Ahlia University
Ahlia University is Bahrain's first private university (founded 2001), offering bachelor's, master's, and PhD programs across five colleges to domestic and international students, with revenue generated via credit-hour tuition and co-branded degrees with Brunel University London and George Washington University.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersManama, Bahrain
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Ahlia University does
Ahlia University is a private higher education institution headquartered in Manama, Bahrain, and licensed in 2001 as the first private university in the Kingdom. It is owned by the Arab Academy for Educational Services and Research (legal entity Arab Academy for Research & Studies B.S.C. Closed), which also controls Ahlia School and Bahrain Institute of Technology. The university serves undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students across five colleges — Arts & Science, Business & Finance, Engineering, Information Technology, and Medical & Health Sciences — delivering 18+ programs and approximately 450 courses with a student body drawn from 30+ nationalities and a faculty from 20+ nationalities.
The portfolio spans bachelor's degrees (e.g., BSCCE, BSAF, BSBF, BSPT, BSIT), master's degrees (MBA, MSc FinTech, MSc Cybersecurity Engineering, MSc Sustainable Management, plus a joint Master of Engineering Management with George Washington University), and PhD programs in Digital Media & Communication Technology and Business & Financial Sciences, with additional Brunel University London-hosted PhDs in Management and IT. The academic stack is built on commodity education platforms — Moodle as the learning management system, the proprietary ADREG online admissions and registration portal, and a centralized student portal for timetabling, exams, internships, and career services. Library resources include 2.5 million e-journals, 40,000 e-books, and 8,000 printed books. Programs are accredited by HEC Bahrain, BQA (with 'Confidence' judgements), AACSB (business), ABET (Computer and Communication Engineering), plus professional body recognitions from ACCA, CIM, and CIMA.
The business model is tuition-driven with credit-hour-based pricing for undergraduates (BD 100–140 per credit hour across levels 100–400), program-based pricing for postgraduate degrees (BD 6,130–10,630 total), and scholarship discounts of 15–50% based on high school averages and special-needs categories. Revenue is augmented by co-branded international programs (GWU Engineering Management, Brunel PhDs) and international student tuition facilitated by the Directorate of International Relations. The go-to-market relies on direct-to-consumer admissions via the ADREG portal and the website, supplemented by international education fairs, partner-university channels, and active social-media presence. Recent strategic activity includes a BD 5 million commitment to a new Salman City campus opening Q4 2026 with 5,000-student capacity, indicating near-term capacity expansion on top of the existing Gosi Complex headquarters in Manama.
Ahlia University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ahlia University
- Legal name
- Arab Academy for Research & Studies B.S.C. Closed
- Website
- https://ahlia.edu.bh
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Ahlia University is Bahrain's first private university (founded 2001), offering bachelor's, master's, and PhD programs across five colleges to domestic and international students, with revenue generated via credit-hour tuition and co-branded degrees with Brunel University London and George Washington University.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Ahlia University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Manama
- HQ country
- Bahrain
- HQ region
- Middle East
Offices2 records
Markets served
Ahlia University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Undergraduate Tuition: Credit-hour based tuition ranging from BD 300-390 per course level (100-400 levels). Total estimated program cost BD 15,730 for standard bachelor's degree (134 credit hours). Specialized programs like Physiotherapy cost BD 20,480.
- Postgraduate Tuition: Master's programs ranging from BD 6,130 to BD 10,630 depending on program. PhD programs with annual fees of BD 4,000.
- Application and Registration Fees: Application fee BD 20, Registration fee BD 200, HEC ID fee BD 30
- International Collaboration Programs: Revenue from partnerships with George Washington University (Engineering Management) and Brunel University London (PhD programs)
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Undergraduate standard programs - BD 15,730 total |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Physiotherapy BSc - BD 20,480 total |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | MBA Program - BD 6,130 total |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | GWU Engineering Management - BD 10,630 total |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | MSc Financial Technology - BD 8,260 total |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Ahlia University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ahlia University is a private higher education institution in Bahrain offering undergraduate bachelor's degrees, postgraduate master's degrees, and doctoral (PhD) programs across five colleges: Arts & Science, Business & Finance, Engineering, Information Technology, and Medical & Health Sciences. The university delivers international degree programs through partnerships with Brunel University London and George Washington University, supported by digital student services including Moodle LMS, an online admissions and registration system (ADREG), and a centralized student portal.
