Exclusive: US intel shows Saudi Arabia escalated its missile program with help from China

[KN-1]

Its high time we have another Muslim nuclear power so Pakistan dont have to go through all the pressure and malicious propaganda alone, Wish both Saudis and Turks best of luck.

 

[Hack-Hook]

Are you drunk? There is no strategic partnership with India. Other than trade.

Some 200.000 more Indians while India having a 7.5 times LARGER population than Pakistan. Your biggest expat community in the world is in KSA. Forgot that little detail? Your economy relies on Pakistanis working in KSA and the GCC. Forgot that little detail? KSA has bailed you out since forever economically and politically. Funded your nuclear program. Helped you when you were sanctioned by the world as one of the few countries in the world alongside the UAE. Forgot that "little detail"? Now recently as well. More than anyone else.

What position against Kashmir? The position of KSA, the GCC and the OIC is clear and has been well-known since forever. Let me ask you, what is your position on Syria, Yemen, Iran etc.? I thought so.

Let me tell you a thing. What KSA has done for Pakistan is more than Pakistan has done for KSA. You cannot and could not do much other than military help (even that is little compared to other countries that I do not need to name) as you are not a wealthy nation. That is understandable but your fantasy world of somehow KSA not helping you and not being your closest ally since your birth as a country, is some kind of nonsense. MILLIONS of Pakistanis are DIRECTLY dependent on money earned in SAUDI ARABIA.

Do you realize how easy it would be for KSA to replace all Pakistanis with fellow Arabs and Muslims from Africa, South East Asia, Caucasus etc.? Do you realize how many Muslims want to work in KSA and the GCC? 100 times as many as work there. Or how easy it would be to work with India on all fronts instead? Yet we do not do that. Because Arabs, when they make a promise, keep it and are allies as long as we are treated well by our partners.

Freedom of speech is something that was invented in Arabia. I suggest you study history. Majlis are the oldest form of communal gatherings in the world practiced to this day in KSA. Where locals and rulers exchange opinions and make petitions in person. Not through a ballot box. You don't understand the tribal element either and the alliance between the ruler and people (populace). For that you need to understand the foundation stones of KSA which you obviously do not understand.



Not when those missiles where tested by countries whom we are working with. Then it is not necessary. That is a very easy way to do it.

If you have an assembly line there its a must to test first or second preferably both from the production line .some times you have the same production line but different worker result in different end product Quality.

KSA had only to get blueprints of already tested missiles..and make them with TOT..

Nobody can do that even USA and Russia had to test the end products .

 

[raptor22]

There is no secret ... China & Ukraine are sources & has been unveiled for a so long ..

The US Secretary of State in response to the attempt to demonize the missile program:
Most of the countries developing missile programs are due to Iran's development of its missile program under the umbrella of the nuclear deal.
"They are doing what needs to be done to create deterrence tools to their advantage"
It is the truth!!

You started your missile program in 80s which was became more serious due to Saddam firing missile at you ...
Yemen started back in 70s ...
The UAE purchased Scud-B missiles from North Korea in 1989.
Iraq started in 70s
Afghanistan 70s.
Syria 70s.
Libya 70s.
israel 70s.
Egypt 50s.
Iran 80s.
Therefore coming statement

"..Developing missile programs are due to Iran's development of its missile program under the umbrella of the nuclear deal..."​

Is bullshit ... as its crier is ....
Or:

"They are doing what needs to be done to create deterrence tools to their advantage"
​

As I said we started our program as response to Saddam missile showering our cities whom were supported by you and same fatty's country you referring to ... again pure bullshit ...

 

[ArabianEmpires&Caliphates]

If you have an assembly line there its a must to test first or second preferably both from the production line .some times you have the same production line but different worker result in different end product Quality.

If a country has had a missile program for over 30 years the needed infrastructure has obviously been built. There is a reason why so-called experts have been finding "secret" Saudi Arabian missile launch sites where activity have been proven. However those are only military bases that are known to the "public". Obviously there are many, many more. Just like there are more military sites and military cities with restricted access in the country than those that are already known. The mighty Rub' al-Khali for instance is the perfect testing ground. As are many other areas of KSA. Space is the last thing we lack.

Anything else would make no sense. A country like KSA with our military budget, our riches, our abilities and allies obviously has a sophisticated missile program without any doubt.

