KAUST announced today a landmark gift from Nesma Holding Company Ltd. that will provide 28 scholarships for Master’s and Ph.D. students at KAUST.

Scholarships at KAUST enable promising graduate students to participate in KAUST’s mission to advance science and technology, and take on the challenges of our time, e.g. in energy, water, food and the environment.

The Nesma Scholarships exemplify the company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility. Their belief that economic growth and giving back to the community go hand-in-hand is a corporate tenet.

Prominent businessman and philanthropist, Saleh Al-Turki, Chairman of Nesma, has requested that preference for the scholarships be given to Saudi scholars, thus providing greater opportunities and advancement for Saudi nationals.

Professor Choon Fong Shih, President of KAUST, said: “We are grateful for the generosity of Nesma and its Chairman. Nesma’s pioneering gift will expand opportunities for our Saudi scholars to engage in learning and discovery that can contribute significantly to advancing science and technology, thereby bringing benefits to the Kingdom and beyond.”

Mr. Al-Turki confirmed his admiration for KAUST and pride that Nesma was the first corporate donor to support the university’s drive to create a knowledge-based economy in The Kingdom, which would eventually boost the overall national economy. “I requested that priority for these scholarships be given to Saudi scholars”, he said, “to increase opportunities for them in order to enhance their advancement in the technological and scientific fields”.

About KAUST

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), located on more than 36 million square meters by the Red Sea at Thuwal in Saudi Arabia, is an international, graduate research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom. As an independent, merit-based institution, KAUST brings together top researchers from around the globe to collaborate to solve challenging scientific and technological problems.

The university was envisioned and established by The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud as a new “House of Wisdom” and a beacon for peace,

hope and reconciliation to serve the people of the Kingdom and benefit all peoples of the world. KAUST’s founding class of graduate students exemplifies these goals. The students, who hail from about 60 countries worldwide, were selected on the basis of academic merit.

University Development strives to advance and strengthen the mission of the university by securing sustainable philanthropic support which enables the university to pursue its primary purposes of teaching and research and providing opportunities for donors and funding partners to participate in the life of the university and engage in its future.

About Nesma

Nesma Holding Company Ltd., a 100% privately-owned Saudi company, was established in 1979. Its outstanding reputation has been built through the creation of partnerships, joint ventures and subsidiary companies across many industries. Nesma’s diverse business portfolio ranges from engineering to construction, from fashion to logistics, from hotel management to poultry breeding. Nesma believes that all companies have a moral responsibility to do their part in creating a better society. Through their Corporate Social Responsibility program, the company provides cash and in kind support to a number of charities and educational institutions and is also actively involved in supporting the national Saudization program through its steadfast determination to hire and train Saudis wherever possible. For more information on Nesma, visit: http://www.nesma.com