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King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals

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King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
جامعة الملك فهد للبترول و المعادن
Jāmiʿat al-Malik Fahd li-l-Bitrūl wa-l-Maʿādin
Former names
College of Petroleum and Minerals (1963–1975)
University of Petroleum and Minerals (1975–1986)
Mottoنحلم ونحقق
Motto in English
Dream Big and Accomplish
TypeNonprofit Research University
Established23 September 1963;
62 years ago (1963-09-23)
PresidentDr. Muhammad M. Al-Saggaf
Faculty800+
Students13,772 (2025)
Undergraduates9,674 - 61% (2025)
Postgraduates4,098 - 39% (2025)[1]
Location
Dhahran
,
Eastern Province
,
Saudi Arabia
Campus
  • Enclosed
Colors
  • Green & White
  •    
Nicknames
  • جامعة البترول
  • University of Petroleum
Websitewww.kfupm.edu.sa
Map

King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) is the first Arab university to be ranked amongst the top 100 in the world. A research university in Dhahran, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia, KFUPM aims to prepare the next generation to create new sectors and address global challenges aligned with the UN SDGs.

Founded near the earliest local oil fields, initially as the College of Petroleum & Minerals (1963) in response to the booming energy industry of Saudi Arabia,[2] the university centers around science, technology, engineering, and business subjects.[3] In 2025, the university was ranked 2nd globally for its number of U.S. utility patents, by the National Academy of Inventors (NAI),.[4] Also, according to the NAI, KFUPM has consecutively held the record of the highest STEM patent-per-capita rate in the world since 2023.[5] In 2026, the university placed first in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region, based on Times Higher Education rankings, and in 2027, it reached 63rd globally according to QS Ranking.[6] KFUPM's engineering subjects also rank among the top 80 globally, according to the QS subject rankings.[7]

History

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KFUPM is a reputable university in Saudi Arabia, as well as the Middle East and Africa. It was initially established as the College of Petroleum and Minerals on September 23, 1963, by a Saudi royal decree, with the goal to provide high-level education in the academic fields of petroleum and minerals, two of the most valuable natural resources in Saudi Arabia at that time.[8]

During its very first admissions round, 67 young men were registered. The original campus was designed by CRS Design Associates, architects and engineers of Houston, Texas.[9] The college was elevated to university status in 1975 when it expanded its academic offerings in science, engineering, technology, and business. In 1984, the Program of Industrial and Systems Engineering was first introduced. The university was renamed after King Fahd in 1986. Since that time, enrollment has grown to over 10,000 students by the 2021 academic year and has graduated more than 39,000 students since its inception.[10]

In 2019, the university put in place a transformation plan whose primary goal was to support the transformation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from a natural resource monetizing economy primarily focused on oil and gas resources, into a diversified knowledge economy.[11]

Part of this transformation plan presents an important milestone in the history of the university with the inclusion of female students in the engineering and technical academic programs. In 2019,[12][13] male and female students were equally accepted into new graduate programs for the first time in the history of the university, and in 2021 admissions started for female students at the undergraduate level, on a merit basis. It now has one of the highest enrollment rates for female engineering students in the world, placed between 40 and 50% yearly. In 2026, KFUPM graduated its first batch of female undergraduate students.

Academics

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Academic programs

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KFUPM's Campus

KFUPM degree offerings include Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Master of Engineering, Master of Business Administration, and Doctor of Philosophy.

The university's academic programs are focused on engineering, sciences, technology, and business, being accredited by international bodies such as ABET, AACSB, as well as the national accrediting body NCAAA.[14]

Since 2020, the university has introduced new aspects to its academic programs through undergraduate concentrations (CX) and professional master's degrees (known as project-based MS). As of June 2026, KFUPM had reached 43 undergraduate concentrations (CX) throughout its disciplines,[15] along with 36 one-year master's degrees, and 20+ interdisciplinary research centers.[16]

Innovative learning

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Dammam No. 7 on March 4, 1938, near where KFUPM would later be built

The initial 35 undergraduate degrees offered were recently revised to include the study of emerging fields, including modern programming languages, data science, big data analysis, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, quantum computing and more. Currently, every major starts with Artificial Intelligence (AI) courses and then branches into more specific topics.[citation needed]

Additionally, KFUPM has launched an effort to migrate some of its courses into additional instructional methods, such as inquiry-based learning (IBL), where research on the topics is encouraged to enhance the class time with discussions, debates, as well as questions and answers. It also offers hybrid attendance options (HIVE) for several of its project-based master's degrees.