KSA had only to get blueprints of already tested missiles..and make them with TOT..

What gave me most "peace of mind" was MbS' comments (in public!) about our missile program. We heard similar stuff from the late Prince Sultan ages ago.

Countries that we have either 100% cooperated with (China, Pakistan and Ukraine) or might have cooperated with (North Korea and France). There was also cooperation with Egypt and Iraq once if I recall.

God knows how many Muslims from across the world and locals are working on different projects inside KSA. With MbS rise to power over 2 years ago and the stated goals, I can only think that this is taking place right now.

Given the accelerating amount of local nuclear engineers and other highly educated technicians that will contribute to our military industry, one should be able to guess the rest. That and the increased instability in the region and the Yemen war.....

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/04/06/...nuclear-reactor-iran-tensions-intl/index.html

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...early-finished-sparking-fears-over-safeguards

https://gizmodo.com/report-saudi-arabia-making-brisk-progress-on-experimen-1833872655

"First" (lol) as in it being publicly shown and admitted. There are likely several of such research nuclear reactors since ages ago.

 

[The SC]

There is no secret ... China & Ukraine are sources & has been unveiled for a so long ..


You started your missile program in 80s which was became more serious due to Saddam firing missile at you ...
Yemen started back in 70s ...
The UAE purchased Scud-B missiles from North Korea in 1989.
Iraq started in 70s
Afghanistan 70s.
Syria 70s.
Libya 70s.
israel 70s.
Egypt 50s.
Iran 80s.
Therefore coming statement

"..Developing missile programs are due to Iran's development of its missile program under the umbrella of the nuclear deal..."​

Is bullshit ... as its crier is ....
Or:

"They are doing what needs to be done to create deterrence tools to their advantage"
​

As I said we started our program as response to Saddam missile showering our cities whom were supported by you and same fatty's country you referring to ... again pure bullshit ...

Developing missile programs are due to Iran's development of its missile program

 

[Hack-Hook]

If a country has had a missile program for over 30 years the needed infrastructure has obviously been built. There is a reason why so-called experts have been finding "secret" Saudi Arabian missile launch sites where activity have been proven. However those are only military bases that are known to the "public". Obviously there are many, many more. Just like there are more military sites and military cities with restricted access in the country than those that are already known. The mighty Rub' al-Khali for instance is the perfect testing ground. As are many other areas of KSA. Space is the last thing we lack.







Anything else would make no sense. A country like KSA with our military budget, our riches, our abilities and allies obviously has a sophisticated missile program without any doubt.

ok if you think you can skip testing the missiles ,then good for you .

 

[ArabianEmpires&Caliphates]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1137188192921063426

Under Trump arms deal, high-tech U.S. bombs to be built in Saudi Arabia

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/under-trump-arms-deal-high-tech-u-s-bombs-be-n1015346

ok if you think you can skip testing the missiles ,then good for you .

Did I not already answer that repeatedly? You can test missiles underground just like you can conduct nuclear tests in underground facilities. Likewise to prevent attention partners whom we are working with on our missile program can conduct every needed test if the need arrises. It is not really complicated at all. As I wrote you are free to believe that nothing has been done for 30 years (lol). All I can say is that I hope that (for your sake in case of a war as unlikely as that is) that your chief strategists and decision makers are not this naive.

 

[HAIDER]

Its high time we have another Muslim nuclear power so Pakistan dont have to go through all the pressure and malicious propaganda alone, Wish both Saudis and Turks best of luck.

in coming years , strong economy and trade will and is replacing the nuclear bomb. Europe is working on economy and muslim world is busy building bombs and rocket.

 

[ArabianEmpires&Caliphates]

in coming years , strong economy and trade will and is replacing the nuclear bomb. Europe is working on economy and muslim world is busy building bombs and rocket.

KSA is busy becoming the 18th largest economy in the world and the GCC (if it was one country) would be in the top 10. We have great business and trade ties (Arabs are genius traders since forever) with all powers and we are likewise evolving and developing quickly on every front. So speak for yourself. Having deterrence is very important and crucial as without security nothing will work.

Posted in another thread but very relevant to your comment.

