King Khalid University has achieved a qualitative milestone by joining the list of the top 20 government entities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, according to the results of the Emerging Technologies Adoption Index Report for 2026, issued by the Digital Government Authority. This achievement confirms its progress in digital transformation and the strengthening of its technological capabilities.
The University was classified within the “Advanced” level, reflecting the level of digital maturity it has attained as a result of adopting modern methodologies in leveraging emerging technologies, thereby contributing to the development of its educational and administrative environment and enhancing institutional performance efficiency in accordance with global best practices.
The index is based on four main capabilities to measure readiness: research capability, communication capability, proof capability, and integration capability.
The University achieved advanced performance across these dimensions; it strengthened its research capability by analyzing technological trends and relying on global scientific sources, while enhancing communication capability through linking academic and technical entities and facilitating knowledge exchange.
The proof capability was demonstrated through the implementation of proof-of-concept experiments and the development of prototypes, while the integration capability was reflected in the large-scale alignment of emerging technologies and their integration with the University’s educational systems.
The “King Khalid University Emerging Technologies Radar” is considered one of the most prominent enablers supporting this progress, serving as a strategic platform for monitoring and tracking the latest technologies based on global and national studies and research. The radar includes more than 52 emerging technologies evaluated according to the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) framework adopted by NASA, which measures the development of technology from concept to actual application.
The radar is based on an integrated scientific methodology that begins with global technological scanning, followed by trend and research analysis and maturity assessment, and culminating in strategic alignment and evaluation of readiness and sustainability, resulting in an accurate technological roadmap that supports decision-makers.
The University further supports this direction through advanced infrastructure, including emerging technology laboratories and specialized research centers, enabling the implementation of practical experiments and the development of prototypes in the fields of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, thereby enhancing innovation and accelerating the transformation of ideas into real-world applications.
In this context, the Dean of the Deanship of E-Services, Dr. Hamed Al-Qahtani, stated that this achievement reflects the integration of institutional efforts and the strength of the University’s digital infrastructure, emphasizing that the radar represents a strategic tool that supports decision-making and enhances institutional excellence.
For his part, the Director of Digital Transformation and Enterprise Architecture, Eng. Mohammed Al-Ghanem, indicated that this progress is the result of systematic work in linking emerging technologies with strategic objectives and directing investments toward high-value technologies, in addition to the continuous updating of the radar to keep pace with global trends.
This progress affirms the position of King Khalid University as one of the leading educational institutions in the field of digital transformation and highlights its active role in supporting the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 by contributing to building a sustainable knowledge-based economy and enhancing the readiness of the education sector to meet future requirements.