KFUPM's 43 undergraduate concentrations (CX)[15] allow students to add a specialization in an area beyond their major. A few examples of these concentrations are Hydrogen Mobility, Renewable Energy and Energy Storage, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Business Analytics, Robotics and Autonomous Systems.

KFUPM offers 36 one-year professional master's degrees (project-based MS)[17] in several fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Supply Chain Management, Quantum Computing, Smart and Sustainable Cities.

Admissions

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Source:[18]

KFUPM is a merit-based admissions academic institution. With an acceptance rate of 4% (2023),[18] it is considered to be one of the most coveted universities in Saudi Arabia, recruiting roughly the top 1% of the national talent based on admission criteria that include performance on the nationwide aptitude tests to ensure the acceptance of the most promising students.

KFUPM continues to attract the most outstanding high school graduates by accepting winners in international scientific Olympiad competitions. The progression of students in the first year has also been accelerated by developing programs to bypass the preparatory year (SkipPrep).

Rankings

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University rankings
Global – Overall
QS World[19]63 (2027)
THE World[20]=184 (2026)
USNWR Global[21]=400 (2023)
Regional – Overall
QS Arab region[22]1 (2026)
USNWR Asia[23]75 (2022)

KFUPM was named the top university in the Arab Region as per the QS University Rankings for 2027,[24] and repeatedly since 2015.[25] In 2026,[26] it was ranked the first university in the Middle East and North Africa.

Since the KFUPM transformation phase started in 2019, the university's rankings have seen a steady rise. According to the QS World University Rankings, KFUPM is 63rd university in the world for 2027.[27]

Accreditation

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All programs of the engineering colleges were evaluated for "Substantial-Equivalency" recognition by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). They were found substantially equivalent to similar accredited programs in the United States. All Business & Management related programs offered by KFUPM Business School (including its flagship Master of Business Administration) are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). KFUPM has been a member of AACSB since 1975[28] and it is among the first few schools outside the US to get this prestigious recognition. KFUPM is also accredited by the national accrediting body NCAAA.[14]

Organization

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Colleges

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KFUPM undergraduate and graduate programs are divided into seven colleges. As part of the university's recent transformational initiatives, all colleges recently underwent a complete restructuring to encourage collaboration among disciplines, and encourage cross-discipline research.

  • College of Engineering and Physics
  • College of Computing and Mathematics
  • College of Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences
  • College of Chemicals and Materials
  • College of Design and Built Environment
  • KFUPM Business School
  • College of General Studies

In addition, Dammam Community College is under the auspices of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals as a fully approved academic entity by the Minister of Higher Education.[citation needed]

AMAAD Business Park

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AMAAD is a mega real estate investment project of KFUPM Endowment and it converges the resources and experiences of the most prominent establishments in the kingdom to foster innovation through an energy and engineering hub spread across an area of 214,000 sqm in Dhahran. The park is designed to meet the demands of modern society that features a simple yet luxurious lifestyle for offices, residential, hospitality, as well as F&B and retail.

Research

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Research Innovation

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KFUPM's research ecosystem is led by its Research and Innovation Office,[29] which oversees 20+ research centers (shown below) and is continuously expanding. Spanning multiple emerging fields, the centers are divided into interdisciplinary, applied and joined research centers, as well as two consortia, bringing together faculty members, researchers, and students. The Research and Innovation Office has produced hundreds of research reports for industrial and government sponsors. KFUPM offers different scholarships[30] for international students. These scholarships[31] cover all tuition, fees, living costs, monthly expenses, medical coverage, free textbooks, subsidized meals in the university's dining facilities, funds for projects, and many other privileges.[32]

