Al-Aqsa University in Gaza 2026: History, Academic Programs, International Rankings and Research Presence
About Al-Aqsa University
Al-Aqsa University (Al-Aqsa University) is Public university a scientifically and academically independent Palestinian university, located in the Gaza Strip, with roots dating back to the year 1955 when it began as a teacher-training institution under the administration of the Egyptian government.
The university explains in its official history that it evolved in 1991 from a teachers' institute into a government college of education, then transformed at the start of the academic year 2000/2001 into Al-Aqsa University.
The university currently comprises a multi-disciplinary academic structure, and its official website publishes a number of institutional indicators, including 261 dunums as the university's total area and 76 accredited programs in the data displayed on the website in September 2026.
History of Al-Aqsa University
| Year | Institutional Development |
|---|---|
| 1955 | The beginning as a teachers' institute under the administration of the Egyptian government |
| 1991 | The institute is transformed into a government college of education |
| 2000/2001 | The college is converted into Al-Aqsa University |
| 2015 | A stage the university cited as part of its development toward an international presence |
| 2026 | Continued updating of programs, curricula and accredited programs |
The university notes that its original establishment was tied to teacher training, and it later expanded into the humanities, sciences, applied, medical, administrative, media and artistic fields.
Location and Campus
The university is located in Gaza – Palestine, and it has a university presence in Gaza, in addition to the university's new campus in Khan Younis according to the official website.
The institutional data published on the website show a total area of 261 dunums.
Colleges and Academic Majors
The university's published academic structure shows colleges and majors covering a wide range of fields.
Among the colleges the university mentions in its institutional profile:
- College of Applied Sciences
- Faculty of Arts and Humanities
- Faculty of Education
- College of Media
- Faculty of Arts
- Faculty of Management and Finance
- Faculty of Physical Education and Sports
- Faculty of Computing and Information Technology
- the Faculty of Medical Sciences
- Al-Aqsa University Community College for Intermediate Studies
A previously published profile page indicates that the university comprised 10 faculties in that description, while the current website shows the figure 76 accredited programs; therefore, the current program count is the most recent and most appropriate indicator to use in the 2026 profile.
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
The academic departments shown on the university's website include:
- Arabic Language
- English Language
- French language
- History
- Geography
- Sociology
- Islamic Studies
- Library Science
One example of recent academic development is that the History Department was established in the first semester of the academic year 1995/1996, and offers a program in history, with a study under way to introduce courses related to international relations into the curriculum.
Curriculum updating at the university also continues during 2026; the academic program pages show curriculum updates during August 2026.
Faculty of Education
Teacher training is one of the core historical fields at Al-Aqsa University, given that the university originally grew out of an institution specialized in teacher training.
The curricula published in 2026 show courses in:
- Qur'anic Sciences
- Hadith Sciences
- Methodologies of Hadith Scholars
- History of Islamic Legislation
- Arabic Language
- Curricula and Teaching Methods
The curriculum pages show updates during August 2026, reflecting the ongoing review of academic programs.
Graduate studies
The university offers postgraduate programs alongside bachelor's and diploma programs.
Data published in a university academic document indicate that its academic system included:
- Professional Diploma
- intermediate diploma programs
- Bachelor's degrees
- Higher Diploma
- Master's
- Doctorate
Those historical data also showed 90 programs at various degree levels during the period covered by the document, while the current website shows the figure 76 accredited programs; therefore, the two figures should not be merged as if they were issued for the same period.
Scientific Research
Al-Aqsa University has a scientific research system within its academic structure, and the website shows pages dedicated to scientific research within departments and colleges.
The database also shows AD Scientific Index a number of researchers affiliated with the university in various disciplines, including:
- Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Biology
- Microbiology
- Medical Sciences
- Engineering and applied disciplines.
In the AD Scientific Index update of August 2026, Mohammed A. Awadallah from Al-Aqsa University in the field of computer science had a career H-index of 50, with an H-index of 45 over the last five years in the data displayed at the time.
Also appearing is Hazem M. Abu Shawish in chemical sciences with a career H-index of 24 and an H-index of 14 over the last five years in the same update.
