Skip to content
AmbleWave
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, UAE, at sunset

2007

Founded

38

Programmes to choose from

Overview

About Khalifa University

Khalifa University (Arabic: جامعة خليفة) is a public research university located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It was established in its current form in February 2017 by decree of UAE President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, through the merger of three institutions: Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research (KUSTAR), the Petroleum Institute, and the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology. The university comprises three colleges, three research institutes, and 20 research centers covering science, engineering, and medicine.

Khalifa University is the top ranked university in the United Arab Emirates and among the leading research institutions in the Arab world. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, it is placed 177th globally and 3rd in the Arab region, ranking 11th globally for international faculty and 37th globally for academic reputation. In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, it is placed 201st globally and 5th in the Arab region. Its research output is among the most cited in the region, between 2022 and 2024 the university produced 7,018 publications with a Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) of 2.21, meaning its research receives on average more than double the citations of comparable work worldwide. In 2024, 112 faculty members were included in the Stanford University–Elsevier Top 2% worldwide scientists list.

From the university

Leadership, vision and recognition

A message from the leadership

Dr Al Hajri puts sustainability at the centre of the University's research, education and innovation, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the UAE's Net Zero 2050 strategy.

Dr Ebrahim Al Hajri

President

Vision & mission

To drive the knowledge economy of Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a leading global research-intensive university.

Accreditation & recognition

  • Fully licensed; all programmes accredited by the UAE Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA)

Key facts

Founded

2007

Type

University

Location

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Programmes with us

38

Programmes

38 programmes to choose from

Health & Life Sciences · Computing & Technology · Engineering · Business & Management · Design, Hospitality & More

Filter in course finder

Fees & entry

Planning your application

See fees and entry requirements at Khalifa University

Fees, entry requirements and the documents you need are available with a free AmbleWave account.

Location

Abu Dhabi

More in United Arab Emirates

All universities

Apply to Khalifa University with us.

Free consultation. No commitment. An honest read on where you can go and how to get there.

Useful links

Overview text adapted from Wikipedia (Khalifa University), CC BY-SA 4.0