End of Year Message

Dear Students, Faculty, Staff, Alumni, and Academic and Industrial Partners

As we approach the end of another remarkable year at Abu Dhabi University (ADU), I want to take a moment to reflect on our collective achievements and the strides we have made together.

This year has been a testament to our commitment to excellence in education, research, and community engagement. We welcomed an impressive cohort of new students, each bringing unique perspectives and talents that enrich our diverse university community. Our faculty members have continued to inspire and innovate, contributing to cutting-edge research that addresses both local and global challenges.

In 2024, Abu Dhabi University has made significant strides in various areas, showcasing its commitment to excellence. We are delighted to highlight some of our achievements, reflecting our progress and dedication to enhancing the academic landscape.

ADU won two awards at the THE Awards Arab World 2024: the Leadership and Management Team of the Year Award and the Teaching and Learning Strategy of the Year Award.

• In the THE World University Rankings 2025, ADU is ranked 191 globally and 3rd in the Middle East and Africa.
• ADU has been ranked 14th in the THE Arab University Rankings 2024.
• ADU has been ranked 89th in the the THE Asia Universities Rankings
• ADU has achieved another milestone by climbing to 8th place globally in the Times Higher Education Best Small Universities Rankings 2024, rising by 5 places and securing 1st place in the GCC and UAE
• ADU has been ranked 60th globally in the THE Young University Rankings for universities under 50 years.
• In terms of specific disciplines, business and economics subjects are ranked 101-125 by THE, while business and management studies are ranked 151-200 by QS. The accounting and finance program is ranked 251-300 by QS, and social sciences and management are ranked 288 globally by QS. In engineering subjects, the university is ranked 301-400 by THE, and ADU is ranked 401-450 in mechanical, aeronautical, and manufacturing engineering by QS. Furthermore, we are ranked 501-530 in electrical and electronic engineering and 551-600 in computer science, both by QS.
• For the Global Employability University Ranking 2025 by THE, ADU is ranked 174, making it 2nd in the GCC and 3rd in the Arab Region.
• ADU has also been placed in the ‘251-300’ range in the inaugural Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2025.
• In the QS Arab Region Rankings 2025, ADU achieved a rank of 12th.
• The MBA program is ranked 151-200 in the QS Global MBA rankings and 8th in the Arab Region.
• In the discipline of Business Administration ADU is ranked 200-300 in the 2024 ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS), while in Management, it is ranked in the 401-500 range.
• The number of patents has reached 31.
• We have increased our number of Advance HE fellows, senior fellows, and principal fellows to 75.
• ADU has successfully achieved reaccreditation by EQUIS and RIBA.
• Two new research institutes have been launched, focusing on sustainable futures and AI and emerging technologies, in addition to a research center in education.
• We have initiated two journals in the field of education and successfully concluded a conference on this topic.
• The Industrial Abu Dhabi University Graphene Center has been established.
• There has been a healthy increase in student enrollment, publications, and funding.
• ADU has won a bronze award at the QS Reimagine Education.
• In the 2024 UI GreenMetric World University Rankings, ADU has been ranked 344th out of 1,477 higher education institutions (HEIs) across 95 countries, and 2nd in the UAE. This marks an improvement of 15 places compared to last year, when we were ranked 359th out of 1,183 HEIs across 84 countries.
• We have submitted 10 new academic programs to the CAA
• We have run six major international conferences attracting thousands of participants.
• Many students and faculty winning in national and international competitions.
• Alumni gatherings in all colleges.
• Significant amount of external funding through Community Relation and Research Offices.

These remarkable achievements are a testament to the visionary leadership and great support of our Chairman, Dr. Ali Al Dhaheri, and Board Members, as well as the tireless efforts and dedication of our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and academic and industry partners.

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the great work by our Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Commission for Academic Accreditation CAA, the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge ADEK and the KHDA in transforming Education and Higher Education in the UAE, and we are all committed to their visions and state of the art guiding strategies.

As we look forward to the new year, let us carry the momentum of our achievements and continue to strive for excellence. I am confident that with our shared vision and dedication, we will reach even greater heights.

Thank you for your hard work, passion, and commitment to making Abu Dhabi University a beacon of knowledge and innovation.

Wishing you all a joyful and prosperous new year!

To view my end of year message in printable version: Click here