Achievements of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology 2025
During 2025, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia recorded unprecedented qualitative leaps in the research and development sector, as the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology ( KACST ) led a scientific movement that culminated in global achievements, most notably winning the Nobel Prize and localizing future industries, which enhances the Kingdom’s position as a regional and international center for innovation.
Historical context and strategic role of “Kakst”
Since its establishment, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) has been the primary driver of scientific research in the Kingdom. With the launch of Vision 2030, KACST's role has transformed from a traditional research institution into a national incubator for innovation, aiming to shift the Saudi economy from one based on natural resources to a knowledge-based economy. The achievements of 2025 underscore the success of this strategy in building an integrated research ecosystem that connects the academic, industrial, and governmental sectors.
A global achievement: A Saudi-flavored Nobel Prize in Chemistry
In a historic event that documents the success of investing in minds, the advisor to the president of KAUST, Professor Omar Yaghi , was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2025. This achievement is not only credited to the individual, but also reflects the advanced research environment provided by the Kingdom, which enabled scientists to reach discoveries that serve humanity, thus placing Saudi research institutions on the map of global excellence.
Localizing future technologies: from electric cars to quantum computing
KAUST did not limit itself to theoretical research, but focused its efforts on industrial application, launching the Electric Vehicle Innovation Center in partnership with Lucid, the first of its kind in the Middle East. It also made significant strides in deep technologies by establishing Quantum Valley in partnership with Aramco to operate the first quantum computer in the Kingdom. These projects have a direct economic impact, including:
- Creating high-quality, highly skilled jobs for national talent.
- Attracting foreign direct investment in advanced technology sectors.
- Reducing reliance on importing sensitive technologies and enhancing national technological security.
Environmental sustainability and food security
As part of the Kingdom’s commitment to sustainability, the city launched strategic research projects, including the development of the first Arabian leopard genome to protect it from extinction, and the development of advanced agricultural technologies for saffron production in record time. It also enhanced food security through a joint center of excellence with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture. These efforts support the Saudi Green Initiative and contribute to finding innovative solutions to the climate and desertification challenges facing the region.
Digital infrastructure and regional leadership
In terms of digital infrastructure, the Saudi Internet Exchange (SIX) achieved a milestone by joining the terabyte club, becoming the first exchange in the region to surpass this threshold, thus enhancing the speed and efficiency of data exchange. Further solidifying its leadership, KAXT was re-elected to the Global Research Council and won the presidency of the West Asia and North Africa region within the International Association of Science Parks (IASP).
A promising future for innovation
KAUST concluded its year with 757 patents registered and 46 startups in the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence. Looking ahead to 2026, the city continues to leverage its potential to localize strategic technologies, further solidifying Saudi Arabia's position as a powerful soft power in the global science and technology sector.
