The ceremony highlighted Yaghi’s collaborative achievement alongside British-Australian chemist Richard Robson and Japanese chemist Susumu Kitagawa. Together, the three laureates spent decades advancing MOF science, leading to scalable models capable of capturing carbon dioxide, storing gases and harvesting water from arid air. Their shared prize of $1.2 million marked a formal acknowledgment of their long-standing scientific contributions.

Yaghi’s recognition is historic, as he becomes the first Saudi national ever to receive a Nobel Prize. His achievement also makes him the second Arab-born scientist to win the chemistry prize since Ahmed Zewail’s groundbreaking recognition in 1999. The milestone drew regional and international admiration, particularly for its scientific and cultural significance.

Born in Jordan to a Palestinian family, Yaghi’s early experiences shaped his scientific vision. Growing up in an environment where water was delivered to homes only once every two weeks, he developed a deep awareness of resource scarcity. This personal history guided his lifelong focus on technologies that help arid communities access clean water and clean air.

At UC Berkeley, Yaghi holds the prestigious James and Neeltje Tretter Chair in Chemistry. He also founded the Berkeley Global Science Institute, an initiative promoting scientific innovation across global communities. His laboratory became a leading center for MOF development, producing models that are now recognized as one of the most promising material technologies for environmental sustainability.

His work extended far beyond academia. In recent years, Yaghi founded Atoco, a company focused on water harvesting and carbon capture solutions. He also co-founded H2MOF for hydrogen storage and WaHa Inc. for water harvesting technologies, helping bridge cutting-edge research with real-world applications in the Middle East and beyond.

Yaghi’s MOF-303 model, designed to harvest water from desert air, emerged from early experiments in the Arizona desert. The technology demonstrated how even extremely dry environments could yield usable water, offering hope for regions facing severe water scarcity. The Nobel Committee noted that MOFs have wide-ranging uses, from storing toxic gases to catalyzing important chemical reactions.

His recognition arrives at a moment of increasing global urgency around climate change, making his contributions especially meaningful. Scientists worldwide praised Yaghi’s achievement as a catalyst for renewed innovation in climate technology and sustainable chemistry.

The Nobel Prize presentation was part of Nobel Week in Stockholm, a series of events showcasing global excellence across science, literature and economic sciences. Laureates participated in public discussions, exhibitions and educational programs. Meanwhile, in Oslo, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded in a parallel ceremony.

Displays at the Nobel Prize Museum also reflect the evolving history of scientific achievement. Ahmed Zewail’s original femtochemistry apparatus—donated to the museum in 2001—remains one of its most admired exhibits. Curators noted that each year’s laureates traditionally bring a symbolic item that represents their life, work or inspiration. Yaghi’s contribution is expected to join a collection that bridges history, innovation and personal stories.

The celebration of Omar Yaghi’s accomplishment marks an inspiring chapter for Arab and Saudi scientists, reinforcing the growing global impact of research emerging from the region. His work continues to influence environmental innovation and scientific collaboration around the world, building a legacy that will inspire future generations.

The three scientists, representing Japan, Australia, and the United States, have made a collective impact on the global scientific community through their visionary research.

Their discovery has led to the creation of molecular structures capable of storing gases, capturing carbon dioxide, and even extracting water from dry desert air.

According to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, these MOFs are extraordinary for their massive surface area relative to size — a single cube the size of a sugar lump can contain as much inner surface area as a football field. This property allows the materials to act as “sponges” for gases, enabling efficient storage and filtration.

As Nobel Committee member Olof Ramstrom colorfully described, these materials are “almost like Hermione’s handbag in Harry Potter — small on the outside but vast on the inside.”

Beyond their scientific intrigue, MOFs are being recognized for their practical applications. They can capture harmful emissions, separate toxic chemicals, and filter out pollutants like PFAS — known as “forever chemicals” — from water.

They may also play a key role in renewable energy development by helping to capture and store gases essential for clean energy systems.

Professor Susumu Kitagawa of Kyoto University expressed deep gratitude during the Nobel announcement, saying his dream has always been to “capture air and separate it — whether CO₂, oxygen, or water — and convert it into useful materials using renewable energy.”

His statement reflects the forward-thinking nature of this discovery, blending chemistry with sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Richard Robson, a British-born scientist who later moved to Australia, and Omar M. Yaghi, a Jordanian-American researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, have each made crucial contributions to advancing the field.

Yaghi, whose parents were Palestinian refugees in Amman, moved to the U.S. as a teenager and went on to pioneer the concept of crystal-like MOF structures that are both durable and highly porous. His innovation became the foundation for an entirely new branch of materials chemistry.

The Royal Swedish Academy emphasized that these discoveries have paved the way for chemists around the world to create tens of thousands of different MOFs, many of which could contribute to solving global issues — from clean energy to environmental preservation.

This year’s Chemistry Nobel marks the third prize of the 2025 Nobel season, following awards in medicine and physics, with literature expected to be announced next.

Since its inception in 1901, the Nobel Prize has stood as a symbol of excellence and progress, celebrating human ingenuity and the pursuit of knowledge.

By honoring Kitagawa, Robson, and Yaghi, the Academy not only recognizes their scientific excellence but also highlights the power of international cooperation in science.

Their achievements are a shining example of how creativity, persistence, and collaboration across borders can yield solutions to some of the world’s toughest problems — offering hope for a cleaner, more sustainable, and innovative future.