Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s universities are making significant progress toward achieving the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goal of having two universities in the world’s top 100. In the latest QS World University Rankings 2025, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) surged 79 places to 101st globally, bringing Saudi Arabia closer to this ambitious target.
The improvement reflects strategic investments in education, research, and global partnerships. University rankings play a vital role in influencing student decisions and educational policies, and Saudi Arabia’s rise in these rankings signals substantial development in higher education.
A new Arthur D. Little (ADL) Viewpoint outlines four key pillars crucial to advancing university rankings: teaching quality, research impact, international outlook, and industry engagement. These areas are central to Saudi Arabia’s education reforms and its drive to boost human capital, with a focus on enhancing faculty training, interdisciplinary research, and global academic collaborations.
According to Yigit Saf, Principal at ADL Middle East, “Saudi universities are rapidly gaining global recognition, contributing to the region’s vision of building a knowledge-driven economy.” The Kingdom’s universities are expanding their faculty recruitment, research efforts, and industry ties, positioning them to secure their first top 100 ranking in the near future.
The success stories of global universities like Spain’s IE University and Singapore’s National University highlight the importance of international diversity, industry partnerships, and research-driven innovation in climbing the rankings. Saudi Arabia aims to emulate such strategies to maintain momentum and strengthen its universities as global knowledge hubs.
With sustained investment and strategic focus on these key pillars, Saudi Arabia is well-positioned to continue its rise in global rankings and enhance its role as a leader in regional and international education.