I don't know what it is with some of your guys that are stuck 30 years in time. KSA is one of the best performing Muslim and developing countries in the world in terms of scientific output. We have the best ranked universities in the entire Muslim world. We are making great strides in terms of education and science. One of the fastest scientific growths in the world in the past 10 years.

We have 1 of the 3 largest sovereign wealth funds in the world. We are the biggest investor in the Muslim world. We are essentially depth free. Oil will last for a LONG time and that is notwithstanding the fact that we are the richest country in the Muslim world when it comes to natural resources and minerals and that our non-oil sector is booming.

I will repost this article from the world-renowned Science Magazine posted over 3 years ago. In this time period things have only accelerated under the leadership of MbS.


Oiling the wheels on a road to success​

• Pakinam Amer​

Nature volume 532, pages S13–S15 (28 April 2016) | Download Citation

With the benefit of a sustainable plan and the funds to back it, Saudi Arabia is aiming high.

Saudi Arabia's scientific development may be in its infancy, but the oil-rich Kingdom is making strides in terms of research investment and publication — with a clear ambition to one day join those in the highest echelons.

KAUST students embark on a new school year with a commencement ceremony. The relatively new university has quickly made an impact on the Nature Index. Image: KAUST

In 2012, Saudi Arabia had a weighted fractional count (WFC) of 52.84 in the index, sitting behind Turkey, Iran, Mexico, Chile and South Africa. In four years it rose 86.8% to reach a WFC of 98.67, leapfrogging all these countries to compete with Chile and Argentina globally. Saudi Arabia ranks at number 31 in the world in terms of WFC — up from 39 in 2012.

The country has risen even higher in specific subject areas. In chemistry, for example, it has surpassed countries with a strong scientific impact like Finland and Ireland, with its WFC rising to 66.54, achieving almost a three-fold increase from its position in 2012.

Institutionally, the country's leading science hub King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) made an impressive leap in its WFC between 2012 and 2015, carving a place for itself to compete with American and European research powerhouses.

In just four years, its WFC has risen to become higher than those of prestigious institutions including the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), the University of Georgia, United States, and Dresden University of Technology, Germany, to name a few. The output of all of these institutions dwarfed KAUST's in 2012, but KAUST's impressive trajectory since then has seen its WFC shoot to 72 in 2015, overtaking these heavy-hitters.

The country's science development ambitions have been backed by action. Since 2008, the country has embarked on a multi-tiered strategy that will see the Kingdom overhaul its science infrastructure, build high-spec labs, secure grants for research in priority areas in applied science, and link science to industries that drive the economy.

The strategy, broken into four stages to be implemented by 2030, aims to eventually “see Saudi Arabia become a leader in Asia and give it an economic power based on science,” says Abdulaziz Al-Swailem, vice president of scientific research support at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST).

The Saudi Human Genome Project will sequence 100,000 human genomes to conduct biomedical research in the Saudi population. Image: Fayez Nureldine/AFP/Getty Images

Saudi Arabia's march to the top Saudi Arabia's efforts to boost its scientific research have been paying off, with its output in the Nature Index (WFC) rising steadily over the years. The two graphs below highlight Saudi Arabia's rise compared to other nations, both overall and for chemistry.

Overall output In 2012 Saudi Arabia's overall output in the index was below all the countries shown, but continuous efforts have seen the Kingdom's WFC rise to overtake them all in 2015.

Chemistry More marked than its overall rise, Saudi Arabia has made great strides in chemistry. After accelerated growth, which saw the Kingdom's chemistry WFC triple since 2012, it has outshone many larger players in the field in 2015.

The Kingdom's science investments focus on applied research that feeds directly into the country's industrial interests, particularly the oil and energy sector. But even in its strong subjects, chemistry and the physical sciences, Saudi Arabia's WFC remains modest compared to big players in Asia like China, Japan and South Korea.

“Saudi Arabia could look to some successful emerging economies for inspiration.”

To truly swim comfortably with these bigger fish, Saudi Arabia may benefit from looking at successful emerging economies in Asia.

One inspiration could be India. In addition to multi-disciplinary scientific and technical advancements that have improved its output in the index from 736.5 to 901.4 in the past four years, the subcontinental giant has joined the exclusive club of countries that have launched successful space missions.

Like Saudi Arabia, India's leading research institutes focus on chemistry, and their total output currently outstrips their Saudi Arabian counterparts by almost a factor of seven (the latter surpassing 472 in 2015, while the former is 66.5).

