An official government website affiliated with the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
King Khalid University has achieved a new academic milestone, ranking eighth in the Arab world in the Times Higher Education Arab University Rankings
2027 (THE Arab University Rankings 2027), among 369 Arab universities included in the ranking. This achievement maintains the University's distinguished position among the top ten universities in the Arab world, reflecting its advanced academic standing and growing competitiveness at the regional level.
This achievement builds on the University's ongoing institutional development, progress in its educational and research systems, improvements in the quality of academic and research outcomes, and expansion of international academic and research partnerships. It also reflects the adoption of impactful initiatives aimed at maximizing the contributions of knowledge and innovation, in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030 and the strategic directions for developing the Kingdom's higher education system.
On this occasion, His Excellency the President of King Khalid University, Professor Faleh bin Raja Allah Al-Solamy, emphasized that this achievement reflects the generous support and attention provided by the Kingdom's wise leadership to the higher education sector, which have contributed to significant improvements in the performance of Saudi universities and strengthened their presence in regional and international rankings.
His Excellency explained that King Khalid University's eighth-place ranking in the Arab world represents the outcome of integrated institutional efforts and sustained work to develop its academic and research environment and enhance the quality of its performance and outcomes. He noted that the University's development journey is guided by an ambitious strategic vision aimed at achieving academic and research leadership, maximizing its contribution to national development, and strengthening its role as an influential knowledge institution supporting the developmental transformation taking place in the Asir Region.
His Excellency added that the University continues to advance its academic, research, and innovation systems while investing in national talent and strategic partnerships to strengthen its international competitiveness and achieve its goal of ranking among the world's top 200 universities by 2030. He stressed that these achievements provide further motivation to sustain progress, consolidate gains, and transform academic excellence into lasting scientific and developmental impact.
For his part, the Vice President for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, Professor Hamed bin Majdou Al-Qarni, explained that achieving this advanced position reflects the continuous development of the University's research and academic systems, as well as its systematic efforts to improve the quality and impact of scientific output, develop research capabilities, expand international cooperation, and support research disciplines aligned with national priorities.
He noted that the University is working to establish a more integrated research and innovation ecosystem by directing research capabilities toward areas with significant scientific and developmental impact, maximizing the benefits of advanced research infrastructure, and encouraging high-value partnerships with academic, research, and industrial institutions. These efforts support sustainable excellence and strengthen competitiveness across international ranking indicators.
He emphasized that the University's outstanding results demonstrate the importance of integrating strategic planning, research excellence, and institutional development. This integration strengthens its ability to continue advancing in regional and international rankings through a clear commitment to high-quality outcomes and maximizing impact.
In the same context, the Supervisor of the International Rankings Unit at King Khalid University, Dr. Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Qahtani, stated that ranking eighth among 369 Arab universities is an important indicator of the University's competitiveness. He explained that the achievement demonstrates the effectiveness of its institutional approach to improving academic and research performance through measurement and analysis methodologies based on international indicators and benchmarking against leading universities.
He explained that the strategic significance of this achievement extends beyond the ranking itself, reflecting the University's growing ability to align its academic and research priorities with the requirements of international competitiveness. He emphasized that university rankings are important tools for measuring institutional performance, identifying development opportunities, and improving the effectiveness of strategic decisions based on data and performance indicators.
He added that the International Rankings Unit monitors and analyzes performance indicators, tracks changes in global ranking methodologies, and develops benchmarking comparisons that help identify development priorities. These efforts are carried out in coordination with the University's various sectors to support performance improvement and sustain positive results.
The Times Higher Education Arab University Rankings is one of the leading regional rankings specializing in evaluating higher education institutions. It uses a range of indicators measuring the quality of teaching and research environments, research quality and impact, international outlook, and industry engagement, enabling comparisons of university performance and monitoring progress across different areas of academic and research excellence.
This achievement reaffirms King Khalid University's continued commitment to strengthening its position among the region's leading academic institutions and consolidating its presence in the Arab and international higher education landscape. Through an institutional development framework based on excellence, quality, and innovation, the University seeks to transform knowledge into sustainable impact that serves society, advances the knowledge economy, and contributes to achieving national aspirations.
