KAUST has 16 researchers on the 2025 Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers list, representing 59% of the total from Saudi Arabia. The list recognizes researchers whose publications rank in the top 1% of citations between 2014 and 2024. Some notable research includes work on land degradation, the Red Sea's blue economy, and quantum random number generation. Why it matters: This recognition highlights KAUST's growing research influence and its ability to attract top international talent, contributing to Saudi Arabia's scientific advancement.
KAUST researchers are working on solutions to regional and global problems. A KAUST underwater glider completed 1,000 dives in the Red Sea. KAUST was ranked 19th globally in the Nature Index 2016 of top institutions for high-quality science. Why it matters: This illustrates KAUST's commitment to impactful research and its role as a leading scientific institution in the region.
KAUST's Impact magazine highlights advancements in health, sustainability, and renewable energy. The third edition showcases research, education, and innovation translated to society, government, and industry. It covers health advances on pages 33 and 37, sustainability on page 20, and renewable energy on pages 17 and 18. Why it matters: The magazine demonstrates KAUST's role in fostering Saudi Arabia's innovation and research ecosystem through various engagements.
Eighteen KAUST scientists were named among the world's most influential researchers by Clarivate. These researchers have authored studies in the top 1% of scholarly citations worldwide over the past decade. This is an increase from 15 in 2022, representing almost 10% of KAUST's total faculty. Why it matters: This recognition highlights KAUST's growing influence in global research and its commitment to producing impactful scientific contributions in the Middle East.
Clarivate Web of Science Group recognized fifteen KAUST faculty members and one postdoctoral researcher among the 2020 Highly Cited Researchers. These individuals rank in the top 1% of research cited worldwide across diverse fields. They are leaders in health, environment, communications, and food security. Why it matters: This recognition highlights KAUST's commitment to pioneering research and its growing influence in addressing globally relevant challenges.
Four KAUST researchers were named in the "Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researchers 2014." The researchers are Jean M.J. Frechet (Chemistry), Victor M. Calo (Computer Science), Mohamed Eddaoudi (Chemistry), and Heribert Hirt (Plant & Animal Science). The list recognizes researchers who rank in the top 1% most cited for their subject field and year of publication. Why it matters: This recognition highlights KAUST's contributions to impactful scientific research and its standing within the global research community.
MBZUAI alumnus Abdelrahman Shaker discusses his evolving perspective on impactful AI research, shifting from publication counts to real-world usefulness. He highlights the success of his SwiftFormer and EdgeNext papers, which have been adopted by third parties and reached millions of users. Shaker chose MBZUAI for its faculty expertise, which led to 10 publications and over 2,500 citations during his Ph.D.
Clarivate's 2022 list of Highly Cited Researchers includes multiple KAUST faculty members. These researchers are recognized for being in the top 1% of cited research globally, with representation across computer science, materials science, and other fields. The KAUST faculty named include Carlos Duarte, Pierre Magistretti, Matthew F. McCabe, and Mark Tester. Why it matters: Recognition of KAUST faculty highlights the university's growing research prominence and impact in key scientific domains.