India's prowess in chemistry is something that Saudi Arabia can aspire to, considering that working conditions for researchers in the Kingdom are more conducive.

India's science ecosystem is far from perfect. Research funding cannot keep up with inflation and a general slowdown in the country's economy. In addition, commentators from the research community say the funding processes are lengthy, bureaucratic, and provide little feedback when applications for grants are turned down. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's healthy stream of oil revenue provides assured funding for the country's state-of-the-art research facilities.

While India has slightly increased spending and dedicated US$1.19 billion for the next fiscal year (2016–2017) for science, it has around 700 universities and 200,000 full-time researchers drawing on the same funding pot. By contrast, Saudi Arabia has pledged an education and training budget of US$50.9 billion for next year, which includes higher education and scientific research. With a total population of just 30 million, it has a much lower number of full-time researchers competing for the available resources.

Another impressive trajectory that Saudi Arabia might look to emulate is that of Singapore, which has a smaller population as well and has managed to climb high in the index. Like the Kingdom, Singapore also has a focus on chemistry research, and it has put together a similar top-down national science strategy for research institutes across the country. Both countries have strong collaborations with top universities around the world and are welcoming of foreign researchers in their efforts to drive innovation.

Mansour Alghamdi, director of the general directorate of scientific awareness and publishing at KACST, is optimistic that Saudi Arabia can bridge the large gap that currently exists in the volume of scientific output between it and such countries as India and Singapore.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a clear plan to do so and it has the resources,” he says.

Future growth

An internationally rising star This graph shows KAUST's rise compared to a selection of other institutions*. *Institutions shown are those that were furthest above KAUST in 2012, have experienced overall growth in WFC by 2015 and have been overtaken by KAUST in 2015. For clarity, only 2012 and 2015 data points are shown.

In 2012, Saudi's ranking in research output, with a WFC of 52.8, meant it was comparable with countries like South Africa, Turkey and Iran, all hovering around the 60–70 mark. Its WFC stood way below countries like Mexico, Hungary, Chile, Greece and Argentina.

Saudi Arabian researchers benefit from cutting-edge labs and generous funding that has boosted the country's R&D. Image: Top: KACST; Bottom: KAUST

Four years later, the country's research outlook is very different and it is surpassing countries like Argentina, Mexico and Hungary in the index, and levelling the playing field with Chile. Chemistry research led the country's rapid rise to surpass these countries, but its life sciences and physical sciences WFCs of 8.5 and 31.5 still lag behind.

However, the Kingdom's AC has been steadily growing in these two fields over the past four years, hinting at the ever-increasing significance of international collaborations. It seems that Saudi Arabian researchers are casting their nets ever wider and are participating in publishing more articles, to the detriment of the WFC accredited for these articles.

Though international collaboration has proved fruitful, Saudi Arabia must keep a focus on nurturing home-grown talent, says Nasser Al-Aqeeli, dean of research at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), based in Dhahran's 'techno valley' in the eastern region of the Kingdom. In the next five years, he says, the country will focus on a programme for national capacity building.

A good first step was the Saudi government's decision to create a large scholarship programme in 2005, arguably the largest in the world, which has seen more than 200,000 young Saudi Arabians studying abroad. This makes Saudi Arabian students in the United States the fourth largest bloc of expatriate students, following those of China, India and South Korea. The government hopes these students will come back and drive a scientific culture in the country.

“Its rise up the ranks depends on a 'self-correcting mechanism' of a slow start to sustainable growth.”

Saudi Arabia is also looking to increase its applied research focus, which is an integral part of the current phase of its national science strategy, while securing good funding for basic research as well. Al-Aqeeli says that Saudi's journey involves what he termed a “self-correcting mechanism” where the country is having a slow start in high-impact research, but a more sustainable one. An eventual future move towards basic research might help Saudi Arabia's research capacity to mature.

https://www.nature.com/articles/532S13a

A few days ago Saudi Arabian students won gold medals in an international physics and science olympiad in Latvia. Will post the article in a few minutes when I find it.

