From across the Kingdom and around the world, a new cohort of scholars has arrived at KAUST — united by purpose, driven by discovery, and ready to shape the future. 

Carlos Hernandez, 25, arrived on campus just days ago to a landscape of lush greenery, striking architecture, and the promise of a transformative academic adventure. “It’s really a beautiful, vibrant place,” he said. 

After completing his nanotechnology studies at Universidad de las Américas Puebla, Hernandez is beginning his first semester in the Materials Science and Engineering master’s program at KAUST, ready to flourish and contribute. “I want to grow from this experience, both academically and personally,” he added. “I want to gain skills and be open to everything that comes with living and studying here.” 

For 26-year-old Intisar Wutaydah, the trek to KAUST may have covered less ground, as she graduated from Mecca’s Umm Al-Qura University. Still, the excitement and optimism of the Chemistry master’s student matched that of peers who had travelled much farther. “It’s the number one university in the Arab world. Of course, this is the dream.” 

Naif Alotaibi, 23, comes to KAUST with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. An alumnus of the prestigious KAUST Gifted Student Program (KGSP), he is now enrolled in the Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship (TIE) program. With aspirations of translating creativity into commercial-ready technologies, Alotaibi is feeling energized and assured. He said: “I have big ambitions.” 

This year, KAUST received 13,589 applications and admitted 639 students, reflecting a five percent acceptance rate and underscoring the University’s competitive admissions process. The new cohort represents 58 countries, with 54 percent international and 46 percent Saudi students. For on-campus degree programs, 40 percent of KAUST's enrolled Saudi students are female. 

During the 16th Convocation Ceremony, alumni speaker Dr. Maram Abadi, Strategy and Planning Manager in the Special Projects and Technologies Department at KAUST's National Transformation Institute (NTI), encouraged new students to embrace both the challenges and rewards of academic life. She urged them to be curious, courageous, and committed to lifelong learning. Abadi said she believes that they can, like her, make a difference for Saudi Arabia and the world.  

“The real reward is not the titles or the stages. It is the impact, knowing my journey, which started here, allowed me to contribute to science, to my nation, and to the next generation of dreamers — people like you.” 

Empowered by purpose, equipped for impact 

KAUST is a mission-driven university equipped to propel talent toward national and global impact. Alumni lead across sectors, from NASA to U.K. Parliament, and play key roles in the Kingdom’s innovation landscape. Dr. Haleema Alamri, Director at the Saudi Ministry of Energy, and Asrar Damdam, a Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur, exemplify how KAUST transforms promising individuals into national assets and global changemakers. 

Aside from the allure of hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology and learning from globally recognized faculty, Hernandez is drawn to KAUST’s broader mission. “I really like the Vision 2030 framework. I like thinking I can be a part of that. KAUST is part of a national plan — a tool, really — to get the Kingdom to that vision. I like the idea that I’m contributing to that mission in some way. Being part of something that big gives me a sense of purpose.” 

Echoing that sentiment, Wutaydah said she hopes to make a difference through chemistry. She believes KAUST is the right place for that to happen. “It’s really great knowing KAUST has a significant impact in science and society. Knowing I’m part of that makes me proud of myself.” 

Rooted in diversity, shaped by connection 

Being immersed in KAUST’s multicultural community offers perspectives not easily found elsewhere, according to Alotaibi. For an aspiring entrepreneur, this diversity is especially valuable. “Meeting people from all over the world — not only the Middle East or the Western world, but also from Asia, from Australia, from South America — it’s good to broaden my perspective and overcome any challenges that might arise in bringing my product to different markets.” 

For Hernandez, from Mexico, KAUST’s multicultural environment may feel intimidating at first. However, it is ultimately enriching. He looks forward to encountering diverse perspectives and new ways of thinking — challenges that he believes will help shape him and his fellow scholars into better people. “I really want to get the most out of it.” 

Abadi, who holds both a master’s in Bioscience and a Ph.D. in Biophysics from KAUST, told new students that progress in research often demands persistence, adaptability, and a willingness to rethink assumptions. Obstacles are inevitable, she added, but each one becomes part of a larger learning process that strengthens both one’s character and capability. “Perhaps, in a few years, it will be you standing here, telling the next class how KAUST changed your life.”