Product overview
Ahlia University is a private higher education institution in Bahrain offering a portfolio of academic programmes through five colleges: College of Arts & Science, College of Business & Finance, College of Engineering, College of Information Technology, and College of Medical & Health Sciences. The university delivers undergraduate bachelor's degrees (BSMCPR, BSAF, BSCCE, BSMNE, BSID, BSMS, BSIT, BSMIS, BSMM, BSBF, BSEF, BAETR, BSPT, BSND), postgraduate master's degrees (MBA, MITCS, MSFT, MSFA, MSMCPR, MITLS, MSSM, MSCE, MSID), and doctoral programmes (PDMCT, PBFS, and hosted PhDs from Brunel University London). A joint Master's in Engineering Management with The George Washington University is also offered. The university provides digital student services including a Moodle learning management system, ADREG admissions and registration portal, an online application system, and a student portal. An international exchange programme operates with partner institutions including Brunel University London, EPITECH, IÉSEG, and EPITA. The university is accredited by HEC, BQA, AACSB, ABET, and professional bodies ACCA, CIM, and CIMA.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- College of Arts & Science Academic college offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Mass Communication & Public Relations, English and Translation, and Interior Design, targeting students seeking liberal arts and communication-focused degrees.
- College of Business & Finance AACSB-accredited college offering bachelor's degrees in Accounting & Finance, Banking & Finance, Economics & Finance, Management & Marketing, and Management Information Systems, plus an MBA programme, for students seeking business and finance qualifications.
- College of Engineering ABET-accredited engineering college delivering programmes in Computer and Communication Engineering and Mobile and Network Engineering, plus a joint Master's in Engineering Management with George Washington University, for students pursuing engineering qualifications.
- College of Information Technology College offering programmes in Information Technology, Multimedia Systems, Cybersecurity Engineering, Financial Technology (FinTech), and Intelligent Transportation and Logistics Systems, with faculty participating in international competitions such as the Huawei ICT Competition.
- College of Medical & Health Sciences College offering professional health programmes including Physiotherapy (BSc, BD 20,480 total) and Nutrition and Dietetics, with clinical partnerships and community health engagement initiatives.
- MBA Programme Master's degree in Business Administration delivered through the College of Business & Finance; 36 credit hours covering 8 courses plus dissertation; total fee BD 6,130; targeted at professionals seeking management credentials.
- MSc Financial Technology (FinTech) Master of Science in Financial Technology (FinTech) programme; total fee BD 8,260; targeted at postgraduate students pursuing specialization in financial technology.
- George Washington University MSc in Engineering Management Joint Master of Science in Engineering Management delivered in collaboration with The George Washington University; students receive dual credentials from both institutions; total fee BD 10,630; targeted at engineers seeking management and leadership qualifications.
- PhD in Digital Media and Communication Technology (PDMCT) Doctoral research programme in Digital Media and Communication Technology delivered through the Deanship of Graduate Studies and Research; targeted at doctoral candidates pursuing academic research careers.
- PhD in Business and Financial Sciences (PBFS) Doctoral research programme in Business and Financial Sciences; targeted at doctoral candidates pursuing advanced research in business and finance disciplines.
- Brunel University London Hosted PhD Programmes PhD programmes in Management and Information Technology & Computing hosted from Brunel University London through a partnership of 15+ years; students earn PhD from Brunel University London through Ahlia University; targeted at research-focused doctoral candidates.
- International Exchange & Study Abroad Programme Student mobility programme enabling study at partner institutions including Brunel University London, EPITECH Paris, IÉSEG School of Management, EPITA, and University of Bradford, with exchange and visiting student pathways for Ahlia students and inbound international students.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1st university in Bahrain by THE Impact Ranking 2024
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Ahlia University
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ahlia University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Ahlia University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- Brunel University LondoncoreStrategic partnership for PhD programs without residence - students can earn PhD from Brunel University London through Ahlia University. Partnership established for over 15 years. Ahlia students can study at Brunel for exchange semesters.
- EPITECH PariscoreInternational partnership for IT education allowing students to learn IT through project-based methodology and hands-on experience. Exchange opportunities available for Ahlia students.
- IÉSEG School of ManagementcoreFrench Grande École member of Conférence des Grandes Écoles, hosting 4,800 students with over 2,000 international students. Exchange program partnership with mutual student exchange.