Saudi foundation wins gold, bronze in European Physics Olympiad

RIYADH: Azan Al-Majnooni and Hisham Al-Maliki, of the King Abdul Aziz and his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), won gold and bronze medals respectively at the European Physics Olympiad (EUPHO) 2019, in Riga, Latvia.
The contest ran from May 31 to June 4, and the Saudi duo were praised for their awards by the secretary-general of Mawhiba, Dr. Saud bin Saeed Al-Mathami.
Al-Mathami stressed that the accomplishments were achieved thanks to government support for the sciences and the foundation. This was the first time the Kingdom had taken part in EUPHO, which hosted 26 other nations.
“This comes as an extension to the march toward achieving the targets of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 through improving education and building a solid base for a talented generation, capable of realizing the aspirations of a state able to rely on creativity and innovation as a means to achieve,” he said.
The secretary-general added that Saudi Arabia paid great attention to gifted and talented citizens, catering their needs and requirements, upgrading services and programs supporting them, and creating the right environment to grow and develop their abilities.
Al-Mathami underlined that this victory was the result of fruitful and constructive cooperation between Mawhiba and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu.
EUPHO is an international student contest, first held in 2017 in Estonia, and then in Russia 12 months later.

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1506936/saudi-arabia

I have seen tons of Saudi Arabian businessmen in Europe investing big money in various technological startups and often they are investing in fellow Arab and Muslim startups! A deliberate policy. Investing in the West and East (China is our largest trade partner) is a wise thing to do and will continue. Arabs (historically) always traded with everyone hence us controlling most of the trade routes between East and West due to our geography and outreach. For us business is business.

Here is a statistic:

As of 2018, Saudi Arabia ranks 28 worldwide in terms of high-quality research output according to the renowned scientific journal Nature.[564] This makes Saudi Arabia the best performing Middle Eastern, Arab and Muslim country.

Saudi Arabia spends 8.8 % of its gross domestic product on education, compared with the global average of 4.6%, which is nearly double the global average on education.[565]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia
​

 

[HAIDER]

KSA is busy becoming the 18th largest economy in the world and the GCC (if it was one country) would be in the top 10. We have great business and trade ties (Arabs are genius traders since forever) with all powers and we are likewise evolving and developing quickly on every front. So speak for yourself. Having deterrence is very important and crucial as without security nothing will work.

Posted in another thread but very relevant to your comment.

I don't know what it is with some of your guys that are stuck 30 years in time. KSA is one of the best performing Muslim and developing countries in the world in terms of scientific output. We have the best ranked universities in the entire Muslim world. We are making great strides in terms of education and science. One of the fastest scientific growths in the world in the past 10 years.

We have 1 of the 3 largest sovereign wealth funds in the world. We are the biggest investor in the Muslim world. We are essentially depth free. Oil will last for a LONG time and that is notwithstanding the fact that we are the richest country in the Muslim world when it comes to natural resources and minerals and that our non-oil sector is booming.

I will repost this article from the world-renowned Science Magazine posted over 3 years ago. In this time period things have only accelerated under the leadership of MbS.


Oiling the wheels on a road to success​

• Pakinam Amer​

Nature volume 532, pages S13–S15 (28 April 2016) | Download Citation

With the benefit of a sustainable plan and the funds to back it, Saudi Arabia is aiming high.

Saudi Arabia's scientific development may be in its infancy, but the oil-rich Kingdom is making strides in terms of research investment and publication — with a clear ambition to one day join those in the highest echelons.

KAUST students embark on a new school year with a commencement ceremony. The relatively new university has quickly made an impact on the Nature Index. Image: KAUST

In 2012, Saudi Arabia had a weighted fractional count (WFC) of 52.84 in the index, sitting behind Turkey, Iran, Mexico, Chile and South Africa. In four years it rose 86.8% to reach a WFC of 98.67, leapfrogging all these countries to compete with Chile and Argentina globally. Saudi Arabia ranks at number 31 in the world in terms of WFC — up from 39 in 2012.

The country has risen even higher in specific subject areas. In chemistry, for example, it has surpassed countries with a strong scientific impact like Finland and Ireland, with its WFC rising to 66.54, achieving almost a three-fold increase from its position in 2012.

Institutionally, the country's leading science hub King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) made an impressive leap in its WFC between 2012 and 2015, carving a place for itself to compete with American and European research powerhouses.