Al-Aqsa University in the International Rankings 2026
First: QS Arab Region Rankings 2026
Al-Aqsa University achieved in QS Arab University Rankings 2026 the band:
201–250 in the Arab region
the same band the university recorded in 2025, while it was in the 201+ band in 2024, and in the 171–200 band in 2023.
Historical Trajectory in QS
| Year | QS Arab Region |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 171–200 |
| 2024 | 201+ |
| 2025 | 201–250 |
| 2026 | 201–250 |
The university thus maintained the 201–250 band in both the 2025 and 2026 editions, according to the official QS page.
As for QS World University Rankings, the university shows no numeric global rank on the current QS page; therefore, no undocumented global figure is listed.
Al-Aqsa University's page on QS
Second: Times Higher Education – THE
Al-Aqsa University has an institutional page on Times Higher Education, although the verified page does not display a specific global figure that can be adopted as a rank THE World University Rankings 2026.
Therefore, the database records:
THE World University Rankings 2026: No confirmed numeric rank exists in the verified institutional source.
This distinction is important when comparing the university with other Palestinian universities, because having a page on THE does not necessarily mean obtaining a numeric rank in the world ranking.
Al-Aqsa University's page on Times Higher Education
Third: Webometrics – July 2026
in Webometrics – July 2026 Al-Aqsa University placed:
| Index | Score |
|---|---|
| Global rank | 5,695 |
| Palestinian ranking | 9 |
| Impact Rank | 11,538 |
| Openness Rank | 4,800 |
| Excellence Rank | 4,175 |
| Arab rank | 404 |
Webometrics data place the university ninth among Palestinian institutions, behind other Palestinian universities including An-Najah National, the Islamic University of Gaza, Birzeit, Al-Quds, Arab American University، Al-Azhar University–Gaza، Palestine Polytechnic University, andBethlehem University.
Webometrics – The Numerical Reading
It is useful to separate the three indicators:
- Impact: 11,538
- Openness: 4,800
- Excellence: 4,175
that is, the university's rank in the Excellence indicator is better than its rank in Impact according to the July 2026 figures, while Openness falls in the middle.
Webometrics – Al-Aqsa University
Fourth: AD Scientific Index 2026
depends on AD Scientific Index on researcher indicators, chiefly the H-index, i10-index and citations, and therefore it does not measure the university in the same way used by QS or THE.
In the AD Scientific Index 2026 By total H-index, Al-Aqsa University placed:
| Index | Score |
|---|---|
| Global rank | 5,205 |
| Asian rank | 2,198 |
| Palestinian ranking | 11 |
| Listed researchers | 80 |
The database shows a distribution of listed researchers at:
- Top 10%: 1
- Top 30%: 9
- Top 50%: 17
- Top 70%: 36
according to the March 2026 update.
In the other AD Scientific Index table, based on Total citations, Al-Aqsa University appeared at 5,798 globally and 10th in Palestine in the data published for that indicator.
Researchers Index – August 2026 Update
AD Scientific Index real-time data in August 2026 shows that the university has 80 researchers in the H-index category, and among the most notable results:
| Researcher | Field | H-index |
|---|---|---|
| Mohammed A. Awadallah | Computer Science/Artificial Intelligence | 50 |
| Hazem M. Abu Shawish | Chemical Sciences | 24 |
The database also indicates that these data Near Real-Time are not a static version of an annual ranking; therefore, the update date must be recorded when using them.
The researcher also appears Omar AA Miqdad from Al-Aqsa University on the 2026 list of Palestinian scientists in the field of organic chemistry, with an H-index of 8 in the published list data.
Fifth: i10-index indicators
The university has 80 researchers in the AD Scientific Index database for i10-index.
In the August 13, 2026 update, Mohammed A. Awadallah appeared on the list of researchers, with:
- Total i10-index: 26
- i10-index for the last five years: 14
- Momentum Score: 53.8%
Names of other researchers from the university also appear in physics, mathematics, microbiology, chemistry, and medical sciences.