Research CenterDirector
Artificial Intelligence (SDAIA-KFUPM)Dr. Maad Al Owaifeer
Advanced MaterialsDr. Mohannad Mayyas
Membranes & Water SecurityDr. Essam Aljundi
Intelligent Manufacturing & RoboticsDr. Abul Fazal Muhammad Arif
Smart Mobility & LogisticsDr. Sami Elferik
Integrative Petroleum ResearchDr. Theis Solling
Intelligent Secure SystemsDr. Muhamad Felemban
Sustainable Energy SystemsDr. Atif AlZahrani
Refining & Advanced ChemicalsDr. Wael Ahmed Fouad
Hydrogen Technologies & Carbon ManagementDr. Sulaiman Alturaifi
Construction & Building MaterialsDr. Mohammed Al-Osta
Communication Systems & SensingDr. Daniel Benevides da Costa
Finance & Digital EconomyDr. Yogesh Kumar Dwivedi
Environment & Marine StudiesDr. Luai M. Alhems
Development of Non-profit OrganizationsDr. Basem M. Almadani
Metrology, Standards, & TestingDr. Obaidallah Munteshari
Industrial Nuclear EnergyDr. Afaque Shams
Petroleum Conversion CenterDr. Wael Ahmed Fouad
Aviation & Space ExplorationDr. Ayman Abdallah
Biosystems & MachinesDr. Yaqub Mahnashi
Energy Research (KACARE-KFUPM)Dr. Fahad Al-Sulaiman
Energy Efficiency (KACST-KFUPM)Dr. Fahad A. Al-Sulaiman
Hydrogen Future (consortium)Dr. Zain Hassan Yamani
Sustainable Future (consortium)Dr. Mohannad Mayyas

Entrepreneurship

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Innovation & Technology Transfer (ITT) Center

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Students (local and international), faculty and researchers are encouraged and supported with launching their startup. Through its "0-0-0" policy (0 fees, equity, royalty), KFUPM ensures that intellectual property remains with the inventors. At the ITT Center, students and researchers receive support for copyright, trademark registration, licensing, and patent filing.

Dream Realization Lab (DRL)

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The DRL is designed to bring product ideas to life through access to prototyping tools, fabrication facilities, and technical support. Inventors can work alongside specialists, participate in skill-building workshops, and refine their business concept in preparation for real-world testing.

KFUPM students regularly go on to present their ideas at global competitions such as the Startup World Cup and the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions. Internally, the annual KFUPM Student Projects Expo offers them the chance to connect with industry representatives and showcase progress, thus providing a potential bridge to either an external business incubator/accelerator or patent registration.

Dhahran Techno Valley

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Dhahran Techno Valley Company headquarters in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

The Dhahran Techno Valley Holding Company (DTVC)[33] is a subsidiary company fully owned by KFUPM. It was created to promote a knowledge-based economy in Dhahran and the Eastern Province. It is a hub for entrepreneurship and a launchpad for innovators from within and outside KFUPM. The ecosystem includes KFUPM and national companies like Saudi Aramco, SABIC, Saudi Electricity Company, technology partners, small to medium size companies, and multiple startups.

The mission of the Dhahran Techno Valley Holding Company is to foster an environment for innovation and collaboration by attracting and supporting industry players focused on creating innovative technologies and adding value to its stakeholders.

DTVC also plays an important part in revitalizing the role of entrepreneurship in the research system by rejuvenating and encouraging a spirit of developing new business opportunities for faculty, students, and stakeholders from outside the university.

University bodies

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President

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The president is the head of the institution and the university's chief academic and executive officer. The current president of KFUPM is Muhammad M. Al-Saggaf.[34]

Previous presidents:

  • Dr. Sahel N. Abduljauwad (acting)
  • H.E. Dr. Khaled S. Al-Sultan
  • H.E. Dr. Abdulaziz Al Dukhayyil
  • H.E. Dr. Bakr Bin Bakr
  • Dr. Saleh Ambah

International advisory board (IAB)

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The international advisory board (IAB)[8] of King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals provides KFUPM's senior management with a global perspective on trends and issues that may affect the university. Since its establishment in March 2007, the IAB membership has included renowned academics and some of the most influential local and international corporate figures.

IAB members discuss a wide variety of topics related to the university and have been very effective in guiding the university's academic programs, research activities, faculty recruitment, outreach to peer institutions, and others. The IAB has guided the development of action plans and specific strategies on key educational and research areas of national interest.

The current IAB Members are as follows:[35]

  • Charles Elachi: IAB Chairman, director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, California.
  • Amin H. Nasser: President and CEO, Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia.
  • Muhammad M. Al-Saggaf: President, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Saudi Arabia.
  • Munier Eldesouki: President, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Saudi Arabia.
  • François Ortalo-Magné: Former Dean and CEO, London Business School, United Kingdom.
  • Santiago Iñiguez de Onzoño: President, IE University, Spain.
  • Robert Wilt: CEO, Ma'aden, Saudi Arabia.
  • Arun Majumdar: Dean, Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, United States.

Former IAB Members

Notable alumni

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Government and Public Services

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Academics

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  • Khaled S. Al-Sultan: former Rector of KFUPM, former dean of the college of Computer Systems and Engineering, former chair of the Department of Systems Engineering at KFUPM, former professor of optimization and operations research at the Department of Systems Engineering at KFUPM, former assistant minister of higher hducation in Saudi Arabia, KFUPM, (BSc and MSc, Systems Engineering, '87)
  • Zaghloul El-Naggar, a Muslim scholar and chairman of Committee of Scientific Notions in the Qur'an, Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, Cairo, Egypt. El-Najjar worked as a professor of geology at KFUPM from 1979 to 1996[37]
  • Ali Abdullah Al-Daffa, professor in field of History of Mathematics.
  • Hamdi Tchelepi, he is the professor and chair of the department of energy science and engineering at Stanford university, Tchelepi got his BSc and MSc from King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals in 1985 and 1988 respectively, he is well known researcher in the field of reservoir simulation and multiphase flow.

Oil and gas industry

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Business

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Sports and media

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See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Facts You May Not Know About KFUPM". Default. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  2. ↑ Al-Khowaiter, Uthman. "من صاحب فكرة كلية البترول؟". Al Arabiya.
  3. ↑ "Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering". SpringerLink. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  4. ↑ "Top 100 Worldwide Universities List". NAI. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  5. ↑ "Top 100 Worldwide Universities List". Topuniversities.com. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  6. ↑ Daniel, Tsharna (4 June 2024). "QS World University Rankings 2026". QS. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  7. ↑ "KFUPM". Top Universities. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  8. 1 2 "About Us". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  9. ↑ Commerce Today. U.S. Department of Commerce. 1974.
  10. ↑ "History and Campus". Archived from the original on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  11. ↑ "Interview to KFUPM's President Dr. Muhammad Muhsen Al-Saggaf". Thebusinessyear.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  12. ↑ "title". Kfupm.edu.sa. Retrieved 6 September 2022.[permanent dead link]
  13. ↑ "100 females enroll in KFUPM for higher studies for first time". Saudigazette.com.sa. 3 September 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  14. 1 2 "Conference Host". archive.ph. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  15. 1 2 "Undergraduate Programs". Archived from the original on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  16. ↑ "Research centers". Archived from the original on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  17. ↑ "Graduate programs". Archived from the original on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  18. 1 2 "King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals". 1.kfupm.edu.sa. Archived from the original on 20 January 2026. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  19. ↑ "QS World University Rankings 2027: Top Global Universities | TopUniversities". Topuniversities.com. 12 August 2026. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  20. ↑ "King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals". Times Higher Education (THE). 28 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  21. ↑ U.S. News. "King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals". Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  22. ↑ "QS Arab Region University Rankings 2026". Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  23. ↑ "Top Universities in Asia | US News Best Global Universities". Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
  24. ↑ "QS University Rankings: Arab Region 2015". Topuniversities.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  25. ↑ "QS University Rankings: Arab Region 2016". Topuniversities.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  26. ↑ "QS Arab Region University Rankings 2022". Topuniversities.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  27. ↑ "QS World University Rankings 2027". Topuniversities.com. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
  28. ↑ "Search Accredited Schools". AACSB. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  29. ↑ "Research & Innovation". Ri.kfupm.edu.sa. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  30. ↑ "King Fahd University Scholarship 2023 | Study in UAE". Contentgenerate.com. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  31. ↑ "List of Top Scholarships 2023-2024 | Fully Funded". europeanscholarship.com. 16 April 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  32. ↑ "Scholarship Coverage of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM)". scholarshipunion.com. 9 January 2025. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  33. ↑ "DTVC". Dtvc.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  34. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 February 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  35. ↑ "Members". Archived from the original on 3 February 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  36. ↑ "Arab Thought Foundation". Arab.org. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  37. ↑ "Islamic Research Foundation – Dr. Zaghloul Al Najjar". Irf.net. 17 November 1933. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  38. ↑ "Corporate Management". Saudiaramco.com. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  39. ↑ "The University Executive Committee; Mr. Nadhmi A. Al.Naser". Kaust.edu.sa. Archived from the original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  40. ↑ "Saudi Arabia's drive for self-sufficiency". Theenergyyear.com. 15 May 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  41. ↑ "Olayan Mohammed Al-Wetaid". Arab News. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
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