Arabian Gulf University (AGU) has scored a new global achievement by advancing in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings for the second consecutive year. The university joined the list of top 20% universities, having advanced to the 401-500 category out of 2,191 ranked universities, in comparison to its position among the 501-600 category out of 2,092 universities last year. This confirms the progress of its development journey towards realising its vision and strategic objectives.  

THE World University Rankings is one of the most prominent global rankings based on precise criteria for evaluating university performance. It is based on five pillars: quality of education, scientific research environment, quality of published research, openness to international cooperation, and industry links.

AGU was evaluated based on the excellence of the learning environment, the staff-to-student ratio, its level of academic qualifications, the availability of human and financial resources, the infrastructure supporting scientific research, the impact of published research, and the extent of international research collaboration. The university has also demonstrated a high capacity for transforming knowledge into practical application through partnerships with the industrial sector, strengthening its position as a leading institution in innovation.

His Excellency Dr Saad bin Saud Al Fuhaid, President of AGU, confirmed the university's progress in international rankings as the result of an ambitious institutional journey founded on academic and research excellence. The university is committed to offering innovative educational programmes, employing high-level educational and research capabilities, and building a solid international reputation through effective partnerships with prestigious universities around the world.

His Excellency added that this achievement affirms the university's dedication to its strategic vision, demonstrating its ability to maintain its leading position among the world's top universities in terms of educational quality, programme reliability, and the efficiency of its outcomes, reaffirming its regional standing and the academic community's confidence in its mission.

For his part, Dr Adel Kamal, Director of the Quality and Excellence Centre at AGU, stated that this achievement tails successive previous achievements by the university, placing it on the global stage. This follows the expansion of its academic influence by graduating highly trained cadres according to international standards, which has strengthened its ability to maintain a leading position in global rankings. He noted AGU’s commitment to meeting global market requirements and the strategic development goals of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

It is worth noting that AGU is the first educational institution in the Kingdom of Bahrain to be included in THE World University Rankings, an achievement that reflects its quality of education, bolsters the confidence of international institutions in its graduates, and consolidates its standing with local, regional, and international stakeholders.