Exceptional Saudi Scholars Head to Oxford After Winning Prestigious Rhodes Scholarships

Riyadh — Three outstanding young Saudis have been selected for one of the world’s most prestigious academic honors — the Rhodes Scholarship.

Osama Aljohani, Omar Alomran, and Osama Dabbousi will travel to the University of Oxford next October, joining an elite group of global scholars from over 100 countries.

The Rhodes Scholarship, established in 1902, is widely recognized as the world’s oldest and most respected postgraduate fellowship. It provides exceptional students with full financial support to study at Oxford University.

The program aims to nurture future leaders who combine intellect, character, and a desire to serve humanity. It stands as a symbol of global academic excellence and leadership development.

The Saudi Rhodes Scholarship was introduced in 2018 through a generous gift from Mohammed Alagil, co-founder of Jarir Bookstores, in partnership with the Saudi Ministry of Education.

Since then, it has supported 18 exceptional Saudi students who have gone on to make contributions in fields such as medicine, genetics, technology, and the creative arts.

This year’s scholars continue that legacy of excellence and ambition, representing Saudi Arabia’s growing presence in global academia.

Osama Aljohani, a senior chemical engineering student at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, specializes in hydrogen mobility and renewable energy.

Growing up in Yanbu Industrial City inspired his passion for energy innovation and environmental sustainability. His research explores crude-to-chemicals conversion and catalyst performance optimization.

Aljohani has also completed a research internship in Austin, Texas, as a data and chemometrics analyst, where he applied advanced data analytics in industrial applications.

Beyond academics, he has co-founded several initiatives supporting students and young innovators, including programs that encourage Saudi youth in technology, research, and game development.

At Oxford, Aljohani plans to pursue master’s degrees in energy systems and sustainability, with a focus on solving water scarcity challenges through renewable energy.

Fellow recipient Omar Alomran recently graduated in software engineering from King Fahd University and focuses on artificial intelligence and economic research.

He has received multiple academic awards, including the Oxford/KAUST AI Program Scholarship and a semester scholarship at Georgia Tech in the United States.

Alomran has conducted research in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning and published works on public policy and international relations.

He has also been part of Thmanyah Media, contributing to economic and political analysis that reaches millions across the Arab world.

At Oxford, he will pursue a Master of Public Policy, focusing on evidence-based economic reforms and social development aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

The third scholar, Osama Dabbousi, is currently pursuing a master’s degree in computer science at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.

His research specializes in high-performance computing, with a thesis on GPU-accelerated large-scale acoustic simulation.

A Boston University graduate in data science, Dabbousi earned the CDS Academic Excellence Award and holds a U.S. patent from his research with Aramco Americas.

He co-founded a student initiative that helps peers prepare for competitive technical interviews and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in computer science at Oxford.

The Rhodes Trust praised the three Saudi scholars for their exceptional academic achievements and leadership potential.

Rick Trainor, interim warden and CEO of the Rhodes Trust, said the 2026 class embodies excellence and diversity from every region of the world.

Professor Christian Sahner, national secretary for the Rhodes Scholarships in Saudi Arabia, said the selected students represent “the best of their country — combining intellect, creativity, and service.”

He added that their accomplishments align closely with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals of empowering youth and fostering innovation.

Education remains a key pillar of the Kingdom’s national transformation agenda, and the Rhodes Scholarships serve as an example of Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in global academia.

Through opportunities like these, talented Saudis are helping shape the future by addressing global challenges through science, technology, and policy.

The Rhodes community continues to unite scholars worldwide with a shared mission — to use knowledge, leadership, and integrity to make a positive difference in the world.