JEDDAH: Nineteen Saudi universities have been ranked among the top 100 educational institutions in the Arab region, according to the 13th edition of the QS World University Rankings released Monday.
Three universities – who also achieved 5-star rating – made it to the top five rankings in the region, led by King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, King Saud University and King Abdulaziz University (KAU) were rated 1st, 3rd and 4th, respectively.
Others top 50 institutions ranked by QS World are Umm Al-Qura University (18), King Khalid University (21), King Faisal University (22), Al-Imam Muhammad ibn Saudi Islamic University (35), Alfaisal University (37), Prince Sultan University (40) and Qassim University (46).
While universities rated from 50 to 100 are Najran University, Islamic University in Madinah, University of Dammam, Dar Al-Hekmah College for Women, Talibah University, Taif University, Majmaah University, Princes Nora bint Abdulrahman University and Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University.
Global rankings
The rankings include 916 universities from 81 countries. Thirty-three countries feature in the Top 200. The US dominates, with 48 institutions, ahead of the UK (30), Netherlands (12), Germany (11), Canada, Australia (9), Japan (8), China (7), France, Sweden and Hong Kong (5).
US institutions hold all top-three places for the first time since 2004-5, with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is the world's top university for the fifth consecutive year, followed by Stanford and Harvard.
Western European institutions consistently suffered drops in their 2016 rankings, particularly the UK and Germany. The University of Cambridge dropped to fourth.
Russia and South Korea rise significantly, 16 among top-500 universities compared to 13 last year.
Ben Sowter, Head of Research at QS, said: "Institutions in countries providing high levels of targeted funding, whether from endowments or the public purse, rise. Conversely, Western European nations making or proposing cuts to public research spending lose ground to their US and Asian counterparts."
74,651 academics and 37,781 employers contributed to the rankings through the QS global surveys. QS analyzed 10.3 million research papers and 66.3 million citations, indexed by Elsevier's Scopus database.
2016 2015 TOP 20 UNIVERSITIES
1 1 MIT US
2 3= STANFORD US
3 2 HARVARD US
4 3= CAMBRIDGE UK
5 5 CALTECH US
6 6 OXFORD UK
7 7 UCL UK
8 9 ETH ZURICH SWITZERLAND
9 8 IMPERIAL COLLEGE UK
10 10 CHICAGO US
11 11 PRINCETON US
12 12 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE SINGAPORE
13 13 NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY SINGAPORE
14 14 EPFL SWITZERLAND
15 15 YALE US
16 17 CORNELL US
17 16 JOHNS HOPKINS US
18 18 UPENN US
19 21 EDINBURGH UK
20 22 COLUMBIA US
19 Saudi universities among top 100 in the Arab world
19 Saudi universities among top 100 in the Arab world
How private Christmas celebrations in Saudi Arabia offer moments of cultural exchange
- Christmas spirit in major cities is growing as Saudi Arabia continues to embrace its religious diversity
- One of Riyadh’s decorations was held privately in a residential compound
RIYADH: As the days get colder and the year comes to an end, people across Saudi Arabia are looking to their families for warmth and their faith for comfort. For the Kingdom’s Christian residents, the holiday cheer has never been louder.
The Christmas spirit in major cities is growing as Saudi Arabia continues to embrace its religious diversity. One of Riyadh’s decorations was held privately in a residential compound.
The compound’s general manager, Jean Noujaim, told Arab News: “Christmas is being celebrated more and more … things that were frowned upon are now becoming less so.”
Guests were wrapped in fake snow while shopping around the Christmas market, admiring the illustrious decorations, enjoying the live choir, and entertaining their children with a host of games and activities.
The event also included a few very special guest stars including elves, the Grinch, and the season’s hero, Santa Claus.
The compound’s largest event thus far, approximately 1,500 residents and 2,000 visitors were in attendance.
“It showed how much people were missing these types of events,” Noujaim said.
Breaking records in “every way,” the event also saw its highest number of Saudi attendees for a Christmas celebration, having hosted similar festivities on an annual basis.
Noujaim wanted those of all faiths to feel welcome, emphasizing that it was a celebration centered around children and joy.
“Everyone who came told me they had goosebumps during the event. They felt it was magical … their children were very happy.”
The Vives Compound Christmas celebration was held on Nov. 20 and will be held annually.
While celebrations in the Kingdom remain low-key and largely private, they are increasingly shaped by a sense of community, cultural exchange, and shared hospitality, often extending to Saudi friends and colleagues.
For many expats, Christmas in Saudi Arabia is marked by intimate gatherings at home or within residential compounds. Decorations are modest, featuring Christmas trees, lights, and small festive touches that recreate a sense of home far from home.
Jazmin Soledad Huanca, a Peruvian expatriate working in Saudi Arabia, described Christmas as one of the most anticipated moments of the year for foreigners living in the Kingdom.
“Christmas represents unity and family,” she said. “The first thing many of us do is decorate our space, whether with a tree, lights, or a small reminder of Christmas. We prepare to visit close friends or family, exchange secret gifts, and share food together.”
Food, she added, plays a central role in the celebrations, ranging from cookies and hot chocolate to baked turkey served with salads. For many expats who arrived in Saudi Arabia alone, the occasion carries an added emotional weight.
“Here, many of us came individually, which makes Christmas different but equally beautiful,” Huanca said. “In some compounds, activities are organized for children, families, and single people. On that day, we all become one community.”
Inviting Saudi friends to join the celebrations has become increasingly common. “Yes, we invite Saudis,” Huanca said. “For us, Christmas is about unity and family. We want them to feel that.”
She added that hosting Saudi guests brings a special sense of joy. “It feels like having an important guest at home. You want them to feel comfortable, like this is their home too.”
International schools across Saudi Arabia have also been embracing the festive season with inclusive and joyful Christmas celebrations.
At the American International School of Jeddah the campus has been filled with holiday cheer through festive bazaars, extensive decorations including seven Christmas trees, daily morning musical performances by students and teachers, and even a surprise visit from Santa Claus.
Superintendent Robert Rinaldo said: “With more than 1,500 students representing 68 nationalities, we see Christmas celebrations as a true reflection of our diverse community. The festive atmosphere on campus, from holiday-themed decorations to daily musical performances, highlights that diversity and helps create an environment where everyone feels a genuine sense of belonging and can come together to share in the joy of the season.”
Raza Ali, headmaster of Jeddah Prep and Grammar School, said: “As a British school overseas, we appropriately acknowledge Christmas during this time of year through school decorations, a winter musical, and references within certain class lessons, while always ensuring that we respect all cultural backgrounds within our community.”
Parents also value this balance. AISJ parent Victoria Joseph said: “Even though we are far from our home in California, my son is able to experience and understand the holiday season just as he would in the United States. It’s wonderful to see how the school embraces the festivities while showing such respect and adaptability toward the celebration in the Kingdom.”
As Saudi Arabia continues to grow as a multicultural society, these understated celebrations reflect a broader story of coexistence, where traditions are preserved, shared, and respectfully experienced across cultures.
