Greetings from KAUST – A historic meeting of minds on the shores of the Red Sea

It is my privilege to welcome you to the inaugural Global Sustainable Development Congress in the Middle East. As a leading sustainability-focused institution located in a region dedicated to pioneering new models of liveability and ecological conservation, it is apt that King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) should host such a catalysing event.

Saudi Arabia is undergoing an incredible transformation through revitalising its economy across the private and public sectors with ambitious and smart sustainability technologies, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities, and research, innovation and development strategies.

In hosting this event, we witness and engage firsthand in the conversations among thought leaders that will usher in transformative sustainability solutions for our planet.

KAUST is a world-class research university and a community of over 120 nationalities living and working together to tackle some of the world’s greatest challenges in areas such as food and water security, energy and the environment, artificial intelligence and future health. Sustainability is at the core of our mission. Our global partners will be welcomed into our ecosystem of subject matter experts, advanced technologies, and state-of-the-art facilities, converging to advance innovative solutions for the most pressing environmental challenges of our generation.

Let me also reiterate that the future is for our youth, and our youth must be empowered to lead and offer solutions.

We look forward to welcoming you to engage in pivotal discussions for our world.

Dr Tony Chan

President

KAUST

8,330

people

545

postdoctoral researchers

450+

research scientists

121

nationalities

12

state-of-the-art labs

About KAUST

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is a unique destination for students, faculty and collaborators. Our culturally diverse community, representing more than 120 nations, brings together the best subject experts to advance their research in our world-class laboratories. Irrespective of their national origins, the people of KAUST are “people of the world” who uphold our values of achievement, passion, inspiration, citizenship, diversity, integrity and openness.

Located on the shores of the Red Sea, KAUST is proud to have considered sustainable and conscious building standards a priority from its inception. The KAUST campus is LEED Platinum Certified for New Construction, the world’s largest LEED Platinum project when it was completed in 2009. Within these university buildings, our students and faculty bring their expertise to the five pillars of our key research areas (energy, environment, water, food and health, and the digital domain), supported by 12 research centres and 12 core labs. KAUST, as a leading catalyst for innovation and economic development, also hosts start-ups and international companies at the Research and Technology Park.

Welcome video featuring president Tony Chan

A vibrant community of 120 nationalities

Our students life is enhanced by a range of quality accommodation and leisure facilities. The restaurants, cinema, gyms and regular cultural events are further enhanced by more than 30 recreational and educational groups, run by volunteer community members. Our vibrant community of over 8,300 residents includes many families, who are supported by an international school, daycare facilities, and many clubs and activities. KAUST’s campus supports our students and faculty, attracting and developing top talent from the kingdom and around the world.

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National Geographic shines the spotlight on KAUST in Chasing Answers, a four-part series released in 2022 that explores the emergence of the university as a hub for ground-breaking scientific research.