By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
Somalia, 23 December 2025 SIMAD has retained its position as Somalia's top ranking university for the second consecutive year.
According to the 2025 Arab University Rankings, conducted by the Arab Association of Universities (AARU), SIMAD is ranked 103rd overall in the Arab world, moving up 10 positions from last year.
Mogadishu University is second in Somalia and 172nd overall in the Arab world, 69 positions behind SIMAD. Jamhuuriye University ranked third locally, occupies 218th position overall -- 115 positions behind SIMAD. Zamzam University, fourth in Somalia, holds the 224th spot, 12 positions above the lowest ranking university in the Arab world.
The ranking was based on four key criteria: Education, Research, Innovation, and Community. SIMAD earned a total of 182.4 points, beating local competitors in all categories.
This achievement reflects the university's commitment to providing high-quality education, research, and forward-thinking development grounded in innovation and sustainable progress.
Speaking to Dawan Media today, Dr. Abdikarim Mohamud Ahmed, the President of SIMAD University, said the current success is the result of a strategic decision to enhance the quality of education in Somalia.
"This success reflects that our plans, particularly in improving the quality of education, skills, and research, have been effective," Dr. Abdikarim said.
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He further emphasized that they would not stop their efforts and are dedicated to the continuous development of SIMAD and the Somali community.
"We are committed to ensuring that Somali students at SIMAD receive world-class education. It’s a challenging task, but we are ready to continue this journey," he added.
This progress reflects the positive efforts being made in Somalia in the education sector with SIMAD University leading from the front in empowering Somali youth.
"This success motivates us to continue playing a leading role in the Somali community. We will continue to focus on advancing education and research," added Dr. Abdikarim.
He also promised that SIMAD University would take Somali education to global standards. "We will also work on expanding international cooperation, to make SIMAD University a globally recognized educational institution," he said.
Established in 1999, SIMAD University has made continuous progress in education, investing millions in academic research.
The 2025 ranking by AARU was conducted in collaboration with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO). The exercise is conducted annually for universities in the Arab world.
