Ajman University Shortlisted in Two Categories at the Times Higher Education Arab World Awards 2025

Ajman University marked a significant institutional achievement by being shortlisted in two categories at the Times Higher Education Arab World Awards 2025, with the shortlist announced during the Times Higher Education Arab Universities Summit held in Amman, Jordan, from 25 to 27 November 2025. This recognition reflects sustained institutional progress and highlights how strategic leadership and environmental action have positioned the University among the region’s most impactful higher education institutions.

The Times Higher Education Arab World Awards are among the most competitive recognitions in the region, celebrating achievements that extend beyond rankings to acknowledge leadership, innovation, and measurable real-world outcomes. Ajman University’s shortlisting in two categories underscores the depth of its institutional development and the consistency of its performance across governance, sustainability, and community engagement.

In the category Leadership and Management Team of the Year, Ajman University was shortlisted for its submission titled “Senior Leadership Team Propels Ajman University to Soaring Excellence, Influence, and Impact.” The submission highlights the University’s senior leadership team, comprising Dr Karim Seghir, Dr Khaled Assaleh, Dr Abdulhaq Al-Nuaimi, Dr Mustahsan Mir, and Rabi Al Khofash, and the strategic direction established following the formation of a renewed leadership structure in 2017. Guided by a clearly defined stakeholder compass, an ambitious Strategic Plan, and the “Make It Happen” motto, the University progressed from unrealised potential toward growing regional and global recognition.

Over an eight-year period, this leadership approach delivered tangible institutional outcomes, including 19 international programme accreditations, a debut appearance in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 within the 401–500 band, and recognition as the first private, non-profit university in the Arab region to receive international accreditation from WSCUC in the United States. According to the submission, this progress was supported through strengthened accountability and alignment mechanisms, data-driven decision-making, investment in professional development and teamwork, expansion of research and innovation capacity, and a sustained focus on social impact and inclusion.

Ajman University was also shortlisted in the category Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Leadership for its project “Greening Communities: Mangrove Planting Project,” implemented during 2023 to 2024 in collaboration with Al Zorah Development Company and Quest for Adventure at the Al Zorah Natural Reserve in Ajman. The initiative applies a nature-based solution to protect Ajman’s vulnerable coastline by addressing rising sea levels and carbon emissions through the stabilising and carbon-sequestering capacity of mangroves, which can absorb up to four times more carbon dioxide than terrestrial forests.

With more than 3,300 mangroves planted to date, the project demonstrates strong potential environmental impact, with estimated carbon absorption ranging between 66,000 and 990,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Beyond its ecological contribution, the initiative integrates social impact by engaging communities in meaningful ways. Women contribute to planning efforts, students gain hands-on sustainability experience, and underserved youth are provided opportunities to connect with nature. The project’s long-term objectives include expanding mangrove cover by 50 per cent within five years and engaging more than 10,000 participants, positioning it as a replicable model for coastal resilience and community-driven climate action.

Collectively, these two shortlistings reflect more than individual submissions. They affirm Ajman University’s ability to align leadership, strategy, and sustainability within a cohesive institutional framework that delivers measurable outcomes. The recognition highlights the University’s growing role in advancing higher education excellence, environmental stewardship, and social impact across the Arab region.