Universities across the Arab world have achieved notable advances in the Times Higher Education subject rankings for twenty twenty-six, underscoring steady progress in teaching quality, research performance and international collaboration.

The latest results show institutions from the Middle East and North Africa improving their standing across a range of disciplines, including engineering, computer science, medicine and the physical sciences.

Several universities strengthened their positions in traditionally competitive fields, benefiting from increased research funding, expanded postgraduate programmes and stronger links with global academic networks.

Analysts noted that sustained investment in higher education and targeted national strategies have begun to translate into measurable gains in citation impact, industry engagement and academic reputation.

Gulf institutions, in particular, performed strongly in engineering, technology and medical subjects, reflecting a focus on innovation-driven growth and knowledge-based economies.

Universities in North Africa also recorded progress, especially in science and health-related disciplines, supported by rising publication output and international partnerships.

The subject rankings assess performance using indicators such as teaching environment, research volume and influence, international outlook and knowledge transfer.

Observers said improvements across multiple subject areas indicate a broad-based strengthening of academic ecosystems rather than isolated success stories.

The results reinforce the view that Arab universities are becoming more competitive on the global stage, with continued gains expected as institutions deepen research capacity, attract international talent and align academic priorities with national development goals.