Mohammed Al Hayaza

Professor Mohammed Alhayaza became the first president of Alfaisal University on 1 March 2015. As president, HE Dr. Alhayaza has championed academic excellence and research as well as innovative teaching. With a focus on both domestic and global challenges, his initiatives have fostered interdisciplinary collaboration, bolstered opportunities for experiential learning, and secured funding for cutting-edge research and visionary ventures, both on the campus of Alfaisal and abroad. These initiatives have served to hasten the ascent of Alfaisal in the world rankings for universities: from one of the Top 800 (2017) to one of the Top 300 (2020) universities in the world according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Within the Kingdom, the 2020 Times Higher Education Rankings has ranked Alfaisal: 1st in medicine, 2nd in life sciences, and 2nd overall in both the Kingdom and in the Arab Region.

HE Dr. Alhayaza began his illustrious career at King Saud University (1992-1999), and before departing served as dean of the college of education. In 1999, the newly opened King Khalid University appointed him dean of the College of Science. During his tenure at King Khalid University, he established both the College of Engineering and the College of Computer Science and served as the acting dean of both colleges until his promotion to vice president for Post Graduate Studies and Research (2002-2007).

Prior to joining Alfaisal, HE Dr. Alhayaza served as president of Jazan University (2007-2014) by order of Royal Decree. At the time of his appointment, Jazan University had only three colleges and 3,000 students; under his exemplary leadership, it expanded to 40 colleges with an enrollment of 70,000. By order of Royal Decree, issued during the reign of the late King Abdullah, HE Dr. Alhayaza departed from Jazan to accept his appointment as the Minister of Health for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Upon the ascension of King Salman, HE Dr. Alhayaza was appointed to the Shoura Council by Royal Decree where he served until 2016. Dr. Alhayaza earned his Bachelor of Science degree from King Saud University and earned his Ph.D. in chemistry from Boston University in 1992.