Four KAUST innovators named to Forbes Middle East 30 Under 30 2025
Six members of the KAUST community have been named to the 2025 Forbes Middle East 30 Under 30 list, which recognizes young change-makers in the region who are shaping the future through innovation. Four KAUST students and alumni are featured in the Science and Technology category, and two Saudi Founders who are part of TAQADAM, KAUST’s startup accelerator, were named for Commerce and Finance.
The trailblazers featured represent 24 nationalities based across 18 countries. In the Science and Technology category KAUST students and alumni make up four of the five Saudi honorees this year, highlighting KAUST’s growing impact on the global science and technology landscape. From new biometric monitoring devices to the protection of head injuries and the development of cancer therapies, the four are using their education and research from KAUST to create real-world impact in global health.
“These four individuals represent how KAUST is accelerating Saudi talent to the forefront of science and technology globally,” said Arwa Al-Aama, KAUST vice president of education and advancement.
Aljawharah Alsharif
Currently a Ph.D. candidate in Electrical and Computer Engineering at KAUST, Aljawharah Alsharif is recognized for her work on wearable health-monitoring technologies. Studying under the supervision of Assistant Professor Nazek El-Atab, Alsharif designs bioinspired, skin-attachable devices that can capture physiological signals, such as heart, muscle, and eye activity, without relying on chemical adhesives that can irritate the skin.
Her work combines flexible electronics with advanced 3D and 4D printing techniques to create reusable, stretchable patches that conform naturally to the body. By mimicking biological structures such as octopus suckers, her devices achieve strong but comfortable adhesion, enabling long-term monitoring while reducing manufacturing costs.
Arwa Alghuneim
Arwa Alghuneim earned her Ph.D. in Bioscience under the supervision of Associate Professor Jasmeen Merzaban and is currently a postdoctoral fellow at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSHRC). She was recognized for her contributions to blood cancer research, particularly acute myeloid leukemia.
Arwa Alghuneim
Alghuneim’s work focuses on understanding how blood stem cells migrate, attach, and function within the bone marrow, a process that is critical for both leukemia progression and the success of stem cell transplants. She has helped demonstrate new strategies to improve stem cell engraftment and explored how existing cancer drugs might be repurposed to target resistant leukemia cells.
Esraa Fakeih
Esraa Fakeih earned her Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering under Professor Khaled Salama. She is a cofounder of Gees, a femtech startup focused on women’s hormonal health.
Esraa Fakeih
Gees is developing a handheld, saliva-based hormone monitoring device that enables women to track key hormonal markers at home and manage ailments such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The technology draws directly on Fakeih’s expertise in biosensors, microneedle systems, and multiplexed diagnostics, as well as KAUST-licensed intellectual property. With a working prototype completed and clinical validation underway, Fakeih’s work highlights how KAUST research translates into startups addressing unmet healthcare needs in the region.
Yousef Algoos
Yousef Algoos earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering under the supervision of Professors Eric Feron and Mohammad Younis. He is currently a scientific researcher specializing in micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) and semiconductor technologies.
Yousef Algoos
Algoos has developed ultra-miniaturized, energy-efficient microchips designed to detect dangerous impacts that risk concussions and other head injuries in real time. Intended for integration into wearables such as helmets, headbands, or smart glasses, the technology remains dormant until a critical shock occurs, allowing continuous monitoring with minimal power consumption. His work has applications in sports safety, occupational health, and injury prevention.
Driving innovation through entrepreneurship
Munira Alkadi and Abdulrahman Alammar are co-founders of Aya, a Saudi-based e-commerce platform focused on modest fashion, aiming to merge style with cultural relevance. Established in 2024, Aya has quickly gained traction in the region, serving over 100,000 customers across Saudi Arabia and the GCC and raising $8.9 million in funding from prominent investors including Raed Ventures, Nuwa Capital, Sanabil, Khwarizmi Ventures, and Joa Capital. They have joined the 2025 cohort of KAUST startup accelerator TAQADAM, which supports founders at all stages of growth. They will get access to expert mentors, training, funding, and a global community of innovators to further scale their startup.
Their recognition in the Commerce and Finance category reflects their leadership in driving retail innovation and contributing to the expanding startup ecosystem in Saudi Arabia.
Research-driven impact
Together, these six honorees demonstrate how KAUST combines rigorous education with pioneering research and an innovation ecosystem to develop and nurture talent, empowering and enabling them to translate their work into real-world impact. Their achievements underscore KAUST’s role in developing the next generation of scientists and entrepreneurs, contributing to Saudi Arabia’s knowledge economy and global scientific progress.