Founded in 1997, AUS is acclaimed throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the Middle East for its academic excellence and multicultural campus environment. An independent, non-profit, coeducational institution of higher education formed on the American model, which integrates broad-based liberal arts education with professional education studies. At AUS, all classes and administrative functions are conducted in English.
The university has proven to be an ideal setting for the promotion of cross-cultural understanding as well as an educational environment where every student can realize his/her full potential. The institute has almost 50:50 ratio of male and female students, including both graduate and undergraduate students.
Apart from its academic excellence, the other reason AUS is renowned throughout the region is for its magnificent campus. Situated at the far end of Sharjah’s beautiful University City, AUS boasts a self-contained campus environment filled with a sense of community.
A large part of the student community and most of its faculty live in campus housing. With indoor and outdoor sporting facilities, cafes and restaurants, and banking and travel services, it is no wonder that the campus environment feels like a world unto itself.
The superb library is admired throughout the region for the facilities and academic support it offers students and faculty and the academic buildings are built to provide the best learning environment for students.
Vision
American University of Sharjah (AUS) seeks to be globally recognized as the leading university in the Arab World, renowned for outstanding teaching, learning, research and scholarship while fostering innovation that positively impacts society.
Mission
American University of Sharjah provides distinctive teaching, learning, research and scholarship, educating and mentoring lifelong learners who contribute to society through intellectual inquiry, ethical behavior and civic responsibility.
Delivering an American-style liberal arts based undergraduate education in the context of UAE culture and society, AUS ensures our graduates are well-rounded, versatile, critical thinkers with the ability to compete on a global scale.
With our broad offering of PhD and master’s programs, AUS provides students with the highest level of education and scholarship in their chosen field.
Committed to world-class research and innovation, our scientific and technological advancements render a permanent impact on global and regional challenges.
Accreditations
AUS is licensed and its programs are accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation of the Ministry of Education’s Higher Education Affairs Division in the United Arab Emirates.
AUS has been accredited in the United States of America by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA, Tel +1 215 662 5606) since June 2004.
The bachelor of science degree programs in chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, industrial engineering and mechanical engineering offered by the College of Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET https://www.abet.org/.
The Bachelor of Science degree program in computer science offered by the College of Engineering is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET https://www.abet.org/.
AUS was the first university in the Gulf region and the second outside the United States to receive this accreditation.
The Bachelor of Architecture program of the College of Architecture, Art and Design is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) of the United States. This is the first program outside of North America to receive this prestigious accreditation. NAAB is the only organization authorized to accredit professional degree programs in architecture in the United States.
The School of Business Administration is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasim
Chairman of the Board and President of AUS
His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi is a member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates, the Ruler of Sharjah, and President of American University of Sharjah.
His Highness became the Ruler of Sharjah and its dependencies and a member of the Supreme Council in 1972. He is the 15th Ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah in a chain of Al Qasimi rulers since the year 1630. He served as the UAE Minister of Education from 1971-72. As the Ruler of Sharjah, His Highness has led the social, economic and cultural development of the emirate. In addition, His Highness has devoted considerable effort and resources to promote intercultural interactions and dialogues among the peoples of the world. He is known throughout the region as a firm believer in the significance of the role arts and culture play in bridging the minds and souls of the people of the world. Toward this aim, he initiated the touring Sharjah Cultural Festivals, which bring aspects of Arab and Islamic arts and culture to the cities around the world.
His Highness has placed great emphasis on nurturing civic awareness, participation and social responsibilities and has encouraged the establishment of many non-governmental organizations to promote social interactions between the communities and the government. He established the Sharjah Consultative Council to involve the people of Sharjah in the development and review of projects at all levels within the Emirate of Sharjah. He also established municipal councils in the cities and towns of the Emirate of Sharjah to decentralize the consultations between the communities and the different levels of government. He has actively promoted the establishment and development of numerous organizations, museums, institutes and associations fostering culture, the arts and science, academia, cultural and national heritage conservation, commerce, industry and agriculture.
In addition to serving as President of American University of Sharjah, His Highness is also President of the University of Sharjah. He has been a Visiting Professor at Exeter University, UK; Visiting Professor at Cairo University, Egypt; and Professor of Modern History of the Gulf at the University of Sharjah.
His Highness holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering from Cairo University, Egypt; a Doctor of Philosophy with Distinction in History from the University of Exeter, UK; and a Doctor of Philosophy in Political Geography from Durham University, UK. He is the recipient of numerous honorary degrees from universities around the world, including an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from the American University in Cairo, Egypt; an Honorary Doctorate in Arts from University of Sheffield, UK; an Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy from the University of Tübingen, Germany; an Honorary Doctorate from the Armenian Academy of Science, Armenia; an Honorary Doctorate in Administration from McMaster University, Canada; an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Edinburgh, UK; an Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy in Education from International Islamic University of Malaysia; an Honorary Doctorate in History from the Eastern Studies Institute, Academy of Russian Studies, Russia; an Honorary Doctorate in Arabic and Islamic Studies from Exeter University, UK.