American University of Sharjah (AUS) was founded in 1997 by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Sharjah, who envisioned the university as a leading educational institution in the Gulf region. American University of Sharjah is an independent, not-for-profit coeducational institution. Although consciously based on upon American institutions of higher education, AUS is also expected to be thoroughly grounded in Arab culture and to be part of a larger process of the revitalization of intellectual life in the Middle East. AUS is emerging as a leading comprehensive coeducational university in the Gulf, serving students from the region and around the world.

American University of Sharjah is licensed in the United States by the Department of Education of the State of Delaware. It is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, 215 662 5606). AUS is also licensed by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and all undergraduate and graduate programs are recognized by the ministry and have been awarded either accreditation or accreditation-eligible status. All six of the bachelor degree programs in the AUS College of Engineering are accredited by ABET of the United States.

AUS offers 26 bachelor's degrees, 41 minors and 13 master's degrees programs through the following academic divisions: College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering, College of Architecture, Art and Design, School of Business and Management.

While Arabic is the official language of the United Arab Emirates, the language of instruction at AUS is English. All classes and administrative functions are conducted in English.