Chicago – October 09, 2025
Saudi scientist Omar Yaghi, a distinguished chemistry professor at the University of California, Berkeley, has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his groundbreaking development of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). These microscopic, porous structures can capture water molecules and carbon dioxide directly from the air, offering transformative applications in clean energy, environmental remediation, and sustainable water collection.
Born in Jordan to Palestinian parents, Yaghi recently received Saudi citizenship under the Vision 2030 initiative, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s goals to foster scientific innovation.
Yaghi shared the award with Richard Robson from the University of Melbourne and Susumu Kitagawa of Kyoto University for pioneering “reticular chemistry”—the assembly of molecular building blocks into large, porous crystalline frameworks. MOFs created by Yaghi have been deployed in devices to harvest water from desert air even in low humidity, addressing global water scarcity. His work also extends to capturing and storing greenhouse gases to fight climate change.
Yaghi’s contributions have redefined materials chemistry, generating novel compounds with vast internal surface areas and custom properties for societal benefit. His Nobel Prize marks a milestone for both Saudi science and global innovation.
