Saudi Arabia’s Top 5 Universities

• King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) – Ranked #1 in the Arab Region, KFUPM (Dhahran) is Saudi’s premier technical university. It is globally renowned for its engineering and science programs, especially in petroleum and chemical engineering. (QS 2026 ranks its Petroleum Engineering program 5th worldwide.) KFUPM offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering (petroleum, chemical, mechanical, electrical), computer science, business, and related STEM fields. Its STEM focus and research output underpin its top regional position. 
• King Saud University (KSU) – A public university in Riyadh, KSU ranks 4th in QS AR 2026. Founded in 1957 as Saudi’s first modern university, it offers a comprehensive curriculum. It has strong engineering and technology faculties (mechanical, electrical, computer, civil engineering), as well as colleges of medicine, business, and humanities. In QS AR 2026, KSU’s broad academic offerings and research base keep it among Saudi’s best. For example, KSU’s College of Engineering and College of Medicine consistently attract top students nationwide. 
• King Abdulaziz University (KAU) – Based in Jeddah, KAU is a large research university (ranked 7th regionally). It offers undergraduate and graduate programs across 29 faculties. Notable faculties include Engineering, Medicine, Business Administration, Science, and Humanities. These cover flagship programs in petroleum and mechanical engineering, computer science, pharmaceuticals, and economics. The diversity of KAU’s programs (e.g. Engineering, Medicine, Business) is reflected in its high QS ranking. It has made international news for aggressive faculty hiring and research output, helping it climb in world rankings as well. 
• Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (IAU) – Located in Dammam, IAU (formerly University of Dammam) is a public university ranked 15th in the Arab region. Its flagship strength is in health and medical sciences. IAU is “distinguished by its excellence in medicine, engineering, architecture, and health sciences”. For example, the IAU College of Medicine and allied health faculties produce many of Saudi’s doctors and pharmacists. It also offers reputable engineering programs (mechanical, chemical, civil) and architecture/design. QS notes its high faculty-student ratio and research impact in medicine. 
• King Khalid University (KKU) – Based in Abha (Asir Region), KKU ranks 17th in QS AR 2026. It is a comprehensive multi-campus university. Its scientific colleges include Engineering, Computer Science, Science, Business, and Architecture. (It also has arts and humanities faculties.) King Khalid University’s flagship programs therefore span engineering (civil, electrical, mechanical, computer), business administration, and health sciences. Notably, its Computer Science and Engineering programs are among the region’s largest. The mix of faculties reflects KKU’s role as a broad-based center of higher education. 

United Arab Emirates’ Top 5 Universities

• Khalifa University (Abu Dhabi) – Ranked 3rd in the QS Arab Region, Khalifa University is a research-intensive institution specializing in science and engineering. Its colleges include Engineering and Physical Sciences, Computing and Mathematical Sciences, and Medicine & Health Sciences. Flagship areas include aerospace, nuclear engineering, materials science, and energy engineering. For example, Khalifa has world-class programs in chemical, petroleum, and nuclear engineering and in computer science. QS notes that Khalifa’s rise to #3 was its “highest-ever” regional position, driven by high research output and international collaboration. 
• United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) – Based in Al Ain, UAEU (est. 1976) is the oldest national university and ranks 5th regionally. UAEU has nine colleges including Engineering, Agriculture & Veterinary Medicine, Medicine & Health Sciences, Business & Economics, and Computer & Information Science. Its flagship programs span from Agricultural Sciences (unique among Gulf universities) to engineering and medicine. QS highlights UAEU as one of the UAE’s best, with broad offerings up to PhD level. For instance, UAEU’s Agricultural Resource Management and Renewable Energy Engineering programs are well-regarded regionally, alongside its traditional strength in engineering. 
• American University of Sharjah (AUS) – A private liberal-arts university in Sharjah, AUS ranks 9th in the region. It is modeled on American universities and is known for architecture/design and engineering. Its College of Architecture, Art & Design has the UAE’s #1 architecture program, with both Architecture and Interior Design degrees. It also has a College of Engineering (offering electrical, mechanical, civil, chemical, industrial engineering, etc.) and a School of Business. As QS AR shows, AUS’s top programs include architecture and engineering, producing many of the region’s architects and engineers. 
• Abu Dhabi University (ADU) – A private multi-campus university (Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai), ADU is ranked 11th regionally. It offers a wide range of professional programs. Its College of Engineering is “the largest in the UAE”, with ABET-accredited programs from BSc Architecture to AI/Robotics. ADU also has Colleges of Business, Law, Education, Arts, and Medicine & Health. Flagship programs include engineering (civil, electrical, computer, artificial intelligence, etc.), architecture, and business administration. For example, ADU’s engineering graduates are noted for industry preparedness; QS ranks ADU highly on employer reputation partly due to these programs. 
• Ajman University (AU) – A private university in Ajman, AU is ranked 12th in QS AR 2026. It has grown rapidly by adding programs in engineering, technology, health sciences, and the arts. Its Engineering College offers specialty degrees (e.g. in biomedical, mechanical, civil engineering), and it has strong Business, Law, Pharmacy, and Architecture faculties. In recent years Ajman University launched over 10 new programs in emerging fields (AI, data science, etc.). Thus its flagship areas are engineering and technology management, business, and design, aligning with national economic diversification. (QS AR 2026 notes AU’s jump in the rankings as evidence of UAE’s improving higher education system.) 

