From the Desk of Chancellor Seghir

A Monthly Statement Issued by the Chancellor of Ajman University

The year 2025 will go down in AU history as truly exceptional in every possible way. A year of impact. A year of progress. With dramatic results made possible by
stakeholders from the UAE, the Arab Region, and beyond. AU and YOU are a powerful team.

A Monthly Statement Issued by the Chancellor of Ajman University

Karim Seghir, Ph.D.
Chancellor
Ajman University

© Ajman University. All rights reserved.

University St., Al jerf 1, Ajman
United Arab Emirates

University St., Al jerf 1, Ajman
United Arab Emirates

December 2025

Now, as we look to 2026 – declared the “Year of Family” in the UAE – we are more committed than ever to building resilient and cohesive communities here and everywhere. In fact, AU has never been more ready to co-invent a future that befits the great country and the global communities we have the honor of serving.

Together, we can – and will – empower tomorrow.

Sincerely,

A Year of Impact

The difference we are making together is so impressive and expansive that we decided to map it! Showcasing how our vast community of trailblazers is making the world a better place, we created the “AU+YOU Experience,” an interactive digital magazine. Click the link to discover a bold new frontier in storytelling that amplifies our stakeholders’ impact and influence locally, regionally, and globally.

The pursuit of the greater good has always defined and united AU—and always will. During our inaugural alumni conference in November, graduates shared stories about how their time at AU sparked their sense of social responsibility. In his keynote remarks, Lacina Kone ‘93, CEO of Smart Africa and former advisor to the President of Cote D’Ivoire, said, “Ajman University awakened in me the idea of
service. I came to AU as a young man with ambition, and I left with a mission to deliver technology not just for profit, but for people.”

The following is a sneak peek of what’s inside the magazine:

• Mangrove Superheroes, Middle East
  AU’s Mangrove Project brings the Ajman community together to plant
  these environmental powerhouses along the shoreline regularly. The
  initial batch of 3,700 saplings has the potential to sequester nearly 990,000
  tons of carbon dioxide over their lifetime.
  

• Eyecare for Everyone, Asia
  As Asia Regional Director of the Al Basar International Foundation, AU alumnus Dr. Shaban Wafi ’05 is helping to transform lives through eye care and eye hospitals in underserved communities.
  

• Air Quality for Kids, Europe
  Funded by AU, research in partnership with the Technical University of Denmark and the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute reveals the critical relationship between classrooms and student well-being and recommends steps to enhance their health.
  

A Year of Progress

Thanks to our community of stakeholders, Ajman University also reached new frontiers in rankings and recognition. In fact, it would be more accurate to describe our progress as a quantum leap.

In the QS World University Rankings, AU soared into #440 – up 37 places from last year. Eight short years ago, we broke into the Top 1000. In the QS Arab Region Ranking, AU moved into #12 – a five-place improvement over last year. In the QS Subject Rankings, AU ranks #1 in the UAE for Data Science & Artificial Intelligence and #1 for Pharmacy & Pharmacology.

The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings for 2025 listed us #16 globally for SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goal, which required universities to submit a comprehensive report demonstrating their contributions to all SDGs. Additionally, we are among the Top 200 globally for SDG 13: Climate Action – leading UAE universities in this area.

Catapulting into the big leagues in one year’s ranking cycle is only possible through the shared commitment and collective diligence of all stakeholders: students, alumni, faculty, staff, partners, and donors. Together, we are building bridges (literally, as our students and faculty can attest), breaking barriers (also literally, as in the removal of walls around campus), and opening doors (with scholarships to ensure socio-economic status never stands in the way of student talent).

Notably, 2025 showed that AU is also on the rise beyond rankings. Our focus on inclusion, innovation, edupreneurship, and social responsibility is transforming lives. The following are a sampling from a long list of human-centered milestones:

• 65% of students now receive financial aid.
• 100 students of determination are supported through our Center for Inclusive Learning.
• 27 faculty members were named to Stanford’s List of the Top 2% of global scientists.
• 1,000 at-risk patients received free oral care through our mobile dental clinic.
• 4,000 hours of community service completed by students, faculty, and staff.