Jun 18, 2026

KFUPM Reaches 63rd Globally in QS World University Rankings

KFUPM has reached 63rd place globally in the QS World University Rankings, becoming the first Arab university to reach the world’s top 70 universities for the second year in a row. The achievement follows a multi-year institutional transformation that began in 2020, when the university was ranked 200th globally.

Since launching its transformation strategy, KFUPM has focused on expanding its contribution to Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification and strengthening its international academic standing. The university directed investments toward emerging fields aligned with national priorities, including quantum computing, semiconductor design, biotechnology, smart cities, and sustainability-related technologies.

A central component of the transformation has been the it’s antegration of artificial it’s antelligence across academic disciplines. KFUPM introduced the AI+X educational model, through which students develop artificial intelligence competencies alongside their chosen specializations. The university also launched more than 100 new academic programs designed to prepare graduates for emerging fields and evolving workforce needs.

In research, KFUPM restructured its research ecosystem around interdisciplinary collaboration and practical impact. Research centers were reorganized to encourage collaboration across fields, while commercialization was prioritized through initiatives linking scientific discoveries with industry applications. These efforts have been supported by the redevelopment of the Dhahran Techno Valley, which today hosts more than 50 technology-focused companies operating across sectors including energy, infrastructure, and climate technologies.

The university has also expanded the it’s anternational character of it’s ait’s academic community. Students from more than 80 countries are currently enrolled at KFUPM, contributing to a diverse educational environment and supporting the university’s global engagement objectives. Women’s participation has also increased substantially. Female students today account for approximately half of all engineering enrollments at the university, a figure that exceeds the averages reported by many leading international institutions in engineering education.

Alongside academic and research reforms, KFUPM introduced new educational models and admission pathways. These include wider opportunities for high-achieving students, direct pathways to doctoral study from the bachelor’s level, and an integrated pre-med program developed in collaboration with medical institutions that enables students to graduate with qualifications in both engineering and medicine.

The university continues to view rankings not as objectives in themselves, but as indicators that reflect its progress in education, research, innovation, and student development. The latest QS result represents the cumulative outcome of reforms implemented over the past six years and further strengthens KFUPM’s position among leading global universities.