ATLAS · UNIVERSITIES · UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Universities in United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates has 41 universities on the map. The oldest dates to 1821. Most were founded in the modern era. Below: how they spread across the centuries, and the country’s oldest institutions. From Wikidata, snapshot 2026-06-22.

UNIVERSITIES41

OLDEST1821

FOUNDED 1900+36

By founding era

Before 12000 · 0%

1200–15990 · 0%

1600–18991 · 2%

1900 or later36 · 88%

Date unknown4 · 10%

Oldest universities in United Arab Emirates

The country’s earliest institutions — the deepest roots of higher education here.

1821Heriot-Watt University Dubai

1976United Arab Emirates University

1980Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Bangladesh Islamia School

1986AlWasl University

1986Kullīyat al-Dirāsāt al-Islāmīyah wa-al-ʻArabīyah

1989Etisalat University College

1990Skyline University College

1993Liwa University

1993University of Wollongong in Dubai

1995American University in Dubai

1995Synergy University Dubai Campus

1997American University of Sharjah

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