151 Saudi university scientists rank among world’s best
College of Science researchers record nearly 36 percent growth in annual recognition, reflecting stronger citation impact and interdisciplinary research
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (MNTV) — King Saud University has announced that 151 researchers from its College of Science have been included in the 2026 edition of a global ranking recognizing the world’s most highly cited scientists.
According to Arab News, the number represents an increase of nearly 36 percent compared with the previous year, highlighting the college’s expanding research presence across scientific disciplines.
The ranking is part of an annual assessment compiled by Stanford University researchers in collaboration with academic publisher Elsevier. It draws on data from the Scopus database and evaluates researchers according to the influence of their scientific work.
The assessment includes a single-year impact category measuring citation performance during 2025.
It considers factors such as citations excluding self-citations, researchers’ roles in authorship and a composite indicator designed to assess scientific impact rather than relying solely on publication numbers.
The ranking covers 20 major scientific fields and 174 subfields, providing a broad framework for comparing researchers across different areas of study.
College Dean Zaid Al-Othman attributed the achievement to scientific expertise, interdisciplinary collaboration, institutional support and research addressing challenges at national and international levels.
He said the university’s ambitions extended beyond increasing representation in international rankings to building a sustainable research environment capable of producing influential work and supporting future generations of scientists.
Faculty members also highlighted the importance of research quality, collaboration between disciplines and sustained institutional investment in scientific development.
The growing number of recognized researchers strengthens the university’s international research profile and supports Saudi Arabia’s broader Vision 2030 objectives, which include expanding scientific capacity, innovation and knowledge-based economic development.
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
