Saudi scientist Professor Omar Yaghi has won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, a historic achievement that marks the first time a Saudi national has received the prestigious honor. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the prize to Yaghi for his foundational work in establishing the field of reticular chemistry, specifically for the development of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs). This groundbreaking research is celebrated for its transformative impact on materials science, enabling significant advances in clean energy and environmental sustainability.
Pioneering Reticular Chemistry
Professor Yaghi’s work centers on designing and creating novel porous materials by stitching molecular building blocks into extended structures. These materials, known as MOFs and COFs, have exceptionally high surface areas, allowing them to capture, store, and separate gases like carbon dioxide and hydrogen with unprecedented efficiency. His innovations have unlocked new possibilities in clean energy storage, carbon capture, and even harvesting water from desert air, turning molecular science into tangible solutions for global challenges. According to the University of California, Berkeley, Yaghi is one of the most influential chemists of his generation, with over 300 scientific papers and more than 250,000 citations.
A Landmark Achievement for the Kingdom
The win is being hailed as a major milestone for Saudi Arabia’s growing innovation ecosystem. Dr. Munir Eldesouki, President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), stated that the achievement reflects the Kingdom’s ambition under Vision 2030 to become a global hub for science and innovation. He noted, “Dr. Yaghi’s Nobel win reflects the wise leadership’s vision of making the Kingdom a global center for science, knowledge, and innovation. It confirms that investing in creative minds is the path to building a sustainable future for humanity.” Professor Yaghi, who was recently granted Saudi citizenship, serves as co-director of the KACST–UC Berkeley Center of Excellence for Nanomaterials for Clean Energy Applications and as an advisor to the KACST president.
A Career of Global Recognition
The Nobel Prize is the latest in a long list of prestigious accolades for Professor Yaghi. His contributions to science have been recognized globally with numerous awards, including the King Faisal Prize in Science, the Albert Einstein World Award of Science, the Wolf Prize in Chemistry, the Eni Award, the Gregori Aminoff Prize from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the VinFuture Prize, and the Great Arab Minds Award. This extensive recognition underscores the profound and lasting impact of his scientific discoveries over several decades.
About King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s national science agency and its national laboratory. KACST plays a pivotal role in the Kingdom’s national science, technology, and innovation system by coordinating national efforts, developing policies, and fostering a robust ecosystem for research, development, and innovation in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
Source: Fast Company Middle East
