Purpose: This study aimed to assess emotional intelligence (EI) among young adults across three Arab countries: Egypt, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. Design/methodology/approach: A total of 1884 university students participated from the three countries and completed the Schutte Self Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT). Data were validated by confirmatory factor analysis using SPSS AMOS version 29. Path analysis, t-tests and analyses of variance were performed to understand the influence of background variables on the EI of the study participants. Findings: The results provide theoretical support for the SSEIT and the hypothesized relationship between managing personal and others' emotions. Although significant differences were found between participants in terms of gender and grade point average (GPA), no difference was found between participants based on nationality. The results of this study indicate the need to prioritize EI in young adults and other implications. Originality/value: The importance of EI in individuals' daily lives cannot be overemphasized. However, scholarly insights into the state of EI in the Arab context are scarce.