Where heat and drought challenge agriculture the most, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is advancing new approaches to crop resilience and food production. For that, research led by Professor Salim Al-Babili has earned the prestigious Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation. 

Focused on improving how plants grow, adapt, and produce nutrients, Al-Babili’s work supports the Kingdom’s efforts to strengthen food security, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. This research aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 goals and KAUST’s mission-led focus on supporting national and global priorities in sustainable agriculture. 

“I am honored to receive this award and grateful for the support that has made this work possible,” Al-Babili said. “This recognition, alongside an impressive group of peers, reflects KAUST’s role in advancing research that connects fundamental science with real-world agricultural challenges, both regionally and globally.” 

Recipients in five Khalifa International Award categories were announced April 7 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Al-Babili was honored alongside fellow innovators from across the Arab world. He received his prize in the Pioneering and Sophisticated Innovations Serving the Agricultural Sector category for his discovery of plant growth regulators and their applications in agriculture. 

By understanding how plants produce key compounds that influence growth, stress response, and nutritional value, Al-Babili applies this knowledge to improve crop performance and resilience under heat, drought, and other environmental stresses common across the Middle East and other dry regions worldwide. 

His work integrates biochemistry, metabolomics, and genetic engineering to develop solutions that enhance plant productivity. As associate vice president of research, Al-Babili founded KAUST’s plant science program. He is a Fellow of the International Carotenoid Society, a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher, and holds several patents. 

KAUST research is advancing crop resilience in arid environments, and Al-Babili’s Khalifa International Award reinforces the University’s growing regional and global impact on sustainable food security.