Is it a good idea to study in the Middle East?
Owing to media stereotyping, many think of the Middle East as big sandy deserts with lots of camels, populated by men in turbans and long white robes. Movies, travel agencies, advertisers — the outlets that form our ideas of the Middle East and elsewhere — generally emphasise the exotic and strange.
But in reality, there are places which will still give you an eye-opening, rich cultural experience; there are many safe, tourist-friendly sites and cities that anyone can visit, such as the gorgeous sunsets in Istanbul, to the glittering skyscrapers of Abu Dhabi.
These vistas are some of the most Instagrammable in the world, but they aren’t the only reason why it’s a great idea to study in the Middle East.
Media often portrays the Middle East as either full of sweeping sand dunes, or home to towering skyscapers in futuristic cities. Source: AFP
Study in the Middle East: A snapshot of universities in the region
While league tables aren’t the sole determinant of how good a universities is, the region’s higher education insitutions are have been rising in global rankings.
Take Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for example. They are home to branch campuses of top international universities, cutting-edge research facilities, and a dynamic, cosmopolitan lifestyle — Khalifa University, for example, has ranked among the top institutions in the UAE for eight years in a row, and has some of the best specialised research centres in the region for engineering and health sciences.
Saeed Ur Rehman, a Pakistani national who graduated from the American University of Sharjah (AUS), only had praise for his time studying in the Middle East.
“I first moved to the UAE for work, but I learnt that I did not enjoy the work-life. So, I decided to seek a master’s programme and look locally in the UAE,” he shares.
“I had the opportunity to attend AUS, and the people were friendly, and the culture was nice and multicultural. While studying, I also had the chance to work as a graduate teaching assistant.”
How much does it cost to study in the Middle East?
But perhaps one of the main perks of studying in the Middle East is the affordability, even if you join an American institution’s branch campus in the region.
Studying at AUS costs US$28,592 (AED 105,020) per academic year, which applies to all majors. Meanwhile, in the US, the average tuition fee for full-time international students at a public four-year institution for the 2024-25 academic year is US$49,080 annually according to College Board data.
At Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, first-year students pay US$69,794, 24% less than students on the US campus, who are paying up to US$90,070 for one year of tuition.
10 Middle Eastern universities that offer English-taught programmes:
1. American University of Beirut
Country: Lebanon
Located in the capital city of Lebanon and ranked #6 on the QS Arab Region University Rankings 2025, the American University of Beirut (AUB) is a teaching-centred research university with a liberal arts focus.
Undergraduate programmes that are offered in English include agribusiness, archaeology, computer science, civil engineering, food sciences and management, graphic design, nursing, psychology, and statistics.
AUB’s master’s programmes are also taught in English, spanning food safety, geology, human resource management, public health, and urban planning.
However, it’s important to note that language-specific courses may still be taught in their respective languages.
2. Beirut Arab University
Country: Lebanon
Established in 1960, Beirut Arab University (BAU) is a prominent private institution of higher education in Lebanon.
All programmes and examinations at Beirut Arab University are set in English, except for the Faculties of Arts and Law, where instruction varies depending on the nature of the course.
When it comes to English-taught programmes, BAU offers undergraduate programmes in English language and literature, psychology, mass communication, architecture, accounting, economics, and management.
English-taught postgraduate programmes are available too, including psychology, mass communication, history, and English language and literature.
3. Sultan Qaboos University
Country: Oman
Tucked away on the southeastern coast of the Middle East, Sultan Qaboos University — #8 on the QS Arab Region University Rankings 2025 — is one of the many Middle Eastern universities that offer English-taught programmes.
SQU offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programmes covering a broad range of disciplines, including biomedical sciences, chemistry, computer science, environmental biology, physics, statistics, and engineering, all of which are taught in English.
4. University of Nizwa
Country: Oman
Founded in 2002, the University of Nizwa is the first non-profit higher educational institution in the Sultanate of Oman.
The university currently has over 6,000 students, and more than 80% of them are young Omani women.
Although fewer in number, the university still runs English-taught programmes such as Diploma, BA, and MA in English and Translation, BEd in English, and MA in English Language and TESOL.
5. King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
Country: Saudi Arabia
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, also known as KFUPM, is a premier Saudi university in the fields of science, engineering, business, and other general studies.
Perhaps its ranking is what makes it stand out among other universities in the Middle East. KFUPM is ranked #1 on the QS Arab Region University Rankings 2025 and #67 on the QS World University Rankings 2026.
KFUPM offers a wide range of programmes in English, particularly in its core fields of science, engineering, technology, and business.
If you’re looking to specialise in specific engineering fields, this is the place to be — enrol in programmes such as aerospace, architectural, chemical engineering, petroleum engineering, and more.
6. King Saud University
Country: Saudi Arabia
While Arabic remains the primary language of instruction at King Saud University, many English-taught programs are also available for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
For example, the health and medicine programmes are mostly taught in English – the university’s College of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Applied Medical Sciences, and Nursing all have English-taught curricula.
A wide array of engineering disciplines, including electrical, mechanical, civil, chemical, and petroleum engineering, are taught in English at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
7. Khalifa University
Country: United Arab Emirates
Another top institution in the UAE, Khalifa University stands out for exclusively using English as its official language of instruction for all its undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, making it a great option for those who want to study in the Middle East.
Its three colleges and 36 academic departments run a range of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programmes that cover a broad range of disciplines in science, engineering, and medicine.
Its College of Medicine and Health Sciences is also known as the first medical school in Abu Dhabi, and has offered a unique and advanced curriculum to train the next generation of medical professionals and researchers since day one.
8. Abu Dhabi University
Country: United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi University is widely recognised as the largest private university in the UAE and has consistently ranked highly for its large international faculty and student body. For those looking to study in the Middle East, this university is a top choice for both undergraduate and postgraduate education.
The university offers programmes in both Arabic and English across several fields – engineering and applied sciences, business, finance and economics, architecture, health sciences, law, and arts and sciences.
Recently, the university also unveiled 17 new future-focused programmes for the 2025/2026 academic year, encompassing vital fields such as international relations, psychology, public health, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, cybersecurity, cyber law, fintech, intelligent systems and digital transformation.
All programmes are accredited by the UAE’s Commission of Academic Accreditation and by the US-based Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