In just four years, its WFC has risen to become higher than those of prestigious institutions including the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), the University of Georgia, United States, and Dresden University of Technology, Germany, to name a few. The output of all of these institutions dwarfed KAUST's in 2012, but KAUST's impressive trajectory since then has seen its WFC shoot to 72 in 2015, overtaking these heavy-hitters.

The country's science development ambitions have been backed by action. Since 2008, the country has embarked on a multi-tiered strategy that will see the Kingdom overhaul its science infrastructure, build high-spec labs, secure grants for research in priority areas in applied science, and link science to industries that drive the economy.

The strategy, broken into four stages to be implemented by 2030, aims to eventually “see Saudi Arabia become a leader in Asia and give it an economic power based on science,” says Abdulaziz Al-Swailem, vice president of scientific research support at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST).

The Saudi Human Genome Project will sequence 100,000 human genomes to conduct biomedical research in the Saudi population. Image: Fayez Nureldine/AFP/Getty Images

Saudi Arabia's march to the top Saudi Arabia's efforts to boost its scientific research have been paying off, with its output in the Nature Index (WFC) rising steadily over the years. The two graphs below highlight Saudi Arabia's rise compared to other nations, both overall and for chemistry.

Overall output In 2012 Saudi Arabia's overall output in the index was below all the countries shown, but continuous efforts have seen the Kingdom's WFC rise to overtake them all in 2015.

Chemistry More marked than its overall rise, Saudi Arabia has made great strides in chemistry. After accelerated growth, which saw the Kingdom's chemistry WFC triple since 2012, it has outshone many larger players in the field in 2015.

The Kingdom's science investments focus on applied research that feeds directly into the country's industrial interests, particularly the oil and energy sector. But even in its strong subjects, chemistry and the physical sciences, Saudi Arabia's WFC remains modest compared to big players in Asia like China, Japan and South Korea.

“Saudi Arabia could look to some successful emerging economies for inspiration.”

To truly swim comfortably with these bigger fish, Saudi Arabia may benefit from looking at successful emerging economies in Asia.

One inspiration could be India. In addition to multi-disciplinary scientific and technical advancements that have improved its output in the index from 736.5 to 901.4 in the past four years, the subcontinental giant has joined the exclusive club of countries that have launched successful space missions.

Like Saudi Arabia, India's leading research institutes focus on chemistry, and their total output currently outstrips their Saudi Arabian counterparts by almost a factor of seven (the latter surpassing 472 in 2015, while the former is 66.5).

India's prowess in chemistry is something that Saudi Arabia can aspire to, considering that working conditions for researchers in the Kingdom are more conducive.

India's science ecosystem is far from perfect. Research funding cannot keep up with inflation and a general slowdown in the country's economy. In addition, commentators from the research community say the funding processes are lengthy, bureaucratic, and provide little feedback when applications for grants are turned down. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's healthy stream of oil revenue provides assured funding for the country's state-of-the-art research facilities.

While India has slightly increased spending and dedicated US$1.19 billion for the next fiscal year (2016–2017) for science, it has around 700 universities and 200,000 full-time researchers drawing on the same funding pot. By contrast, Saudi Arabia has pledged an education and training budget of US$50.9 billion for next year, which includes higher education and scientific research. With a total population of just 30 million, it has a much lower number of full-time researchers competing for the available resources.

Another impressive trajectory that Saudi Arabia might look to emulate is that of Singapore, which has a smaller population as well and has managed to climb high in the index. Like the Kingdom, Singapore also has a focus on chemistry research, and it has put together a similar top-down national science strategy for research institutes across the country. Both countries have strong collaborations with top universities around the world and are welcoming of foreign researchers in their efforts to drive innovation.

Mansour Alghamdi, director of the general directorate of scientific awareness and publishing at KACST, is optimistic that Saudi Arabia can bridge the large gap that currently exists in the volume of scientific output between it and such countries as India and Singapore.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a clear plan to do so and it has the resources,” he says.

Future growth

An internationally rising star This graph shows KAUST's rise compared to a selection of other institutions*. *Institutions shown are those that were furthest above KAUST in 2012, have experienced overall growth in WFC by 2015 and have been overtaken by KAUST in 2015. For clarity, only 2012 and 2015 data points are shown.

