Selection Criteria in the list

Manhom’s Top 50 Universities list, ranks the top 50 Arab universities based on research impact through a data-driven framework that evaluates each included university across two core dimensions, which are research performance and societal impact.

The list was prepared in collaboration and coordination with SciCommX, a UAE-based science communication and research engagement consultancy. The company works to bridge science and society through innovative media and research strategies.

Inclusion criteria
A university is considered eligible for inclusion in this list only if it appears among the top 100 Arab universities in at least one of the following internationally recognized regional rankings:

• QS Arab Region University Rankings 2025
• Times Higher Education (THE) Arab University Rankings 2024

Ranking framework
The evaluation model is structured around two equally weighted pillars, each contributing 50% to the overall ranking score:

• Research performance and quality
• Societal impact and visibility

Each pillar is further broken down into distinct, weighted criteria sourced from reliable databases and institutional assessments. The final composite score is the weighted sum of all criteria.

Pillar 1: Research performance and quality (50%)
This pillar measures a university's research output volume, quality, and global impact. The following criteria were used:

• Affiliated publications count (5%): The total number of publications authored by individuals affiliated with the institution, as indexed by Scopus via SciVal.
• Outputs in top 10% most cited (5%): The percentage of the university’s publications that rank among the top 10% most cited globally, indicating visibility and relevance, as indexed by Scopus via SciVal.
• Outputs in top 1% most cited (7.5%):The percentage of publications within the top 1% most cited worldwide, highlighting exceptional impact, as indexed by Scopus via SciVal.
• Field-weighted citation impact (7.5%): This metric adjusts for differences in citation practices across disciplines, comparing the institution's citation performance to global averages, as indexed by Scopus via SciVal.
• Research quality score (25%): The research quality score assigned to the university based on the latest publicly available Times Higher Education Arab University Rankings, either the 2025 or 2024 edition.

Pillar 2: Societal impact and visibility (50%)
This pillar evaluates the extent to which the university's research and knowledge outputs influence society, inform policy, and engage public audiences. The criteria include:

• Views count (5%): The total number of views received by the university’s publications as indexed by Scopus via SciVal, reflecting discoverability.
• Field-weighted views impact (5%): A normalized metric assessing how the institution’s publication views compared to global disciplinary norms, as indexed by Scopus via SciVal.
• Policy citations (5%): The number of citations of institutional research in policy documents, indicating research influence on decision-making and governance, as indexed by Scopus via SciVal.
• Social sustainability score (10%): The university’s social impact sub-score from the QS Sustainability Rankings 2025, capturing efforts in equality, knowledge exchange, impact of education, employability & opportunities, and health & wellbeing.
• Outreach and public engagement efforts (25%): A qualitative composite score derived from an editorial review of each university’s visible engagement with the public. This includes activities and outputs such as:
  • Blogs and thought leadership articles
  • Podcasts 
  • Public-facing magazines
  • Citizen science initiatives
  • Active and strategic social media use
  • Open public lectures and webinars
  • Infographics and visual explainers
  • Science cafés
  • Art installations or science exhibitions
  • Researcher media training programs

Each university’s engagement activities were reviewed using a standardized rubric evaluating factors such as originality, accessibility, consistency, and relevance to the public good.

Data collection and normalization

The entire data used in research was collected between May and July 2025 from credible sources, including SciVal, THE, QS, and publicly available institutional documents. 

Raw values were normalized, and scores for each criterion were calculated based on their respective weights. The final composite score was derived by summing the weighted values across all indicators.

The universities were then ranked in descending order based on their composite scores, resulting in the final list of the top 50 Arab universities by research impact 2025.

If data for any criterion is not publicly available or marked as Not Applicable (N/A), a score of zero is assigned for that criterion.

Tiebreak rule: If two universities have equal final composite scores, the university with the higher score in the ‘Outreach & public engagement efforts’ criterion is ranked higher.

Data verification
To ensure accuracy and integrity in the final rankings, the following verification procedures were employed:

• Quality assurance checks: Data entries and normalization calculations underwent multiple rounds of internal review to identify and correct anomalies or outliers.
• Documentation and traceability: A full audit trail was maintained for all data points, including source files, extraction dates, and methodological decisions, enabling full transparency.

Review committee oversight

The development and implementation of this methodology were informed by a review committee comprising leading experts in science communication.

Committee responsibilities included:

• Reviewing and approving the selection and weighting of ranking criteria
• Ensuring alignment with international best practices in university rankings
• Providing oversight for the editorial assessment process of public engagement
• Validating the final ranking outcomes before publication

This governance mechanism was established to promote transparency, minimize bias, and enhance the methodological rigor of the final ranking system.