KAUST supercomputer Shaheen III leads Middle East, ranks 18th worldwide
text_fields
The Saudi research institution King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has introduced Shaheen III, a next-generation supercomputer from Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE). The system is recognized as the most powerful machine of its kind in the Middle East.
According to the latest global ranking of high‐performance systems published by TOP500 Project at the SC25 conference in St. Louis (16–21 November 2025), Shaheen III is placed 18th worldwide and retains the regional top spot.
In October 2025, KAUST completed the transfer of ownership of the system’s graphics processing units (GPUs) from HPE, under a U.S. export licence administered by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). The GPU section is set to become operational in early 2026. With full operation in sight, KAUST expects to support research aligned with Saudi Arabia’s broader research, development and innovation agenda, covering areas such as climate modelling, materials science, machine learning and large-scale simulation.
The achievement represents a step for the Kingdom in building advanced scientific infrastructure and global research capability. KAUST said the system will be deployed across faculty groups to support high-resolution modelling and data-intensive research, enabling greater competitiveness in international science and engineering programs.