Dec 28, 2025

A Year to Remember: 2025 at KFUPM

As 2025 draws to an end, KFUPM looks back on a year shaped by achievement, momentum, and institutional growth. Below are some of the many milestones that shaped our year:

Rankings & Recognitions

KFUPM achieved several notable global and regional distinctions this year, confirming its growing international standing.

The University entered the top 100 universities worldwide, ranking 67th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2025, a significant rise from 101st in the previous year and 200th in 2020, underscoring the remarkable progress made in just one year.

Regionally, KFUPM ranked 1st in the QS Arab Region University Rankings 2026 for the third consecutive year, outperforming 296 universities across the Arab world. This year’s ranking included 296 universities from across the Arab world, 35 of them from Saudi Arabia.

On the national level, KFUPM emerged as a leader in student engagement and sports activities, ranking 1st among male students and 2nd among female students across Saudi universities, according to the Saudi Universities Sports Federation (SUSF) 2025 Index.

In sustainable development performance, KFUPM advanced to 25th globally and 1st in Saudi Arabia in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025. The University ranked among the global top 10 for SDGs 9, 8, and 6, and within the top 20 for SDG 17, supported by over 20 global agreements.

Partnerships

KFUPM significantly expanded its national and international partnerships through the signing of 15 agreements and Memorandums of Understanding with leading government entities and major organizations.

KFUPM also became the first university in Saudi Arabia to launch ChatGPT Edu through a collaboration with OpenAI, providing students and faculty with secure access to advanced AI tools for learning, research, and academic work.

Internationally, the University strengthened its research network by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Switzerland to advance cooperation in nuclear engineering through joint research, training, and knowledge exchange.

In addition, KFUPM’s Dhahran Techno Valley signed a strategic agreement with Baker Hughes during the annual university’s Career Fair to enhance collaboration in innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology development.

Student Achievements

KFUPM students recorded an exceptional year marked by global recognition across academics, research, innovation, leadership, business, and sports.

Two students were awarded the internationally respected Rhodes Scholarship to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford, continuing a legacy that began with the university’s first Rhodes Scholar in 2022.

Leadership and professional development were further demonstrated as five students were selected for the highly competitive Qimam Fellowship 2025, standing out among more than 18,000 applicants nationwide.

KFUPM students also made remarkable contributions to research and innovation. The fully student-organized Global Students Research Conference earned the Best of CASE Asia-Pacific Award for Student Engagement, drawing participants from over 50 countries and featuring more than 1,500 research submissions, 40+ keynote sessions, and 180 poster presentations. In addition, undergraduate researchers earned recognition at IEEE CSPA 2025, including a Best Undergraduate Research Paper Award, while a high school researcher trained in KFUPM labs secured second place at the Taiwan International Science Fair, underscoring the university’s role in fostering STEM talent from early stages to advanced research.

In engineering and technology competitions, KFUPM teams achieved top international rankings. The Robotics Team secured first place in the Middle East at the VEX Robotics World Championship and ranked 25th globally, while a student team from the university placed third globally in the sUAS Drone Competition, competing against 81 teams from 19 countries.

Students also triumphed in the Ceer Challenge, designing a compact electric vehicle concept, with one team member receiving the Future Leaders Award for outstanding individual performance.

Scientific research excellence was further highlighted when a student in bioengineering won first prize at Chemathon 2025, developing novel biomarkers for thyroid cancer.

Students also excelled in business and entrepreneurship. At the International Collegiate Business Strategy Competition (ICBSC 2025), a team earned three awards for their Saudi-inspired matcha venture, demonstrating strategic acumen, operational excellence, and global competitiveness.

Athletic and intellectual achievements rounded out the year. A student from Industrial Engineering earned gold in individual kata and silver in kumite at the National Karate Championship, while a student chess team ranked first in the National Universities Chess Championship, highlighting discipline, strategic thinking, and competitive spirit across diverse arenas.

Faculty

KFUPM faculty members achieved remarkable recognition this year, demonstrating global leadership in research, innovation, sustainability, and academic excellence.

In engineering and applied sciences, two faculty members were honored with the prestigious Eng. Tarek Al-Kasabi Award for Excellence in Civil Engineering 2024 for their pioneering research, reflecting a commitment to innovation and practical solutions in civil engineering.

Global scientific excellence was further showcased as Prof. Omar Yaghi, former Director and Founder of KFUPM’s Consortium for a Sustainable Future, received the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Faculty and researchers also excelled at international conferences, including the ISEC-13 / ASEA-SEC-7 Structural Engineering and Construction Conference in Sydney, where KFUPM participants secured six top awards, including five Best Presentation prizes and one Best Poster award, highlighting both the depth and breadth of KFUPM’s interdisciplinary expertise.

KFUPM’s role in mentoring the next generation of innovators was evident at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF 2025), where students trained and guided by faculty won eight grand awards in which they represented 34% of all Saudi awards.

Innovation and invention were also recognized on the global stage. At the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, KFUPM researchers earned ten awards, including one gold medal, six silver, two bronze, and a special international prize, for projects ranging from floating eco-adaptive photovoltaic structures to advanced AI-based medical diagnostics.

Finally, KFUPM faculty contributed to strengthening global research collaboration. Through the Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Aviation and Space Exploration, a faculty member played a pivotal role in expanding ties with Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS in Malaysia, engaging with over 60 postgraduate students.

Research

KFUPM continues to advance knowledge and innovation across science, engineering, and technology, achieving remarkable milestones in 2025. Over the year, the university produced 4,063 scientific publications, further contributing to global research discourse. In addition, KFUPM secured 326 patents, reinforcing its position as a leading institution in innovation. Beyond publications and patents, the university achieved several other significant breakthroughs in applied research and sustainable technologies, demonstrating a strong commitment to addressing real-world challenges.

In construction and civil engineering, a multidisciplinary team developed a patented next-generation portable laser device for real-time soil testing, combining artificial intelligence with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy.

In sustainable energy research, KFUPM’s Clean Combustion Lab exemplifies innovation in decarbonization. The lab recreates high-temperature, high-pressure engine conditions to study alternative fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia.

Expanding on renewable energy initiatives, KFUPM achieved significant progress in green hydrogen production, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals for clean energy and sustainable development.

Entrepreneurship

KFUPM demonstrated its commitment to innovation and entrepreneurial leadership throughout 2025 by enabling students and researchers to translate ideas into ventures with real-world relevance.

The student-led “From Zero” event drew more than 2,000 visitors to campus, offering an honest look at the realities of startup creation.

Entrepreneurial development was further advanced through Dhahran Techno Valley’s (DTV) Deep-Tech Ventures Bootcamp, which supported 27 faculty and student projects across different sectors. KFUPM’s entrepreneurship ecosystem also delivered national-level results through the Prop-Tech Visionaries Program, a joint initiative between DTV and ROSHN Group. At the ROSHNEXT Innovation Summit , three KFUPM startups secured national wins among nine selected teams, standing out in a field that included industry players beyond academia. Alongside commercial ventures, student entrepreneurship extended to social impact. A KFUPM-born initiative successfully graduated from the Misk Initiatives Incubator, becoming a licensed nonprofit focused on bridging education and labor-market needs.

Community

KFUPM continued to strengthen its campus life by creating spaces, experiences, and initiatives that bring people together and reinforce a strong sense of belonging among the university’s community.

Connections with the wider community were further deepened through campus tours, welcoming more than 1,000 visitors across 30+ tours, alongside 20 dedicated alumni tours that reunited over 400 graduates and their families with their alma mater, strengthening ties across generations.

International exchange experiences enriched the community, with visiting students like Mateo Caro Cañas, a native of Barranquilla, Colombia, and an electrical engineering student at Universidad Nacional de Colombia, engaging in academic life and cultural exchange at KFUPM during his exchange semester in Saudi Arabia.

In total, 107 inbound students from 18 countries, such as Sweden, Poland, Nigeria, and Canada, joined the University for the 2025/26 exchange term, while 1,359 KFUPM students spent a one-semester abroad in destinations including the United States, Singapore, and South Korea.

In addition, 29 students participated in international summer research programs at institutions such as Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, and Heidelberg University.

Community engagement took a tangible form with the opening of Al-Rabee Park, a new outdoor destination launched during the winter season, designed as a welcoming space for families.

Environmental responsibility also brought the community together through the Voluntary Gardening Initiative, where students and employees jointly planted 2,000 trees as part of KFUPM’s Smart Gardening efforts, reinforcing shared responsibility toward sustainability.

Large-scale engagement was evident during the Storm 2 Car Show, which attracted over 10,000 visitors and showcased more than 600 vehicles, transforming the campus into a lively meeting point for enthusiasts and students from across the Kingdom.

