His Excellency Dr Saad bin Saud Al Fuhaid, President of Arabian Gulf University (AGU), has announced a significant increase in funding for scientific research undertaken by the university’s academic staff and researchers, doubling the existing allocations.

This initiative reflects Dr Al Fuhaid’s steadfast commitment to enhancing scientific research and innovation through support for research and innovative projects that aim to address the strategic goals of the GCC and tackle priority challenges.

The announcement was made during a celebratory event held to mark the university’s inclusion in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2025, where AGU achieved the distinction of being the top and sole representative from the Kingdom of Bahrain and ranked 17th  among educational institutions across the GCC and 19th in the Arab world, with an impressive placement in the range of 501-600 out of 2,092 global universities.

On this occasion Dr Al Fuhaid expressed in a gathering with academic and administrative staff, as well as students, that this remarkable achievement signifies a historic milestone in the university’s journey, noting that it is a testament to the tremendous efforts made by all stakeholders over the past years.

He further said: “On this occasion, I wish to convey my absolute confidence in your competencies and excellence, as well as my deep appreciation for the outstanding efforts put forth by each of you. I pray that this exceptional achievement serves as an inspiration for us all to strive for even greater contributions, ensuring that our beloved university remains at the forefront of global institutions in leadership, distinction and innovation.”

Dr Al Fuhaid also asserted that this success was made possible not only by the grace of God but also through the substantial support received from Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the GCC states, enabling the university to achieve the highest standards of quality and excellence in its academic programmes and various research activities. Thanks to this support, the university has proven itself a custodian of trust and a capable institution that meets the expected standards of quality and distinction, being one of the oldest initiatives for Gulf integration in the field of education. The president extended his heartfelt congratulations to the academic and administrative staff for this distinguished achievement.

It is worth noting that the criteria for the Times Higher Education World University Rankings are based on the university’s adherence to quality standards in teaching, the offering of innovative academic programmes, the ratio of faculty members to students, the diversity of nationalities within the academic community, the number of faculty who have received scientific accolades across various fields of knowledge, the number of faculty holding registered patents, and the availability of employment opportunities for graduates, among other metrics.