evaluation was based on comprehensive international criteria, including the quality of education, research environment and output, international cooperation, and partnerships with the industrial sector, among other factors.

In regional context, AGU ranked (22) among universities in GCC countries and (26) among Arab universities. Out of 1,213 universities from 39 Asian countries that applied for the ranking, 853 institutions were included.

His Excellency Dr Saad bin Saud Al Fuhaid, President of AGU expressed pride in this achievement, attributing it to the strong support of Gulf leaders, which enabled AGU to attain the highest levels of quality and excellence in its academic programs, research initiatives, and scientific activities. He added that AGU has upheld its reputation as one of the oldest and most significant Gulf integration projects in the educational sector, congratulating the university’s academic and administrative staff on this distinguished accomplishment.

He further noted that strategic investments in fostering a culture of research excellence, faculty development, student support services, and international collaborations have significantly contributed to enhancing the university’s academic quality and scientific impact. These efforts have strengthened AGU’s standing as a trusted higher education institution both regionally and globally.

He continued, “The university’s advanced ranking reflects our unwavering commitment to providing a prestigious educational experience and advancing scientific research. This success is the result of the dedicated efforts of all staff members, enabling us to maintain a leading position in reputable university rankings. Our focus on international quality standards encompasses various indicators, including academic reputation, program quality, faculty-to-student ratio, diversity of nationalities among students and staff, awards and patents earned by faculty members, and employment opportunities for graduates.”

Dr Adel Kamal, Director of the Quality and Excellence Centre at AGU, explained that this prestigious international ranking is a testament to the hard work of everyone involved at AGU. He affirmed that the achievement reflects the university’s strong academic and research reputation and its commitment to high standards of quality and excellence. Notably, AGU ranked first among GCC universities in the quality of education criterion and second among Arab universities.

This ranking places AGU among leading Asian universities, alongside prominent institutions such as Tsinghua University in China (ranked 1st in Asia and 12th globally), the National University of Singapore (3rd in Asia, 17th globally), and the University of Tokyo (5th in Asia, 28th globally). This demonstrates AGU’s steady advancement toward further excellence and reinforces its role as a pioneering institution committed to developing skilled competencies capable of contributing to sustainable development goals across the Gulf.

THE Asia University Rankings prioritise criteria related to research, teaching, knowledge transfer, international openness, and academic reputation, as well as the impact of universities in research and education. The rankings utilise data from external sources such as Scopus and other metrics to provide a comprehensive assessment of universities’ scientific and educational quality.