Hamad Bin Khalifa University is top-ranked in Arab world and 126th globally in THE 2027 list

Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) ranked 126th in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027. That placement makes HBKU the highest-ranked university in the Arab world and the only Arab institution inside the global top 150 for this edition of THE's list.

HBKU was founded in 2010 within the Qatar Foundation education and research ecosystem and is named after the late Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. The university was established to build homegrown intellectual capacity while remaining internationally connected. Its organisational model brings together academic programmes, research, public policy and strategic partnerships, aiming to link academic work with government and industry needs.

HBKU President Ahmad M. Hasnah attributed the ranking to the efforts of faculty, researchers, students and staff, and to the environment provided by Qatar Foundation. Hasnah said the university's mission is about driving purposeful innovation and nurturing homegrown intellectual capacity. He added HBKU aims to serve Qatar's priorities while contributing to the global knowledge economy, arguing that a multidisciplinary institution based in the Arab region can produce research with international relevance.

Significance within Qatar and the region

Placing a homegrown Qatari university among established international institutions less than two decades after creation highlights HBKU's rapid institutional growth. The ranking also strengthens Qatar's position as a regional centre for higher education and advanced research. HBKU has expanded its academic community and introduced programmes aligned with Qatar's national priorities and emerging social and economic needs.

Concrete implications for prospective students and partners

• Prospective students: HBKU's THE placement can be a factor when comparing research intensity, international profile, and how programmes connect with national development goals.
• Research collaborators and industry: The ranking may make HBKU more visible for partnerships that require strong research metrics and international outlook.
• Policymakers and funders: The result reflects measurable progress in building a research-led university within a broader national strategy.

HBKU's rise to 126th in THE's 2027 rankings shows measurable international recognition of a university founded in 2010. The institution emphasizes multidisciplinary research, alignment with Qatar's priorities, and connections between academia, government and industry. Leadership credits the university community and Qatar Foundation for the achievement and presents HBKU as a regional research and education hub with global relevance.