Al-Mustaqbal University has achieved a new international academic milestone, further strengthening its record of excellence, following the announcement of the 2026 edition of the University Ranking by Academic Performance (URAP).
The University maintained its position as the top-ranked private university in Iraq for the third consecutive year, after securing first place among Iraqi private universities and colleges in the 2024 and 2025 editions of the ranking. This achievement reflects the sustainability of the University's strategic vision and its continued leadership in academic excellence and scientific research.
At the national level, Al-Mustaqbal University secured the third position among all Iraqi public and private universities, ranking after only the University of Baghdad and the University of Technology. This accomplishment highlights the University's growing academic reputation and its strong performance across key research and educational indicators.
Internationally, the University recorded a remarkable advancement in the 2026 ranking, moving up 294 positions worldwide compared with the previous edition. This significant progress demonstrates the rapid growth in the quality, impact, and global visibility of its scientific research outputs, as well as the expansion of its international academic collaborations.
The URAP ranking is widely recognized as one of the most prestigious global university rankings focusing primarily on academic performance and research productivity. The ranking is based exclusively on objective data obtained from the globally recognized Clarivate Analytics databases and evaluates universities according to several research-related indicators, including the volume of scientific publications, citation impact, research productivity, and international research collaboration.
This achievement reflects Al-Mustaqbal University's unwavering commitment to advancing higher education quality and strengthening its research ecosystem in accordance with international standards. It also contributes directly to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) through enhancing educational and research quality, SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) by promoting innovation and scientific productivity, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through expanding international research cooperation and academic partnerships.
The University's continued progress in global rankings underscores the success of its strategic approach to investing in scientific research, innovation, and academic excellence, further enhancing its international standing and contributing to the advancement of Iraq's presence in the global higher education landscape.