King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is ranked the No. 1 university in the Times Higher Education (THE) Arab University Rankings 2027 — its fourth year at the top of the regional rankings.  

Announced during the THE Arab Universities Summit 2026 in Morocco, KAUST's four-time achievement reinforces its commitment to developing scientific talent, advancing research that addresses national and global challenges, and translating knowledge into practical solutions that support Saudi Arabia's transformation.  

“Our responsibility is to turn scientific excellence into meaningful progress, developing the next generation of Saudi talent, creating opportunities for innovation, and delivering solutions to challenges that matter far beyond our campus,” said KAUST President Sir Edward Byrne AC. “This recognition is a credit to our entire University community and a motivation to keep raising our ambitions.”  

The annual THE rankings assess universities across key areas of academic performance, including teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and international outlook.  

KAUST shortlisted for four THE Awards Arab World 2026 categories  

For innovative work that has had a profound impact, KAUST has also been shortlisted across four categories in the 2026 awards:  

• KAUST's National Transformation Institute (NTI) in the Leadership and Management Team of the Year category for its work in translating scientific research into commercial opportunities, supporting entrepreneurship, and strengthening the Saudi innovation economy. NTI-backed startups have raised more than US$1.4 billion, supported over 8,000 jobs, and reached a combined valuation of US$5.7 billion. 

• KAUST Coral Restoration Initiative (KCRI) in the Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Leadership category. KCRI aims to restore 100 hectares of Red Sea coral reefs by 2040, using large-scale coral farms capable of producing 360,000 corals annually, automated technologies, and a digital twin for reef monitoring. Through the initiative, more than 50 research and development projects support new scientific and engineering solutions, while specialized training builds local industry capacity.  

• KAUST Academy in the Outstanding Contribution to Regional Development category for its role in developing Saudi Arabia's science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) talent pipeline. Established in 2022, KAUST Academy provides educational and professional development opportunities spanning pre-university students, undergraduates, and working professionals. Its programs have reached over 10,400 in-person participants, helping equip Saudi talent with the skills needed to support the Kingdom's growing knowledge economy.  

• KAUST's cryogenic carbon and sulfur capture project in the Research Project of the Year: STEM category for developing a fuel-agnostic, modular technology capable of capturing multiple industrial pollutants. Deployed at a Saudi Energy Company facility, the compact, trailer-mounted system cools flue gas to separate carbon dioxide and other pollutants, including sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. After capturing more than 95 percent of carbon dioxide during continuous industrial operations, the technology is now being used to support commercial scale-up, including a planned system with a capacity of 30 metric tons per day.  

Winners will be announced at the Summit later this evening.  

KAUST's recognition by THE reflects its contributions to scientific discovery, talent development, and innovation — contributions that strengthen the University’s role in advancing the Kingdom’s research and development ambitions and addressing challenges of national and global importance.