New data released by Anything is Possible’s university ranking tool, EduIndex, reveals a radical shift in how Middle Eastern universities are discovered by students. As search habits move from Google to AI platforms such as ChatGPT and Gemini, a new hierarchy of institutional prestige is emerging.
EduIndex is the first independent benchmark tracking university visibility across Artificial Intelligence platforms. Updated monthly, it provides institutions with data-driven insights into how AI models perceive, rank, and refer their brands to prospective students.
The March 2026 EduIndex MENA report, which tracks more than 500 universities across seven AI models, identifies the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) in Egypt as the regional leader in AI Visibility.
The UAE: A global AI powerhouse
The report also highlights the UAE’s position as the world leader in AI adoption, with 64 per cent of the working-age population actively utilising generative AI.
This high adoption rate has forced a rapid evolution in the university sector, with Ajman University, Khalifa University, and UAE University all securing spots in the regional top six.
Egypt’s digital resurgence
While traditional rankings often favour Western institutions, the AI-first discovery model tells a different story for Egypt.
With three institutions in the top ten (AASTMT, AUC, and Mansoura University), Egyptian higher education is proving to be more AI-Ready than many of its global counterparts.
What this means for MENA universities
Leading this index isn’t just about prestige; it’s about being present where the next generation of students is looking.
The data shows that meaningful movement in the rankings is achievable within months, but it requires a strategy that moves beyond traditional SEO.
“The discovery channel for students has changed,” says Sam Fenton Elstone, CEO and Founder at Anything is Possible. “In 2026, if you are not visible to an LLM, you are invisible to the student. We are seeing MENA universities in a sprint to adapt, driving rapid, dynamic shifts across the region.”
