KAUST ranks first in Times Higher Education Arab Universities 2027

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has maintained its position as the top-ranked institution in the Times Higher Education (THE) Arab Universities rankings for 2027. This marks the fourth consecutive year the university has held the top spot.

The results were announced at the Times Higher Education summit held in Morocco. The ranking evaluates institutions based on criteria including teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and international outlook.

KAUST has also been named a finalist in four categories for the 2026 THE Arab World Awards. These include nominations for the KAUST National Transformation Institute (NTI) in leadership and management, and the KAUST Coral Reef Initiative (KCRI) for environmental leadership. The KCRI aims to restore 100 hectares of coral reefs in the Red Sea by 2040 using large-scale coral farms and automated monitoring technologies.