25 Best universities for Earth science / Geoscience / Geophysics in Saudi Arabia

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Saudi Arabia ranked based on their research performance in Earth science and Geophysics. A graph of 332K citations received by 15.6K academic papers made by 25 universities in Saudi Arabia was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

Saudi Arabia | Thuwal

For Earth science and Geophysics

#80 in Asia

#325 in the World

Enrollment: 940
Founded: 2009

2. King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals

Saudi Arabia | Dhahran

For Earth science and Geophysics

#96 in Asia

#378 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1963

3. King Saud University

Saudi Arabia | Riyadh

For Earth science and Geophysics

#121 in Asia

#447 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Enrollment: 61,412
Founded: 1957

4. King AbdulAziz University

Saudi Arabia | Jeddah

For Earth science and Geophysics

#122 in Asia

#449 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1967

5. King Khalid University

Saudi Arabia | Abha

For Earth science and Geophysics

#584 in Asia

#1519 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1998

6. Najran University

Saudi Arabia | Najran

For Earth science and Geophysics

#760 in Asia

#1889 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 46,000
Founded: 2006

7. Umm Al-Qura University

Saudi Arabia | Mecca

For Earth science and Geophysics

#779 in Asia

#1928 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1981

8. Taibah University

Saudi Arabia | Medina

For Earth science and Geophysics

#830 in Asia

#2042 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Enrollment: 74,877
Founded: 2003

9. Taif University

Saudi Arabia | Taif

For Earth science and Geophysics

#835 in Asia

#2058 in the World

Founded: 2003

10. Qassim University

Saudi Arabia | Qassim

For Earth science and Geophysics

#844 in Asia

#2074 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Enrollment: 50,054
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 2004

11. Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University

Saudi Arabia | Dammam

For Earth science and Geophysics

#878 in Asia

#2143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 1975

12. King Faisal University

Saudi Arabia | Al-Ahsa

For Earth science and Geophysics

#911 in Asia

#2223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Founded: 1975

13. Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University

Saudi Arabia | Al-Kharj

For Earth science and Geophysics

#926 in Asia

#2249 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 2009

14. Jazan University

Saudi Arabia | Jazan

For Earth science and Geophysics

#1079 in Asia

#2577 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment: 54,999
Founded: 2005

15. Princess Nora bint Abdulrahman University

Saudi Arabia | Riyadh

For Earth science and Geophysics

#1131 in Asia

#2682 in the World

Founded: 2008

16. Al Jouf University

Saudi Arabia | Sakakah

For Earth science and Geophysics

#1161 in Asia

#2730 in the World

Founded: 2005

17. Majmaah University

Saudi Arabia | Al Majma'ah

For Earth science and Geophysics

#1245 in Asia

#2911 in the World

Enrollment: 19,956
Founded: 2009

18. University of Tabuk

Saudi Arabia | Tabuk

For Earth science and Geophysics

#1250 in Asia

#2924 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 2006

19. Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University

Saudi Arabia | Riyadh

For Earth science and Geophysics

#1320 in Asia

#3061 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Enrollment: 85,367
Founded: 1974

20. Prince Sultan University

Saudi Arabia | Riyadh

For Earth science and Geophysics

#1401 in Asia

#3250 in the World

Enrollment: 6,269
Male:Female: 46:54
Founded: 1999

21. Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University

Saudi Arabia | Khobar

For Earth science and Geophysics

#1425 in Asia

#3308 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Enrollment: 5,820
Founded: 2006

22. Shaqra University

Saudi Arabia | Shaqra

For Earth science and Geophysics

#1444 in Asia

#3338 in the World

Founded: 2008

23. Al Baha University

Saudi Arabia | Al Baha

For Earth science and Geophysics

#1496 in Asia

#3448 in the World

Enrollment: 22,914
Founded: 2006

24. Northern Borders University

Saudi Arabia | Arar

For Earth science and Geophysics

#1522 in Asia

#3497 in the World

Enrollment: 15,300
Founded: 2007

25. Alfaisal University

Saudi Arabia | Riyadh

For Earth science and Geophysics

#1642 in Asia

#3726 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 2007

The best cities to study Earth science and Geophysics in Saudi Arabia based on the number of universities and their ranks are Thuwal, Dhahran, Riyadh, and Jeddah.