Australasian universities have dominated a global league table that ranks institutions based on their work on tackling issues such as climate change.
The Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings take into account the positive effect universities have on the social and economic wellbeing of the planet and humanity, rather than traditional metrics such as research prestige.
The University of Auckland, in New Zealand, came first in the index, followed by the University of Sydney, Western Sydney University and La Trobe University, which are all in Australia.
The rest of the top 10 was made up of universities in the United States, Italy, Canada, two in the UK and another in Australia. Half of the top 10 institutions were in Australasia.
In the GCC, King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia came highest, at 140th, while in the wider Middle East the Iran University of Medical Sciences scored top, coming 56th.
The two UAE institutions included in the rankings, Khalifa University and Gulf Medical College, came 487th and 649th respectively.
In total, 766 universities were ranked, with higher education institutions from 89 countries taking part.
“We believe that universities are our greatest hope of solving some of the world’s biggest challenges, and THE’s Impact Rankings bring this to light like never before," said Phil Baty, chief knowledge officer at THE.
“Unlike many traditional rankings, participation is just as important as overall position, with institutions actively demonstrating how seriously they take their role in achieving a sustainable world.
"The results reveal how many are putting this at the heart of their missions.”
The international table ranks universities according to how they contribute to the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which include tackling climate change, improving gender equality, combating poverty and protecting the environment.
Universities taking part in the index are invited to submit evidence on how they are contributing to each of the targets, with scores calculated based on a number of factors including the extent of their international collaboration.
Khalifa University scored highest for its work towards the UN goal of achieving fair working conditions and economic growth, while Gulf Medical College performed best in promoting good health and wellbeing.
While universities from the United States and the United Kingdom dominate traditional university rankings, those from less developed countries were able to achieve high rankings when their social impact was considered.
China’s Tongji University and the University of Sao Paolo were among those in the top 20, coming in 13th and 14th respectively.
“We’ve had a phenomenal response from institutions across the globe,” Mr Baty said.
“Universities from Afghanistan to Vietnam have taken part, and a number of top 100 spots are held by universities from countries and regions that have never appeared in the upper echelons of the traditional THE world rankings before, like Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia and Mexico.
“These rankings prove that traditional barriers to success like wealth or research prestige don’t matter when it comes to doing great things for sustainability. It’s clear that universities give us a lot to be hopeful for.”
The Top 20
1. University of Auckland, New Zealand
2. University of Sydney, Australia
3. Western Sydney University, Australia
4. La Trobe University, Australia
5. Arizona State University (Tempe), United States
6. University of Bologna, Italy
7. University of British Columbia, Canada
8. University of Manchester, United Kingdom
9. King’s College London, United Kingdom
10. RMIT University, Australia
=11. University of Leeds, United Kingdom
=11. Newcastle University, United Kingdom
13. Tongji University, China
=14. University of São Paulo, Brazil
=14. Trinity College Dublin, Republic of Ireland
16. University of Waterloo, Canada
=17. McMaster University, Canada
=17. Monash University, Australia
19. Simon Fraser University, Canada
20. Aix-Marseille University, France
Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.
Based: Riyadh
Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany
Founded: September, 2020
Number of employees: 70
Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions
Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds
Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
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THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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