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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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Gulf

Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen Completes 91 Km of Al Abr Road Expansion

Vehicles travel on the Al Abr Road that serves as a crucial link between Yemen and Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
Vehicles travel on the Al Abr Road that serves as a crucial link between Yemen and Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen Completes 91 Km of Al Abr Road Expansion

Vehicles travel on the Al Abr Road that serves as a crucial link between Yemen and Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
Vehicles travel on the Al Abr Road that serves as a crucial link between Yemen and Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) has completed the second phase of Al Abr Road expansion and rehabilitation project, extending 40 kilometers from Al-Duwaibi to Ghuwariban, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Thursday.

The first phase, covering 50 kilometers from Al-Duwaibi to Al Abr in Hadhramaut, was completed in May 2024, bringing the total completed length to 91 kilometers.

Al Abr Road is a vital part of Yemen's transportation network. It is an important route connecting three major governorates - Marib, Hadhramaut, and Shabwa - and serves as a crucial link between Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

The expansion and rehabilitation project is a significant contributor to bolstering economic and social development in Yemen, improving access to regional and international markets, and facilitating the movement of people and goods between the Kingdom and Yemen.

In a step reflecting the integration of development projects and initiatives offered through SDRPY to support the transportation sector, the program is also working on the rehabilitation of Al-Wadiah Border Crossing, one of the most important land crossings.

These two projects contribute to stimulating commercial and investment activity both through the crossing and in the surrounding areas along Al Abr Road. This underscores the program's vital role in supporting infrastructure, boosting economic activity, creating job opportunities, boosting trade between the two countries, and contributing to sustainable development in Yemen.

The Al-Wadiah Border Crossing rehabilitation project includes the construction of new buildings and the rehabilitation of existing ones, as well as infrastructure improvements such as roads, open spaces, site enhancements, surveillance systems, and strengthened water and power sources at the crossing.

The improvements aim to boost services for travelers and strengthen economic and trade relations between the two peoples.

SDRPY provides support to the transportation sector in Yemen through 31 comprehensive development projects and initiatives. These include the rehabilitation of airports, increasing the capacity of ports, and improving the efficiency of border crossings.

The program also includes the rehabilitation of approximately 150 kilometers of vital roads across various Yemeni governorates, which represent a significant contribution to the country's economy.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia Concludes ‘Red Wave 8’ Exercise

Forces taking part in the "Red Wave 8" drill. (Royal Saudi Naval Forces)
Forces taking part in the "Red Wave 8" drill. (Royal Saudi Naval Forces)
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Saudi Arabia Concludes ‘Red Wave 8’ Exercise

Forces taking part in the "Red Wave 8" drill. (Royal Saudi Naval Forces)
Forces taking part in the "Red Wave 8" drill. (Royal Saudi Naval Forces)

The “Red Wave 8” joint naval exercise concluded on Friday at Saudi Arabia’s King Faisal Naval Base in the Western Fleet.

Chief of Staff of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces Lieutenant General Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Gharibi, Director General of the Saudi Border Guards Major General Shaya bin Salem Al-Wadaani and several commanders of the participating forces attended the conclusion of the drill.

Naval and air forces and border guards took part in the drill. Participating countries included those overlooking the Red Sea, such as Jordan, Egypt, Djibouti, Sudan and Yemen.

Forces took part in naval maneuvers including anti-submarine and electronic warfare. They trained in air and ground target practice, naval security operations, confronting remote-controlled vessels and the use of advanced defense systems.

Training also included simulations on coastal defense, surveillance operations, counter-terrorism, the freeing of hostages, and mine removal, as well as live fire exercises using medium and heavy weapons.

Director of the training Rear Admiral Abdullah al-Enzi said the drill achieved its goals through bolstering the capabilities of participating forces in deterring any regional threats and raising the level of their coordination in intelligence and security information exchange that will help in boosting regional maritime security.

The drill had kicked off on Sunday.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia, Egypt Stress Importance of Launching ‘Comprehensive Political Process’ in Sudan

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty meet in Riyadh in September. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty meet in Riyadh in September. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, Egypt Stress Importance of Launching ‘Comprehensive Political Process’ in Sudan

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty meet in Riyadh in September. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty meet in Riyadh in September. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia and Egypt reiterated on Friday the importance of reaching a ceasefire in Sudan and preparing the ground for launching a comprehensive political process that preserves the country’s unity, sovereignty and stability.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held telephone talks with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty to discuss regional developments and bilateral ties as part of the constant coordination between their countries.

Abdelatty expressed Cairo’s condemnation of the “horrific violations in city of el-Fasher.”

The Sudanese government has accused the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of committing crimes against civilians during their capture of el-Fasher.

A quartet, comprised of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and United States, is working on reaching a ceasefire in Sudan. They met in Washington in September, stressing the need to exert “all possible efforts” to resolve the conflict.

They also called for pressure to be exerted on parties to protect civilians and infrastructure and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid.

An Egyptian Foreign Ministry statement said Prince Faisal and Abdelatty underscored the depth of the fraternal relations between Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

They stressed their keenness on further coordination to bolster the partnership between them in service of joint interests and regional security and stability.

The FMs also tackled the developments in Gaza, underlining the need for continued coordination between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in supporting efforts to consolidate the ceasefire so that it can be implemented in full.

Abdelatty briefed Prince Faisal on Cairo’s preparations to host an international conference on Gaza’s early recovery and reconstruction.