Comparison Between Ranking Systems
| System | Al-Aqsa University Result |
|---|---|
| QS Arab Region 2026 | 201–250 |
| THE World 2026 | No confirmed numerical rank on the verified page |
| Webometrics July 2026 | 5,695 globally |
| Webometrics Palestine | 9 |
| Webometrics Arab World | 404 |
| AD Scientific Index 2026 – H-index | 5,205 globally / 11 in Palestine |
| AD Scientific Index – Total Citations | 5,798 globally / 10 in Palestine |
| AD Scientific Index – Researchers | 80 |
These figures They should not be merged into a single ranking; each system uses a different methodology: QS relies on a set of academic, reputation, and other indicators, Webometrics focuses on digital presence, research, and openness, while AD Scientific Index relies mainly on researchers' research indicators.
Historical Trajectory in QS
The available QS record shows:
2023 → 171–200
2024 → 201+
2025 → 201–250
2026 → 201–250
Thus, the 2026 result represents stability in the ranking band compared to 2025, after moving from the 201+ band in 2024.
International Presence and Academic Cooperation
The university's official website features a dedicated section forCooperation agreements, and points to scientific, cultural, and research cooperation agreements with local, Arab, regional, and international universities.
During 2026, the university also published announcements related tointernational academic exchange for students and members of the administrative and academic staff, including opportunities linked to European universities.
Digital Transformation
The official website includes:
- New Student Portal
- Online Admission Application
- Electronic Services
- Academic system
- Study Plans
- Faculties and departments
- Scientific Research
- Cooperation agreements
- University Publications
- Statistical Guide
- The strategic plan.
The website was also active in updating academic pages during 2026; for example, the study plan pages show updates in August 2026.
Institutional Data That Can Be Used for the 2026 Profile
| Index | Latest available data |
|---|---|
| Year of Establishment | 1955 |
| Transformation into a university | 2000/2001 |
| Total Area | 261 dunums |
| Accredited Programs | 76 |
| QS Arab 2026 | 201–250 |
| Webometrics July 2026 | 5,695 globally |
| Webometrics Palestine | 9 |
| Webometrics Arab World | 404 |
| AD Scientific Index 2026 | 5,205 globally / 11 in Palestine |
| Researchers in AD Scientific Index | 80 |
The area and programs are taken from the university's current page, while the rankings come from the official ranking pages or the relevant databases.
Reading Al-Aqsa University's Profile According to GUPI Indicators
The university's profile can be divided into six measurable axes:
1. Participation in Rankings
The university is listed in QS Arab Region 2026 within the 201–250 band, and it has a presence in the Webometrics and AD Scientific Index databases.
2. Scientific research
The AD Scientific Index database includes 80 researchers affiliated with the university in the 2026 updates, with researchers appearing in computer science, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and medical sciences.
3. Digital presence
Webometrics July 2026 places the university at rank 5,695 globally and 404 in the Arab world, with Impact 11,538, Openness 4,800, and Excellence 4,175.
4. Academic Diversity
The university's system includes education, arts, media, fine arts, management, finance, sports, computing, medical sciences, and applied sciences, alongside intermediate education.
5. Academic Development
Continuous updates to study plans appear during 2026, including pages updated in August 2026.
6. International Cooperation
The official website publishes cooperation agreements and international academic exchange opportunities for students and staff.
Conclusion
Al-Aqsa University is an independent Palestinian public higher-education institution that began in 1955 as a teacher-training institute, became a college of education in 1991, and then a university in the academic year 2000/2001.
in QS Arab Region 2026 The university falls within the band 201–250 in the Arab region, which is the same band recorded in 2025.
As for Webometrics July 2026 thus placing it at rank 5,695 globally, 404 in the Arab world, and 9 in Palestine.
And in AD Scientific Index 2026 The university appears at 5,205 globally and 11 in Palestine by total H-index, with 80 researchers listed in the institution's database.
These data indicate that Al-Aqsa University's profile in international rankings is distributed across Arab-region presence via QS, digital presence via Webometrics, and individual and institutional research impact via AD Scientific Index; therefore, the university's assessment under GUPI should keep these dimensions separate and not treat them as equivalent indicators.
Last data update: 4 September 2026.
Main Sources
Al-Aqsa University – Official Website
Al-Aqsa University – University History
Times Higher Education – Al-Aqsa University
Webometrics – Palestine July 2026