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In Historic Achievement, Saudi Scientist Omar Yaghi Wins 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Professor Omar Yaghi. (KACST)
Professor Omar Yaghi. (KACST)
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In Historic Achievement, Saudi Scientist Omar Yaghi Wins 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Professor Omar Yaghi. (KACST)
Professor Omar Yaghi. (KACST)

Saudi scientist professor Omar Yaghi has won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, becoming the first Saudi to receive the award, presented by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, in recognition of his pioneering contributions to establishing the field of reticular chemistry and developing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs), which have revolutionized materials science and opened new horizons for clean energy, water, and environmental applications.

Yaghi, regarded as one of the world’s leading figures in reticular chemistry, has published over 300 scientific papers with more than 250,000 citations. He has also contributed to establishing several international companies and launched initiatives dedicated to clean energy and materials science.

His exceptional achievements have earned him numerous prestigious international honors, including the King Faisal Prize in Science, the Albert Einstein World Award of Science, the Wolf Prize in Chemistry, the Eni Award, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Gregori Aminoff Prize, the VinFuture Prize, the Ernest Solvay Prize, and the Great Arab Minds Award, in addition to receiving several medals, prestigious awards and global rankings.

On the occasion, President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) Dr. Munir Eldesouki expressed his gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for their continued support of the national research, development, and innovation ecosystem, and for empowering Saudi and global talent in alignment with the Saudi Vision 2030.

He said: “Dr. Yaghi’s Nobel win reflects the wise leadership’s vision of making the Kingdom a global hub for science, knowledge, and innovation. It confirms that investing in creative minds is the path to building a sustainable future for humanity. His innovations in designing and producing nanomaterials capable of extracting water from air are a remarkable example of how science transforms passion into impact.”

Yaghi has received the Saudi citizenship in recognition of his distinguished scientific achievements and contributions to reticular chemistry and nanomaterials. The move aligns with the Saudi Vision 2030’s goal of fostering an environment that attracts exceptional global talent in fields vital to economic, technological, and scientific advancement, which can boost innovation in the Kingdom. Yaghi is also a co-director at the KACST–UC Berkeley Center of Excellence for Nanomaterials for Clean Energy Applications, an advisor to KACST president, and a board member of the Research, Development and Innovation Authority.

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Saudi-Lebanese Security Cooperation Foils Smuggling of Nearly 4 Million Amphetamine Pills

Security cooperation between the Kingdom and Lebanon contributed to tracking and seizing the narcotic substances (Saudi Ministry of Interior).
Security cooperation between the Kingdom and Lebanon contributed to tracking and seizing the narcotic substances (Saudi Ministry of Interior).
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Saudi-Lebanese Security Cooperation Foils Smuggling of Nearly 4 Million Amphetamine Pills

Security cooperation between the Kingdom and Lebanon contributed to tracking and seizing the narcotic substances (Saudi Ministry of Interior).
Security cooperation between the Kingdom and Lebanon contributed to tracking and seizing the narcotic substances (Saudi Ministry of Interior).

Information provided by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior helped Lebanese authorities foil an attempt to smuggle nearly 3.9 million amphetamine pills, the ministry said on Friday.

The seizure was made following intelligence shared by the Saudi ministry’s General Directorate of Narcotics Control as part of efforts to monitor criminal networks involved in drug trafficking, the ministry's security spokesperson Brigadier General Talal bin Shalhoub said in a statement.

Bin Shalhoub said cooperation between Saudi and Lebanese authorities in tracking and intercepting narcotics reflected the level of security coordination between the two countries in combating cross-border criminal networks.

Saudi Arabia will continue to pursue drug-trafficking activities that threaten the kingdom’s security and youth, disrupt smuggling operations and arrest those involved, he added.

Gulf

Riyadh to Host UNITAR’s First Cybersecurity Office

The office will help address global cybersecurity capacity gaps. (National Cybersecurity Authority) 
The office will help address global cybersecurity capacity gaps. (National Cybersecurity Authority) 
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Riyadh to Host UNITAR’s First Cybersecurity Office

The office will help address global cybersecurity capacity gaps. (National Cybersecurity Authority) 
The office will help address global cybersecurity capacity gaps. (National Cybersecurity Authority) 

The United Nations has selected Riyadh as the headquarters of the first cybersecurity-focused office of its training and research arm, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

The move reflects Saudi Arabia’s global leadership in the sector and the success of its cybersecurity model at the national, regional and international levels.

The office will spearhead initiatives and projects focused on capacity building, policy development, and joint research and development programs, helping to strengthen the skills of a broad range of beneficiaries and specialists while advancing cybersecurity globally.

Its objectives align with the Global Initiative for Building Cyber Capacities, launched by Saudi Arabia in partnership with the United Nations and its specialized agencies, particularly through research and development programs, training courses and workshops aimed at enhancing the capabilities of policymakers, law enforcement officials, diplomats and cybersecurity professionals worldwide.

Musaed Al Aiban, Minister of State, Member of the Council of Ministers, and Chairman of the NCA Board of Directors, praised the support the sector receives from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.

He said the selection reflects the leadership’s continued commitment to promoting international cooperation and joint action in cybersecurity.

Al Aiban added that the decision underscores Saudi Arabia’s leading position in the strategic sector and the achievements of its cybersecurity model since the establishment of the NCA as the country’s competent authority and national reference body for cybersecurity. He also highlighted the creation of the Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE) as the authority’s strategic and technical partner in developing the sector.

Saudi Arabia has established a strong track record in supporting strategic cybersecurity initiatives, further cementing its standing as a preferred destination for international organizations and institutions, Al Aiban underlined. He added that the Kingdom has long championed international initiatives aimed at enhancing the stability of cyberspace, contributing to societal prosperity, economic growth and human well-being worldwide.

For his part, Majed Al Mazyed, Governor of the National Cybersecurity Authority, said the UN’s decision further reflects Saudi Arabia’s internationally recognized leadership in cybersecurity, as evidenced by a range of global benchmarks.

He noted that Saudi Arabia retained its position as the world’s top-ranked country in cybersecurity for a second consecutive year in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2025. He also pointed to the Kingdom’s designation by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN agency for information and communication technologies, as a “Role Model” in the highest tier of the Global Cybersecurity Index 2024.

Michelle McDonough, Executive Director of UNITAR, said the launch of the institute’s first cybersecurity office and the choice of Riyadh as its headquarters underscore Saudi Arabia’s leadership and its pivotal role in advancing international cybersecurity efforts.

She added that the office will work with partners to address cybersecurity capacity gaps globally and help transform shared risks into shared resilience by connecting institutions and organizations across regions.

Saudi Arabia already hosts several regional and international cybersecurity bodies, including the Arab Cybersecurity Ministers Council, the Global Cybersecurity Forum Foundation, and the Cyber Economics Center, established through a partnership between the foundation and the World Economic Forum.

 

 

 

 

 

Gulf

UAE Categorically Denies Reports Alleging the Transfer of Funds to Iran

A view of the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. (WAM)
A view of the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. (WAM)
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UAE Categorically Denies Reports Alleging the Transfer of Funds to Iran

A view of the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. (WAM)
A view of the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. (WAM)

The United Arab Emirates categorically denied on Friday media reports alleging the transfer of funds from the UAE to Iran, including allegations concerning USD 3 billion.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that these allegations are “entirely false and unfounded”, stressing that “no frozen Iranian funds have been released, transferred, or facilitated through the UAE.”

The Ministry called on media outlets “to exercise accuracy, rely on official sources, and refrain from publishing or circulating unverified information and unfounded allegations,” reported the UAE's state news agency WAM.