In 2012, Saudi's ranking in research output, with a WFC of 52.8, meant it was comparable with countries like South Africa, Turkey and Iran, all hovering around the 60–70 mark. Its WFC stood way below countries like Mexico, Hungary, Chile, Greece and Argentina.

Saudi Arabian researchers benefit from cutting-edge labs and generous funding that has boosted the country's R&D. Image: Top: KACST; Bottom: KAUST

Four years later, the country's research outlook is very different and it is surpassing countries like Argentina, Mexico and Hungary in the index, and levelling the playing field with Chile. Chemistry research led the country's rapid rise to surpass these countries, but its life sciences and physical sciences WFCs of 8.5 and 31.5 still lag behind.

However, the Kingdom's AC has been steadily growing in these two fields over the past four years, hinting at the ever-increasing significance of international collaborations. It seems that Saudi Arabian researchers are casting their nets ever wider and are participating in publishing more articles, to the detriment of the WFC accredited for these articles.

Though international collaboration has proved fruitful, Saudi Arabia must keep a focus on nurturing home-grown talent, says Nasser Al-Aqeeli, dean of research at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), based in Dhahran's 'techno valley' in the eastern region of the Kingdom. In the next five years, he says, the country will focus on a programme for national capacity building.

A good first step was the Saudi government's decision to create a large scholarship programme in 2005, arguably the largest in the world, which has seen more than 200,000 young Saudi Arabians studying abroad. This makes Saudi Arabian students in the United States the fourth largest bloc of expatriate students, following those of China, India and South Korea. The government hopes these students will come back and drive a scientific culture in the country.

“Its rise up the ranks depends on a 'self-correcting mechanism' of a slow start to sustainable growth.”

Saudi Arabia is also looking to increase its applied research focus, which is an integral part of the current phase of its national science strategy, while securing good funding for basic research as well. Al-Aqeeli says that Saudi's journey involves what he termed a “self-correcting mechanism” where the country is having a slow start in high-impact research, but a more sustainable one. An eventual future move towards basic research might help Saudi Arabia's research capacity to mature.

https://www.nature.com/articles/532S13a

A few days ago Saudi Arabian students won gold medals in an international physics and science olympiad in Latvia. Will post the article in a few minutes when I find it.

Saudi foundation wins gold, bronze in European Physics Olympiad

RIYADH: Azan Al-Majnooni and Hisham Al-Maliki, of the King Abdul Aziz and his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), won gold and bronze medals respectively at the European Physics Olympiad (EUPHO) 2019, in Riga, Latvia.
The contest ran from May 31 to June 4, and the Saudi duo were praised for their awards by the secretary-general of Mawhiba, Dr. Saud bin Saeed Al-Mathami.
Al-Mathami stressed that the accomplishments were achieved thanks to government support for the sciences and the foundation. This was the first time the Kingdom had taken part in EUPHO, which hosted 26 other nations.
“This comes as an extension to the march toward achieving the targets of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 through improving education and building a solid base for a talented generation, capable of realizing the aspirations of a state able to rely on creativity and innovation as a means to achieve,” he said.
The secretary-general added that Saudi Arabia paid great attention to gifted and talented citizens, catering their needs and requirements, upgrading services and programs supporting them, and creating the right environment to grow and develop their abilities.
Al-Mathami underlined that this victory was the result of fruitful and constructive cooperation between Mawhiba and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu.
EUPHO is an international student contest, first held in 2017 in Estonia, and then in Russia 12 months later.

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1506936/saudi-arabia

I have seen tons of Saudi Arabian businessmen in Europe investing big money in various technological startups and often they are investing in fellow Arab and Muslim startups! A deliberate policy. Investing in the West and East (China is our largest trade partner) is a wise thing to do and will continue. Arabs (historically) always traded with everyone hence us controlling most of the trade routes between East and West due to our geography and outreach. For us business is business.

Here is a statistic:

As of 2018, Saudi Arabia ranks 28 worldwide in terms of high-quality research output according to the renowned scientific journal Nature.[564] This makes Saudi Arabia the best performing Middle Eastern, Arab and Muslim country.

