Jun 23, 2025

KFUPM Places 25th Globally for Sustainable Development

Just two years ago, KFUPM was ranked 86th in the global Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, which addresses contributions to the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). Last year, we climbed to the 81st place, while this year we’ve reached 25th in the world and 1st in Saudi Arabia. This leap reflects our overall transformation aimed at responding to the rapid societal, economic and technological advancements in our nation and beyond.

Behind these numbers is a story of purpose. Our latest university strategy realigned academic priorities, supporting them with advanced research and innovation that could respond to the world’s most pressing needs. By focusing these developments on the UN SDGs, KFUPM has become a visible global force in areas that matter.

We’re now ranked among the top 10 globally for our contributions to Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure (SDG 9), Decent Work & Economic Growth (SDG 8), and Clean Water & Sanitation (SDG 6). However, at KFUPM, these topics are not mere checkboxes to tick off. They reflect a genuine care and passion, as well as years of arduous work, experimentation, and perseverance.

We also placed in the global top 20 for Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17). That ranking is no coincidence. Solving global challenges requires collective effort. It is why, in 2025 alone, KFUPM has signed more than 20 agreements with universities and corporations around the world. For our faculty and students, working across borders has always been an intrinsic part of how learning and research happens. Our classrooms, labs, and fieldwork are spaces where global collaboration is the standard, not the exception.

This mindset, combined with talent, rigor, and a long-term vision, has established KFUPM as a university that explores challenging questions, overcomes complex problems, and delivers measurable outcomes. This will continue to be our practice for decades to come.