Times Higher Education Awards MENA 2023: winners announced

The inaugural edition of the Times Higher Education Awards MENA has recognised 10 deserving winners at a ceremony in Abu Dhabi.

The prizes, which saw Lebanese American University named Leadership and Management Team of the Year, received nearly 300 entries in total.

While some countries may have been eligible for other THE awards, this event marks the first year of a new awards ceremony honouring the best institutions across the Middle East and North Africa.

Universities from a total of 17 countries or territories entered, with these whittled down to 75 finalists.

The ceremony, which was held at the St Regis Abu Dhabi on 14 November, honoured 10 outstanding winners across a range of categories.

And reflecting the strength of universities across the region, the winners span six different countries and territories – four from the United Arab Emirates, two from Lebanon, and one each from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan and Qatar.

Phil Baty, chief global affairs officer at THE, said the company’s awards spotlighted the truly exceptional achievements of universities, teams and individuals in some of their most critical areas of focus.

A major part of the UK sector for almost 20 years, Mr Baty said it was about time the MENA region had its own opportunity to showcase its best and brightest, and give them their own space to shine.

“We are delighted to bring the ‘Oscars of higher education’ to the Middle East and North Africa for the first time,” Mr Baty said.

“This year represents a landmark moment for THE: our first awards focused exclusively on this vibrant, rapidly changing and ambitious part of the world.

“The scale, diversity and quality of the entries we received clearly justifies our decision to single out the region for special attention.”

Times Higher Education Awards MENA 2023: the winners 

International Strategy of the Year
Abu Dhabi University 

Teaching and Learning Strategy of the Year
American University in Dubai

Outstanding Contribution to Regional Development
Al-Ahliyya Amman University     

Outstanding Support for Students
Gulf Medical University

Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Leadership
University of Balamand

Technological or Digital Innovation of the Year
Arabian Gulf University 

Student Recruitment Campaign of the Year
Qatar University

Research Project of the Year: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
American University in Cairo

Research Project of the Year: STEM
New York University Abu Dhabi

Leadership and Management Team of the Year
Lebanese American University

Learn more about the winners in our special publication