Umm Al-Qura University has won, for the first time, an advanced position at the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings for Sustainable Development; the university achieved the rank between the positions 310–400 in the competition, which included 1115 educational institutions around the world.

The UQU Vice President for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Ali Al-Sha`iri, said that the educational institutions competed in 17 indicators for sustainable development covering the fields of the quality of education, health, equality, environment, energy, industry and innovation. He added that the university won the 15th position out of 966 educational institutions in the education quality index, the rank between the positions 201–300 out of 1154 in the strategic partnerships index, the rank 201–300 in the innovation and infrastructure development index, and the rank 301–400 out of 871 in the health index.

The UQU President, Prof. Moaddi bin Muhammad Aal Madh-hab, said that such progress comes within the university's endeavors to enhance competitiveness at the local, regional and international levels and to achieve the objectives of the university's plan to rank itself among the top 200 universities worldwide, in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 regarding the quality of education and innovation as well as the objectives of the Ministry of Education. He praised the great support and care that the educational system enjoys from the wise leadership. He also lauded the support and follow up of the Minister of Education and his deputy which qualified the university to be in the forefront of the educational institutions at the regional and international levels.

It is worth mentioning that the Times Higher Education Impact Ranking is the only international ranking that assesses the universities worldwide according to the objectives and standards of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).