The Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals is a newly established department. The department's principal aim is to address challenging issues at the forefront of science and technology while also meeting the demands of the kingdom. Along with offering the graduate program, the MSE department at KFUPM is the first and only department in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region to offer a dedicated undergraduate MSE program. This is an interdisciplinary field that relies on knowledge from many engineering and fundamental scientific disciplines. This enables us to figure out the underlying mechanisms that govern the matter around us to tackle the numerous engineering problems that our society faces. This multidisciplinary approach is instilled in both undergraduate and graduate students through coursework and research.
The study of MSE involves exploring the links between material structure and properties, as well as designing and engineering materials based on those structure-property correlations. Materials science is a highly active area of research that encompasses a broad range of topics such as polymer science, composites, nanomaterials, computational materials science, and so on. Our faculty members are extremely involved in research and have made a commitment to be role models for students. They regularly engage in cutting-edge research to apply these concepts to solve problems in a variety of sectors, including water treatment, membrane design, and solid-state batteries, to mention a few.
Our department's mission is to support the individual development of our exceptional and innovative students so that they can continue to push the field to ever more beneficial breakthroughs. Our students are equipped with the necessary knowledge to understand the material's structure-performance relationship, materials degradation and failure analysis, and a systematic approach to materials selection for a specific application. They obtain hands-on expertise in synthesis, and characterization, as well as experimental design at even the undergraduate level.
Materials Day 2026 | Second Annual Event
The second annual Materials Day 2026 concluded with even greater impact than its inaugural edition, underscoring the rapid growth, visibility, and outreach of the Materials Science & Engineering (MSE) Department at KFUPM. This year’s event welcomed over 1,900 participants and featured 16 research booths, creating a vibrant platform for graduate students to showcase their research, exchange ideas, and engage with faculty members, industry leaders, and peers from across the materials community.
The event was proudly sponsored by ArcelorMittal and JESCO, whose support played a key role in its success. Distinguished Speakers & Leadership Engagement
Throughout the event, the importance of graduate research, innovation, and academic excellence was reinforced through keynote addresses and remarks delivered by esteemed academic, industry, and government leaders, including:
Dr. Nayef Alsaifi, PhD , Chairman, MSE Department, KFUPM
Mr. Hasan AlSomali, General Manager, ArcelorMittal
Dr. Abdalla Omar, Researcher, University of Manchester
Dr. Tariq A. Alghamdi, Ph.D., Chairman, Materials Engineering Society
Mr. Rakan Alammari, Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources
Dr. Maryam Al Huwaiz, Chairman, Materials Science Department, PNU College of Community
Their contributions were instrumental in shaping the direction of the event and reinforcing a strong culture of research excellence and collaboration.
MSE Awards – 2026 Winners
Best Graduate Student Award
Best MSE Research Spotlight 2026 Presenter
Best Teaching Assistant (TA) Award Winners
Best Seminar Presenters (in order of award)
The department congratulates all award recipients and extends sincere appreciation to all participating graduate students, whose dedication, professionalism, and enthusiasm were fundamental to the success of this year’s event.
With its growing participation and impact, Materials Day continues to establish itself as a cornerstone event celebrating research, communication, and collaboration within the MSE community.
A special note of thanks to Dr. Nayef Alsaifi, PhD for his exemplary leadership as Chairman of the MSE Department, and for his unwavering support in providing the resources and guidance that made this event a success and kudos to Materials Science and Engineering Club for organizing this event.
We look forward to an even stronger Materials Day 2027.
Seminar on Spatially Controlled Crystal Growth
We are excited to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Al-Jubail (AMTPJ), Jubail Energy Services Single Shareholder Limited Liability Company (JESCO), and the Materials Science and Engineering Department, KFUPM. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in strengthening the ties between academia and industry. The MoU outlines a comprehensive framework for joint efforts in research and development, innovation, student engagement, and employment opportunities for MSE graduates.
Read MoreThe Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) department at KFUPM provides students with a world-class education in a cutting-edge research environment. With the support of highly competent faculty, academic facilities, research labs, and collaboration with industry representatives, the university offers BSc, M.Sc., and MX graduate degrees. We welcome ambitious students to enrich and excel in their skills in the field of MSE by associating academically with us. The online admissions application can be accessed through this link: