The BESE Division is proud to celebrate KAUST's achievement of entering the Global Top 50 in the 2026 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, placing 48th among more than 1,600 universities worldwide.

The Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings assess universities based on their contributions to the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The rankings recognize institutions whose research, education, innovation, and partnerships contribute to sustainable development and help address some of the world's most important environmental, social, and economic challenges.

For the BESE Division, this recognition is especially meaningful because many of KAUST's strongest-performing SDGs align closely with the Division's mission and research priorities, particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water).

This achievement reflects the collective efforts of the entire KAUST community. BESE is proud to contribute through the work of its faculty, researchers, postdoctoral fellows, students, technical staff, and collaborators. Together, they advance knowledge that contributes to sustainable development and supports the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030.

We congratulate the entire KAUST community on this achievement and look forward to continuing to contribute to research that benefits society and the environment.

About the THE Impact Rankings:

The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings assess universities based on their contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). KAUST's Top 50 global ranking reflects the University's commitment to advancing research, innovation, education, and partnerships that address global challenges and support sustainable development.

Learn more:
KAUST announcement: https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en/news/kaust-enters-global-top-50-in-times-higher-education-impact-ratings

UN Sustainable Development Goals: https://sdgs.un.org/goals