Moments of collective pride were reflected in the student-led “Memory of Al-Jabal” exhibition, which brought together alumni, faculty, and students, fostering a deep sense of connection and shared heritage among the university community.

Employee engagement and wellness were promoted through the College Cup Games 2024–2025, which brought together 187 faculty and staff members across eight sports disciplines.

A strong sense of social responsibility was reflected in KFUPM’s participation in the Crown Prince Blood Donation Campaign, where students, faculty, and staff came together over two days to support a life-saving cause.

Community engagement further extended to global collaboration through KFUPM’s hosting of OpenAI, marking its first official visit to Saudi Arabia. The visit strengthened dialogue around AI in education.

Global Outreach

In 2025, KFUPM strengthened its international presence through active participation and leadership in a range of prestigious global events. At the Redefining Higher Education Conference (RHE) 2025 in London, the university highlighted its commitment to advancing higher education by announcing that it will host the next edition in Saudi Arabia in 2026. This global engagement was further reinforced when the Dhahran Techno Valley (DTVC) secured the bid to host the IASP World Conference 2027, showcasing Saudi Arabia’s growing capabilities in innovation and technology.

KFUPM also engaged with international networks to enhance research and industry collaboration. At the UIDP 2025 conference in Chicago, the university shared insights on university-industry partnerships. Additionally, the China Education Expo (CEE 2025) enabled KFUPM to strengthen international partnerships and attract prospective Chinese students, reflecting the university’s dedication to global education, research collaboration, and cultural exchange.

Events

In 2025, KFUPM emerged as a vibrant platform for dialogue, discovery, and global engagement. Across the year, the university hosted 165 international speakers from a wide range of countries and welcomed 6,441 visitors through academic, scientific, cultural, and student-led events. The KFUPM Institute for Knowledge Exchange (KIKX) alone organized 31 events, including 14 major conferences, forums, and symposiums, reflecting the scale and diversity of KFUPM’s convening role.

The year’s highlights included moments of collective pride, most notably the Class of 55 Graduation Ceremony, held under royal patronage, celebrating academic journeys, family support, and lifelong connections to[SAMA1] KFUPM.

Student-focused initiatives such as the Solution Hackathon with University College London and the Hydrogen Challenge with Waterloo University provided hands-on experience in problem-solving, STEM innovation, and energy research.

KFUPM also fostered interdisciplinary collaboration in science and technology through international conferences. The HeartFusion Conference, co-organized with Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare and DTVC, brought together over 1,400 participants to explore cardiovascular disease through bioengineering and medical innovation. The university’s commitment to chemical sciences was highlighted by hosting the Saudi Chapter of the American Chemical Society (ACS) International Conference 2025, the first time this event took place in Saudi Arabia, attracting over 1,500 participants including Nobel laureates and experts in sustainable chemistry, AI in industry, and biochemical technologies. Meanwhile, the Just Analytics Competition provided students from multiple Saudi universities with practical experience in data science, emphasizing the accessibility and impact of analytical skills in a no-code environment. KFUPM also hosted its first-ever Capture the Flag (CTF) cybersecurity competition, strengthening the university’s commitment to cybersecurity education and community engagement.

KFUPM’s dedication to global education and student leadership was evident in events promoting research and cultural exchange. The Global Student Research Conference (GSR 2025) welcomed over 3,500 attendees and showcased interdisciplinary projects, interactive hackathons, and poster presentations.

At the same time, student-led initiatives such as the Knowledge and Inspiration Student Engagement Forum (KISEF) empowered participants with mentorship, career guidance, and real-world leadership experience, reflecting the university’s emphasis on experiential learning. The World Space Week celebration, organized by the Aerospace Engineering Club under the title “Beyond Horizons,” highlighted the connection between space exploration, technology, and societal development.

The university also celebrated culture, creativity, and heritage through vibrant on-campus experiences. KFUPM WORLD engaged more than 6,000 visitors in a cultural exchange across 30+ countries, offering workshops, competitions, and performances that fostered inclusion and global understanding. Complementing this, the Internet Café at Diwan revisited the digital era of the late 1990s and early 2000s, combining interactive exhibits, digital archives, and artistic installations to encourage reflection, creativity, and a shared sense of community.

Looking ahead, these highlights offer only a snapshot of the progress achieved throughout the year. Together, they reinforce KFUPM’s commitment to advancing knowledge, empowering talent, and contributing meaningfully to society as the University continues to address the challenges and opportunities of the future.