King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) is a nonprofit research university located in Dhahran, in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. The Saudi government established KFUPM on September 23, 1963. A royal decree authorized its creation. The institution initially operated as the College of Petroleum and Minerals.
The founders established the university near some of the earliest local oil fields. They aimed to support the rapidly growing energy industry of Saudi Arabia. The university focused on providing advanced education in petroleum and mineral sciences. These fields represent two of the country’s most valuable natural resources. Today, KFUPM centers its academic and research activities on science, engineering, and management. The QS World University Rankings 2026 have placed the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals at #67.