Saudi Arabia spends 8.8 % of its gross domestic product on education, compared with the global average of 4.6%, which is nearly double the global average on education.[565]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia
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Yes, i meet few KSA couples who are doing there Phd and nice couple. They went back after completion. Saudi govt give highest luxury to those who went to US for Phd program, but this that program was started in the era of King Abdullah. Don't see KSA student anymore. I noticed majority of KSA students are focused , except few busy shopping branded products. lolz

 

[ArabianEmpires&Caliphates]

Yes, i meet lots few KSA couples who are doing there Phd and very nice and nice couple. They went back after completion. Saudi govt give highest luxury to those who went to US for Phd program, but this that program was started in the era of King Abdullah. Don't see KSA student anymore.

Saudi Arabians studying at US universities predate King Abdullah by many decades.

March 2018:

About 60,000 Saudi students studying in US
8,272 are self-sponsored; all others being fully sponsored by the state

https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/about-60000-saudi-students-studying-in-us-1.2192169

But being is that KSA has had tremendous growth in science and has the highest ranked universities in the Muslim world and the best scientific growth and output (high-quality). I also don't think that there is any Muslim country that has had so many US graduates as well. Most people my age (early 20's), especially women, have a university degree either from abroad or at home (majority obviously).

The government is investing greatly on education as well.

Saudi Arabia spends 8.8 % of its gross domestic product on education, compared with the global average of 4.6%, which is nearly double the global average on education.[565]

 

[HAIDER]

Saudi Arabians studying at US universities predate King Abdullah by many decades.

March 2018:

About 60,000 Saudi students studying in US
8,272 are self-sponsored; all others being fully sponsored by the state

https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/about-60000-saudi-students-studying-in-us-1.2192169

I know Canadian universities board sign contract of 60,000 Suadi students in 2016 . But , an Arab student said something very interesting , he said, our King knows not all of them will complete the degree, but he wants Suadi students/youngsters get exposure of western world so they learn and comback with new ideas and bring changes in system. Open new businesses and start taking the responsibility of govt institutions. ................. i think that was very good idea and it will eventually show results.

 

[ArabianEmpires&Caliphates]

I know Canadian universities board sign contract of 60,000 Suadi students in 2016 .

After the KSA-Canada dispute many have relocated but I believe that many have stayed and continue their education. In any case education is alfa and omega. KSA is one of the few Muslim countries and non-Muslim countries were women outnumber men. That is a great achievement.

 

[HAIDER]

After the KSA-Canada dispute many have relocated but I believe that many have stayed and continue their education. In any case education is alfa and omega. KSA is one of the few Muslim countries and non-Muslim countries were women outnumber men. That is a great achievement.

yes , those are already admitted are not relocating. But, i think issue is resolved new students start arriving. if i am not wrong , Canada has best petro chemical program, because majority of Saudi students went to chemical and engineering related fields.

 

[ArabianEmpires&Caliphates]

I know Canadian universities board sign contract of 60,000 Suadi students in 2016 . But , an Arab student said something very interesting , he said, our King knows not all of them will complete the degree, but he wants Suadi students/youngsters get exposure of western world so they learn and comback with new ideas and bring changes in system. Open new businesses and start taking the responsibility of govt institutions. ................. i think that was very good idea and it will eventually show results.

That "exposure to the West" nonsense, I have a "secret" to tell you my friend. GCC is very "Americanized" in the sense that everyone has access to Western gadgets, technology, clothing, fast food chains (unfortunately), movies, games and what not. People are well-versed in politics and follow events in the West. KSA is a much more liberal country and people than you can imagine. One just need to visit the neighborhood or Bahrain. However having your horizon widened and getting exposure to different cultures always helps. I am talking about the youth here which forms 2/3 of the population. So the majority.

Likewise there have lived many Westerners in KSA since a long time ago. Not always visible (compounds often) but nowadays due to a different social climate (much more "free") there is mixing. In any case that was more a them decades back. Nowadays you can find a Westerner or non-Westerner expat chatting with a local Saudi Arabian girl in a Starbucks drinking coffee without anything even noticing. Maybe at first. Go watch any football game in KSA (say Al-Nassr against Al-Ittihad) and you will see mixing freely and women without and with headscarfs with local and non-local men watching football. There is still segregation officially in public but not what it once was under the Sahwa era. Now it is more like it always was pre-1979. Which is good.

Anyway don't get me wrong, people are still traditional by large and Islamic traditions dictate most aspects of life but there is more flexibility and the Sahwa approach is gone by large. Especially among youth.