KAUST was ranked 119th among 500 global academic institutions in the Nature Index 2020, securing the top position in Saudi Arabia with 84% of the Kingdom's fractional count share. The university also achieved notable rankings in specific disciplines, including 69th in physical sciences, 87th in chemistry, and 89th in earth and environmental sciences. KAUST's Nature Index FC output surpasses that of 17 countries, including the UAE. Why it matters: This ranking highlights KAUST's strong research output and its increasing contribution to global scientific advancements, strengthening the Kingdom's position in research and innovation.
MBZUAI has been ranked 127th globally among institutions conducting computer science research and ranks 30th globally in AI, computer vision, machine learning, and NLP. This places MBZUAI ahead of universities such as the University of Michigan, Georgia Tech, Imperial College London and others. MBZUAI is now the top-ranked CS institution in the Arab World and the Middle East and Africa according to CSRankings. Why it matters: This ranking highlights the rapid growth and increasing prominence of AI research in the UAE and the broader Middle East.
KAUST was ranked first in Saudi Arabia and in the global top twenty in the Nature Index Annual Tables' new normalized ranking. The ranking considers the number of high-quality articles published as a proportion of an institute's overall output in the natural sciences. This normalized ranking allows institutions of different sizes to be compared on the same basis. Why it matters: This ranking highlights KAUST's growing impact on global scientific research and its commitment to producing high-quality publications.
KAUST was ranked first in the Times Higher Education (THE) Arab University Rankings 2023, improving from second place the previous year. KAUST achieved a perfect score of 100 for research environment and saw improvements in industry income and international outlook. KAUST's supercomputer Shaheen III was also ranked the most powerful in the Middle East and #20 globally. Why it matters: This ranking highlights the increasing strength of Saudi Arabian universities and the region's growing focus on research, development, and innovation, especially in areas like AI.
Prof. Mérouane Debbah, Chief Researcher at the AI Cross-Center Unit and DSRC, has been ranked No. 1 in France and 180th globally in Electronics and Electrical Engineering by Research.com. He has an H-index of 98 and over 47000 citations. Debbah was also recognized as a 2022 AI 2000 Most Influential Scholar in Internet of Things for contributions between 2012 and 2021. Why it matters: This recognition highlights the growing AI research talent within the GCC region, particularly in areas related to communication technologies and IoT.
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.
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.