Egypt’s Top 5 Universities

Egypt leads North Africa with 42 universities in QS Arab Region 2026 and six in the regional top 50. Its highest-ranked are:

• The American University in Cairo (AUC) – A private, English-language liberal-arts university in Cairo, AUC is ranked 13th regionally. It is Egypt’s top university in the QS regional list. AUC offers undergraduate and graduate programs in sciences, engineering, humanities, social sciences, business, and public policy. It is especially known for strong Business Administration and Engineering programs. (For example, AUC’s School of Business is highly ranked in MENA, and its Department of Engineering offers degrees in computer, electrical, and civil engineering.) AUC’s liberal-arts curriculum and international faculty make it unique. QS highlights AUC as Egypt’s leader – “led by the American University in Cairo (13th)” in regional rankings – reflecting its flagship role in economics, engineering, media, and urban planning education. 
• Cairo University – Egypt’s largest public university (Giza), ranked 20th in QS AR. Cairo University offers over 25 faculties (Engineering, Medicine, Science, Law, Commerce, Agriculture, Education, Arts, etc.). Its flagship programs include Engineering (civil, electrical, mechanical, computer), Medicine and Pharmacy, Science (chemistry, physics, biology), and Economics/Business. It is traditionally Egypt’s top public university. For example, Cairo University’s Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Engineering are among the oldest and most prestigious in the country. QS notes that “Cairo University (20th)” has broken into the top 20 Arab universities for the first time, reflecting its robust research output and student body in these fields. 
• Ain Shams University – A major public university in greater Cairo, ranked 28th. It offers strong science and professional programs, with flagship faculties in Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences, Commerce, and Engineering. Its Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Pharmacy are among Egypt’s best-known. Ain Shams is renowned for health sciences and engineering; it also has well-regarded departments of computer science and law. Its QS rank reflects its broad academic offerings and growing research profile. 
• Alexandria University – The principal university in Alexandria, ranked 36th. Alexandria U. has strengths similar to Cairo and Ain Shams. It is known for Medicine (Faculty of Medicine Alexandria is a major medical school), Engineering, Science, Business, and Law. Its flagship programs include telecommunications engineering, medical and pharmaceutical sciences, and maritime studies (reflecting the city’s port economy). Alexandria’s heritage as a 1930s-founded university and recent research expansion underpin its place among the region’s top 40. 
• Future University in Egypt (FUE) – A private university in New Cairo, ranked 45th. FUE focuses on modern applied fields and entrepreneurship. Its colleges include Engineering and Technology, Management of Technology, Arts, Pharmacy, and Dentistry. Flagship programs include Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Computer Science & AI, Architectural Engineering, and health science programs (pharmacy, dentistry). For example, FUE’s smart building and computing programs are designed to align with national development goals. Its QS entry at #45 reflects rapid growth; notably, FUE’s name appears among Egypt’s highest-ranked institutions alongside historic universities. 

(Additional Note: other Egyptian universities also rank in the top 100 – e.g. Mansoura University at 50th and Al-Azhar University – but the above five are highest by QS 2026.)