- EPITAminorFrench engineering school partnership offering international programs including bachelor, master of engineering, summer schools and French language courses.
- University of BradfordminorUK university partnership for study abroad and exchange programs. Student testimonials indicate participation in Master's summer school programs.
- George Washington UniversitycoreJoint program offering Master of Science in Engineering Management degree. Students receive dual credentials from both institutions.
- Bahrain Economic Development BoardmajorGovernment partnership supporting Ahlia's expansion and positioning Bahrain as regional higher education center. Led by CEO Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif.
- Arab Academy for Educational Services and ResearchcoreParent organization owning Ahlia University, Ahlia School and Bahrain Institute of Technology. Conducts Ordinary and Extraordinary General Assembly meetings to oversee operations.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ahlia University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- American University of Kuwait: AUK is a private, American-model liberal-arts university in Kuwait offering business, engineering and arts programs. It competes with Ahlia for English-medium, liberal-arts-oriented GCC students and has a comparable tuition and accreditation profile.
- Gulf University for Science and Technology: GUST is a leading private university in Kuwait offering AACSB-accredited business and IT programs. It is comparable to Ahlia as a regional, English-language private university competing for GCC talent and sharing a similar positioning around international accreditation.
- Prince Sultan University: Prince Sultan University is a private Saudi university in Riyadh offering business, engineering and computing programs. It is comparable to Ahlia as a private GCC university competing in business and technology disciplines, with similar tuition-tier positioning.
Broad incumbents
- American University of Sharjah: AUS is a major private, American-style university in the UAE offering a broad portfolio of business, engineering and arts programs. It is comparable to Ahlia as a multi-disciplinary private institution in the GCC and a benchmark competitor for high-achieving regional students.
Direct peers
- Arabian Gulf University: Arabian Gulf University is a regional GCC-sponsored university based in Bahrain offering multi-disciplinary undergraduate and graduate programs. It competes with Ahlia in business, engineering and IT programs, and is also accredited by Bahrain's HEC.
- University of Bahrain: The University of Bahrain is the country's main public university, offering bachelor's, master's and PhD programs across business, engineering, IT, science and arts. It competes head-to-head with Ahlia for Bahraini students across virtually every college Ahlia operates.
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain): RCSI Bahrain is a private, internationally affiliated university in Bahrain delivering undergraduate and postgraduate health-sciences and medicine programs. It directly competes with Ahlia's College of Medical & Health Sciences and shares the same niche of internationally credentialed private higher education in the Kingdom.
- Royal University for Women: Royal University for Women is a private Bahraini university focused on business, IT, design and health programs. It competes directly with Ahlia for female Bahraini students seeking private-sector higher education credentials.
- AMA International University Bahrain: AMA International University is a private university in Bahrain offering business, IT and engineering programs. It competes with Ahlia for the same private-university student segment and overlaps significantly in program portfolio and pricing tier.
- British University of Bahrain: BUB is a private, UK-affiliated university in Bahrain offering business, engineering and computing programs in English. It competes directly with Ahlia in the same Bahraini private-university market segment with comparable tuition pricing.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights8 records
Customer concentration
Ahlia University social profiles
Digital presenceAhlia University compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Ahlia University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ahlia University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles24 records
Ahlia University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ahlia University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ahlia University
What does Ahlia University do?
Ahlia University is a private higher education institution in Bahrain offering undergraduate bachelor's degrees, postgraduate master's degrees, and doctoral (PhD) programs across five colleges: Arts & Science, Business & Finance, Engineering, Information Technology, and Medical & Health Sciences. The university delivers international degree programs through partnerships with Brunel University London and George Washington University, supported by digital student services including Moodle LMS, an online admissions and registration system (ADREG), and a centralized student portal.
Is Ahlia University a public or private company?
Ahlia University is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Ahlia University founded?
Ahlia University was founded in 2001. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Ahlia University based?
Ahlia University is headquartered in Manama, Bahrain, in the Middle East region.
How does Ahlia University make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Undergraduate Tuition is the primary driver. The others are postgraduate Tuition, application and Registration Fees and international Collaboration Programs.
Who are Ahlia University's main competitors?
Regional players on record are American University of Kuwait, Gulf University for Science and Technology and Prince Sultan University. American University of Sharjah is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Arabian Gulf University, University of Bahrain, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain), Royal University for Women, AMA International University Bahrain and British University of Bahrain.
Does Ahlia University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ahlia University.