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.
