Saturday 18 / October / 2025
Muscat: Sultan Qaboos University has achieved the eighth position among Arab universities in the QS Arab Region Rankings for 2026, announced during the closing ceremony of the QS Arab Forum 2025, which the university hosted on Friday evening.
This marks the first time the university has hosted the forum in the Sultanate of Oman. The event brought together a wide range of higher education experts, university presidents from across the Arab world, academics, researchers, and decision-makers in the field of higher education.
Her Excellency Dr. Rahma bint Ibrahim Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation and patron of the event, praised the inclusion of 11 Omani universities in the rankings a 175% increase in the number of Omani institutions since 2020. She reaffirmed Oman’s commitment to strengthening its reputation as a regional hub for collaborative research and strategic partnerships in higher education, aimed at promoting excellence, sustainability, and innovation.
As of this year, the QS Arab Region Rankings include 298 Arab universities, with 82 new entries. Among them are 11 Omani academic institutions, including four newly listed ones.
The QS Arab Forum focused on presenting the 2026 QS rankings results and discussing best practices and challenges facing the higher education sector in the region through scientific sessions and specialized workshops.
Key themes addressed during the forum included academic innovation, education quality, international partnerships, scientific research, and academic reputation. Emerging trends such as hybrid learning and educational technology were also highlighted.
The conference provided participants with valuable opportunities to network, exchange expertise with peers from academic institutions, and explore mechanisms for enhancing academic and administrative performance. It also facilitated the formation of new partnerships aimed at elevating the global standing of Arab universities.
Dhofar University and Sohar University Achieve Notable Advancements in QS Arab Region Rankings 2026
Dhofar University has continued to strengthen its position in the QS Arab Region University Rankings for 2026, announced on Wednesday, October 15, 2025. The university climbed to rank 75, marking a significant leap of 12 places from its previous position at 87 last year.
This achievement reflects the university’s ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of education and scientific research, as well as its commitment to expanding regional and international partnerships. The progress also underscores Dhofar University's dedication to realizing its vision of excellence, leadership, and community service in alignment with Oman Vision 2040.
Meanwhile, Sohar University made an impressive jump of 19 places in this year’s QS Arab Rankings, reaching the 81st position. Notably, Sohar University now holds the top spot among higher education institutions in the Sultanate in the research quality index, highlighting its growing reputation in academic excellence and innovation.
