History & Key Achievements
Throughout our short history we have helped shape our country and wider region through research and the dissemination of knowledge. We strive to preserve our national heritage, while pursuing innovate solutions and promoting academic excellence.
Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahayan, the first President of the UAE, understood
that the future of any nation depends upon the education of its young people. He dreamed
of a national flagship university that would provide students with a world class education
and supply the knowledge and the skilled workers necessary to support the national
economy, while helping to solve some of the nation’s most pressing problems through
research. In 1976 his dream became a reality when the United Arab Emirates University
(UAEU) was established.
In 1977 the university opened with four faculties. These were the Faculty of Humanities
and Social Sciences, known then as the Faculty of Arts; the Faculty of Science, the
Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Business and Economics, known then as the
Faculty of Administrative and Political Science.
The Faculty of Shari'ah and Law was established.
The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and the Faculty of Engineering were established.
The first student cohort graduated. This included 278 male and 194 female students,
some of whom now hold key leadership position in the country.
The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences is established to improve medical services
in the UAE, to reduce dependence on expatriate physicians and to begin a research
program relevant to the needs of the country. Today, the College of Medicine and Health
Sciences is ranked among the top medical schools in the Middle East.
The first Master's Degree Program is established in the Faculty of Science. It
is an interdisciplinary program in environmental sciences.
The College of Engineering receives ABET accreditation and the university established
the Continuing Education Center as another means of serving the community.
The College of Business and Economics receives AACSB accreditation.
The university establishes the Faculty of Information Technology and the Research
Affairs Unit to manage and promote scientific research.
English becomes the language of instruction.
UAEU is placed among the top 10 research universities in the Islamic world by the
SESRTCIC, OIC Research Center and ‘Smart Classrooms’ are introduced.
The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences receives the Hamdan Award for Best
Medical College in the Arab World.
UAEU is chosen by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) to be the second
overseas venue for examinations in the Faculty of Occupational Medicine.
The first Ph.D program is established.
The university moves to a new state-of-the-art campus situated in Al Ain. The 80 hectare
campus is a showcase of modern architecture, high-tech laboratories, specialized research
centers, cutting-edge IT infrastructure and twenty-first century classroom technology.
UAEU ranks 338 in the QS World University rankings. The highest rankings to date.
The College of IT receives ABET Accreditation.
Mobile learning is introduced and UAEU ranks in the top 50 world universities that
were founded within the past 50 years (QS World University Rankings).
University College is established. It includes three programs: The University
Foundation Program; the Student Academic Success Program and the General Education
Program. This assists students with the transition from high school to university,
enhances student engagement, integrates academic and co-curricular programs, connects
students with resources and fosters both independent and lifelong learning.
UAEU received institutional accreditation from the UAE Ministry of Higher Education
and Scientific Research.
UAEU receives international institutional accreditation from the WASC (Senior
College and University Commission WSCUC).
The “Roadmap to the University of the Future” was launched.
Achieving a ranking among the top 300 universities globally according to QS rankings.
Ranked first in the country according to the Times Higher Education ranking. Ranked
among the top 301-350 universities globally.
Signed a partnership with the University of Oxford to enhance scientific research
in health and sustainability fields.
UAEU launches the “Smart Roads” project.
UAEU receives institutional accreditation for universities for 10 years.
UAEU ranked first in the UAE and second in the GCC according to the QS Global MBA
Rankings 2023.
Published over 25,000 research papers since its establishment, covering fields
such as engineering, medicine, and artificial intelligence. Launched a national research
project on clean energy in collaboration with global partners.
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