Nov 03, 2025

KFUPM Ahead of Arabian Universities in QS 2026

KFUPM achieved a hat-trick by ranking first in the QS Arab Region University Rankings 2026 for the third consecutive year. The results were published on October 16, 2025.

This accomplishment continues a steady upward trajectory in global rankings that the university has maintained since 2020. KFUPM advanced from fourth place in 2021 to second in 2022, before taking the top position in 2023, according to QS. This year’s ranking included 296 universities from across the Arab world, 35 of them from Saudi Arabia.

The university has also recently reached a new global milestone by entering the top 100 universities worldwide, climbing to the 67th place in the QS World University Rankings 2025, up from 101st last year and 200th just five years ago. This rise reflects its consistent progress and growing international recognition.

This advancement is a direct outcome of the Strategic Transformation Program launched in 2020 as part of KFUPM’s contribution to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. The program aims to strengthen the university’s role in supporting the Kingdom’s transition toward a competitive, knowledge-based economy within the evolving global digital landscape.

The QS World University Rankings evaluate institutions based on several indicators, including academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-to-student ratio, research citations per faculty, and the percentage of international faculty and students.

These achievements are made possible through the continued support and guidance of the Kingdom’s leadership. Its commitment to advancing education and research has empowered universities across Saudi Arabia, raising the national education sector to internationally recognized standards of excellence.