Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Juma, Minister of Education and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Higher Education Council, affirmed that Bahrain’s higher education sector is steadily advancing towards excellence locally, regionally and globally, with national higher education institutions making unprecedented progress in international indicators.
He noted that this enhances their appeal to students and positions them for partnerships with international higher education institutions in joint scientific research programmes and projects and academic exchange, under the National Higher Education Strategy approved by the Higher Education and Training Development Council, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. The strategy has provided a solid foundation for developing the performance of the higher education sector and enhancing its quality.
The minister made the statement following the release of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027, which saw Ahlia University in Bahrain enter the rankings for the first time, becoming the first private university in Bahrain to do so and ranking among the top 300 universities globally. The University of Bahrain also made significant progress, rising 285 places from its previous ranking in 2025, when it became the first Bahraini university to enter the rankings, and placing among the top 801-1,000 universities worldwide. Arabian Gulf University advanced by 19 places, ranking among the top 401-450 universities worldwide.
Dr. Juma congratulated Ahlia University, represented by its Board of Directors, Board of Trustees, academic and administrative staff, and students, on its outstanding achievement in the rankings, which significantly adds to Bahrain’s higher education record.
He also congratulated the University of Bahrain and all its personnel on its significant advancement in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings compared to its first ranking last year. He noted that this confirms the university’s success in implementing policies and procedures that ensure continued improvement in its performance and its ability to compete with leading national universities in the region and worldwide.
He also congratulated Arabian Gulf University, represented by its university presidency, Board of Trustees and all its personnel, on the progress it made in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings compared to its first ranking, describing it as a clear indication of the qualitative progress achieved by the university in recent years.
Dr. Juma affirmed that the entry of national, local and regional universities in Bahrain into the Times Higher Education World University Rankings represents a notable development in Bahrain’s higher education sector over the past two years. He noted that this reflects the success of national efforts and the outcomes of policies and performance indicators adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Higher Education Council to enhance the attractiveness of the higher education sector in Bahrain.
He expressed full confidence in the ability of more Bahraini universities to enter the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and achieve strong results in the coming editions, affirming that the Higher Education Council will provide them with all necessary support under the National Higher Education and Scientific Research Strategy. He also expressed his thanks and appreciation to the General Secretariat of the Higher Education Council for its significant efforts in this regard.