Three Saudi scholars awarded prestigious Rhodes Scholarships
Osama Aljohani, Omar Alomran, and Osama Dabbousi will pursue postgraduate studies at Oxford as part of the 2026 Rhodes cohort
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (MNTV) — Three outstanding Saudi students — Osama Aljohani, Omar Alomran, and Osama Dabbousi — have been selected as Rhodes Scholars for 2026, earning fully funded postgraduate placements at the University of Oxford.
The Rhodes Scholarship, established in 1902, is widely regarded as the world’s most prestigious graduate fellowship.
The first Saudi Rhodes award was introduced in 2018 through a gift by Mohammed Alagil, co-founder of Jarir Bookstores, with subsequent expansions supported by Abdulrahman Alagil Sons in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Education, according to Arab News.
Eighteen Saudis have received the award to date, contributing to fields ranging from genetics and medicine to technology and the arts. The latest cohort reflects the Kingdom’s growing investment in academic excellence under Vision 2030’s national development agenda.
Aljohani, a senior chemical engineering student at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, specializes in hydrogen mobility and crude-to-chemicals research.
Raised in Yanbu Industrial City, he developed an early interest in energy and water innovation. His work focuses on improving catalytic performance for cleaner energy systems.
A passionate advocate for community initiatives, Aljohani co-founded several university programs supporting Saudi game developers, engineering students, and undergraduate researchers.
He also serves on King Fahd University’s Young Leaders Advisory Board and leads the internal innovation fund of the Chemical Engineering Club. At Oxford, he plans to study energy systems and sustainability, aiming to advance renewable integration and desalination technology.
Alomran, a software engineering graduate from King Fahd University, has specialized in artificial intelligence and policy research. His academic journey includes an exchange semester at Georgia Tech and recognition through the Oxford/KAUST AI Program Scholarship.
Dabbousi, currently a master’s student in computer science at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), conducts research on GPU-accelerated acoustic simulations for large-scale computing systems.
A Boston University graduate in data science, he received the CDS Academic Excellence Award and holds a US patent from research completed at Aramco Americas. At Oxford, he plans to pursue a PhD in computer science focusing on high-performance computing.
Rick Trainor, interim warden and CEO of the Rhodes Trust, said the Saudi recipients exemplify the scholarship’s spirit of leadership and service. “For more than a century, the Rhodes Trust has brought exceptional individuals to Oxford and built a global community of changemakers,” he said.
Prof. Christian Sahner, national secretary for the Rhodes Scholarships in Saudi Arabia, praised the scholars’ achievements, noting that their selection highlights the strength of Saudi Arabia’s academic and research potential.
“Our winners embody the best of the Kingdom — academically outstanding, civically engaged, and globally minded,” he said.
The Rhodes Scholarship selection process is known for its rigor, identifying candidates who combine intellectual distinction with leadership, character, and a commitment to solving global challenges.
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