Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University ranked third locally and maintained its position within the 301–400 global tier in the Shanghai Ranking 2025 (Shanghai Ranking – ARWU), marking a continued upward trajectory since its first inclusion in the ranking in 2022. The University’s advancement in the Shanghai Ranking reflects its sustained efforts in supporting scientific research and innovation in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030 and PNU’s 2025 Strategic Plan, through strengthening academic excellence, empowering female scientific talent, and improving the quality of research outputs. This achievement underscores the significant progress of the university’s research ecosystem, demonstrated through expanded scientific studies, increased publication in prestigious international journals such as Science and Nature, enhanced academic infrastructure that meets global standards, attraction of outstanding academic and research expertise, and reinforced international research collaboration, all contributing to positioning PNU as a strong competitor in the global academic landscape. The University excelled in several academic fields within the ranking, notably in mathematics, energy science, engineering, dentistry, medical technology, and pharmacy, highlighting the breadth of its research capabilities and leadership in key scientific disciplines. Additionally, PNU recorded growth in the number of highly cited researchers, with more than 4,000 published research studies in the previous year, and maintained its upward trend in research publication across recent years, alongside launching initiatives that support research excellence such as the Distinguished Publication Support Program and the Advisory Support Program for Outstanding Researchers. The University continues to pursue enhanced academic and research performance through strategic priorities focused on raising the quality of competitive outputs, strengthening women’s participation in research and innovation, integrating artificial intelligence into education and research, and supporting initiatives that promote societal well-being, while also aiming to improve individual academic and research performance indicators.