UAEU Achieves Major Advancement In Times Higher Education Impact Rankings For 2025

The United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) has made a notable leap in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2025, moving up by 100 positions to be placed among the top 101–200 universities worldwide. This achievement highlights UAEU's expanding global role in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its research, education, and community involvement.

Professor Mohsen Sherif, Provost of UAEU and Chair of the UAEU Sustainability Committee, stated, "This remarkable progress in the 2025 THE Impact Rankings reflects UAEU’s sustained efforts in integrating the SDGs into every facet of our academic, research, and outreach missions. Our strong performance across 12 SDGs, particularly in education, hunger, innovation, and equity, is a testament to the university’s role in shaping a more sustainable and inclusive future. UAEU is proud to serve as a hub for climate-conscious innovation, regional capacity building, and global partnerships."

This year, UAEU was evaluated across 12 SDGs compared to 11 last year with the inclusion of SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. Impressively, UAEU achieved a top 50 global ranking in two SDGs: SDG 4: Quality Education at rank 16 and SDG 2: Zero Hunger at rank 41. The university also gained recognition for SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals at rank 84 and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities at rank 99.

In alignment with its strategic plan towards COP28 and beyond, UAEU has introduced a postdoctoral fellowship program centred on climate action. This initiative aims to attract international researchers to focus on decarbonization, climate resilience, food-water-energy systems, and policy innovation. These fellowships demonstrate the university's commitment to supporting the UAE's national climate agenda.

The university has also collaborated with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the African Women Empowerment Programme. This initiative empowers female scholars and professionals across Africa by providing them with knowledge and tools to tackle key SDG challenges through science, education, and leadership development.

Commitment to Global Sustainability

UAEU's upward trend in global sustainability rankings confirms its mission as a national institution dedicated to advancing research, innovation, and partnerships that create lasting impacts locally and globally. The university's efforts highlight its dedication to inclusive growth and international cooperation.

With inputs from WAM