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King Khalid University achieved advanced positions in 18 subjects in the 2026 ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, ranking among the world’s top 200 universities in five subjects, including two among the top 100 and one among the top 50, demonstrating a strong presence across a range of scientific, engineering, and health fields.
Textile Science & Engineering led the University’s results, ranking 43rd globally and third nationally, while Mathematics was ranked in the 76–100 range globally. Metallurgical Engineering and Energy Science & Engineering were both ranked in the 101–150 range globally, while Veterinary Sciences was placed in the 151–200 range. With these results, the number of subjects in which the University ranked among the world’s top 200 universities increased from three in 2025 to five in 2026, reflecting the University’s progress in bringing a greater number of its research fields into advanced global positions.
Nationally, the University ranked among the top two Saudi universities in Metallurgical Engineering, between second and third in Mathematics and Energy Science & Engineering, and third in Textile Science & Engineering.
His Excellency the President of King Khalid University, Prof. Faleh bin Rajaa Allah Al-Solamy, affirmed that these results are the outcome of the University’s efforts to develop its research and innovation environment, support its researchers, and provide the resources that enable them to produce scientific work capable of competing internationally. His Excellency said: “We are proud of what the University’s male and female researchers have achieved in these subjects, and we appreciate the efforts behind every result across the colleges, research centers, and laboratories. The University’s attainment of these positions increases our responsibility to continue supporting them and creating opportunities for them to conduct research that advances knowledge and responds to the needs of society and the priorities of the nation.”
His Excellency added that the University views ranking results as one of the indicators of its advancing performance and is committed to ensuring that this progress is accompanied by a tangible impact on research quality, educational development, and the building of scientific partnerships, in support of the objectives of its strategy and Saudi Vision 2030.
For his part, the Vice President for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, Prof. Hamed bin Majdou Al-Qarni, explained that the diversity of ranked subjects highlights the breadth of research participation across the University and underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the use of research infrastructure to support scientific ideas and projects.
He said: “Our priority is to empower researchers to produce distinguished scientific work through the support, facilities, partnerships, and collaboration opportunities we provide. We will continue to focus on the quality and impact of publications, support research teams in fields that have demonstrated competitiveness, and provide opportunities for other fields to strengthen their scientific presence.”
He also noted that the next phase requires building on the results achieved by directing research programs toward areas of excellence, enhancing the participation of graduate students in scientific work, and aligning research projects with national and development priorities.
Dr. Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Qahtani, Supervisor of the University’s International Rankings Unit, explained that the significance of subject ranking results lies in their ability to provide a more detailed picture of the University’s areas of strength, helping to identify opportunities for advancement and the needs of each field.
Al-Qahtani said: “We examine the result of each subject individually because the requirements for advancement differ from one field to another. Having five subjects among the world’s top 200 universities gives us a clear foundation on which to build. We analyze the indicators behind these results and use them to support high-performing subjects and help other subjects close to them advance into higher ranking ranges.”
He added that monitoring rankings does not end with the announcement of positions; it extends to studying the performance of subjects compared with their counterparts, identifying areas requiring support, and providing data that helps the University’s academic and research entities develop their plans and monitor their impact.
The University’s results also included nine subjects ranked in the 201–300 range globally: Mechanical Engineering, Instruments Science & Technology, Agricultural Sciences, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Water Resources, Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dentistry & Oral Sciences, and Nursing. Materials Science & Engineering and Biotechnology were ranked in the 301–400 range globally, while Chemistry and Electrical & Electronic Engineering were ranked in the 401–500 range globally.
The 2026 ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects evaluates university performance using nine indicators across five dimensions covering faculty academic standing, outstanding research output, research quality, scientific impact, and international collaboration, with the weighting of indicators varying according to the nature of each subject.
King Khalid University continues to develop its research and innovation support programs, expand its scientific partnerships, and leverage its laboratories and research centers to provide its researchers with greater opportunities to contribute to their fields and strengthen the University’s standing among leading academic and research institutions. The University aims for its presence among globally advanced universities to serve as evidence of a Saudi knowledge contribution that benefits both the national and global levels.
