Muscat: On Monday, the British organization Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) disclosed the findings of its new global report, Advanced Capabilities of Higher Education in the Sultanate of Oman, emphasizing Oman’s expanding position as an international higher education center.
The launch was held under the patronage of Dr. Khamis Saif Al Jabri, Chairman of the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-Up Unit.
The study highlighted the substantial increase in Oman's research output, which climbed by 36. 9% in 2024 over 2023.
According to Dr. Maryam Bil'arab Al Nabhani, Director General of Private Universities and Colleges, Oman Vision 2040 places education, learning, research, and national competencies at the core of national priorities, laying the groundwork for a competitive and sustainable knowledge-based economy.
She also mentioned that the Vision has set an ambitious target of having four Omani universities placed among the top 500 globally in the QS rankings by 2040.
Notably, Oman had favorable outcomes in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, with five Omani universities listed, up from two in the 2025 rankings, indicating the industry’s quick growth.
Dr. Al Nabhani noted that Nizwa University (ranked 770-761), Dhofar University (ranked 900-851), and the German University of Technology in Oman, GUtech (ranked 1,200-1,001), made their debut in the global rankings.
Additionally, Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) experienced significant growth, rising to 334th position worldwide, up from 362nd in 2025. Meanwhile, Sohar University made a qualitative jump, moving to the 1000951 bracket from 12001001 the previous year.
She credited these positive results to a strategic national strategy that begins with improving educational quality, supporting research, improving innovation ecosystems, and establishing institutional infrastructure that meets global evaluation criteria, including QS indicators such as academic reputation, research quality, employability, international cooperation, and the proportion of international students.
The QS report is a strategic reference document that promotes Oman's higher education institutions worldwide, supports higher education development efforts, and solidifies Oman's position as a regional and global hub for education and research in accordance with Oman Vision 2040.
For his part, Dr. Moosa Abdullah Al Kindi, Dean of the Modern College of Business and Science, remarked that the publication of the QS Higher Education Report on Oman is a critical turning point in documenting and promoting higher education. He emphasized that the college's involvement in this project corresponds with its aim to actively contribute to national development via academic success, research, and innovation.
He emphasized that Oman’s ongoing progress toward the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 makes such collaborations an effective strategy for increasing the global profile of its higher education sector.
This event highlights the nation's dedication to enhancing educational quality and attaining institutional excellence at both regional and worldwide levels.
