The QS World University Rankings 2026 reveal a notable achievement for the Muslim world, with two of its universities securing positions among the top 100 global institutions. The rankings, which feature over 1,500 institutions from more than 100 countries, highlight significant shifts in global higher education. While the US maintains its leading position, universities from the Muslim world and Asia have demonstrated remarkable progress.
This year, Malaysia’s University of Malaya clinched the 58th position, and Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals ranked 67th globally. These rankings underscore the substantial advancements made by academic institutions in Muslim-majority countries. Other notable mentions include Qatar University at 112th and the UAE’s Khalifa University at 177th. Indonesia’s University of Indonesia secured the 189th spot, while Kazakhstan’s Al-Farabi Kazakh National University ranked 166th.
In a broader regional comparison, Israel’s Tel Aviv University was ranked 223rd, showcasing the diverse academic performance within the region. Further down the list, Turkey’s Middle East Technical University ranked 269th, and Iran’s University of Tehran stood at 322nd. Sultan Qaboos University in Oman was ranked 334th, followed closely by Jordan University at 324th.
Rankings of Universities from Muslim-Majority Countries and Israel
Malaysia
- Universiti Malaya (UM) – Rank 58
- Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) – Rank 126
- Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) – Rank 134
- Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) – Rank 134
- Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) – Rank 153
- Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) – Rank 251
- Taylor’s University – Rank 253
- UCSI University – Rank 269
- Sunway University – Rank 410
- Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) – Rank 491
Saudi Arabia
- King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) – Rank 67
- King Saud University – Rank 143
- King Abdulaziz University (KAU) – Rank 163
- Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University – Rank 436
- Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (IAU) – Rank 491
Qatar
- Qatar University – Rank 112
- Hamad Bin Khalifa University – Rank 244
United Arab Emirates
- Khalifa University – Rank 177
- United Arab Emirates University – Rank 229
- American University of Sharjah – Rank 272
- University of Sharjah – Rank 328
- Abu Dhabi University – Rank 391
- Ajman University – Rank 440
Kazakhstan
- Al-Farabi Kazakh National University – Rank 166
- L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (ENU) – Rank 317
- Satbayev University – Rank 331
Indonesia
- Universitas Indonesia – Rank 189
- Gadjah Mada University – Rank 224
- Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) – Rank 255
- Universitas Airlangga – Rank 287
- IPB University – Rank 399
Turkey
- Middle East Technical University – Rank 269
- Istanbul Technical University – Rank 298
- Koç University – Rank 323
- Sabanci University – Rank 404
- Bilkent University – Rank 415
- Bogaziçi Üniversitesi – Rank 371
Israel
- Tel Aviv University – Rank 223
- The Hebrew University of Jerusalem – Rank 240
- Technion – Israel Institute of Technology – Rank 350
- Ben-Gurion University of The Negev – Rank 469
Oman
- Sultan Qaboos University – Rank 334
Jordan
- University of Jordan – Rank 324
- Jordan University of Science & Technology – Rank 461
Iran
- University of Tehran – Rank 322
- Sharif University of Technology – Rank 375
- Amirkabir University of Technology – Rank 456
- Iran University of Science and Technology – Rank 496
Uzbekistan
- Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers (TIIAME) – Rank 469
