Research has experienced remarkable growth, according to the 2025 Arab Scientific Journals Impact and Citation Report (ARCIF). Moreover, the report highlights Qatar’s leadership in engineering and technology within the Arab world.
Dr. Sami al-Khazendar, Head of ARCIF under the Ma’arefa Database in Amman, Jordan, stated that the findings reflect a decade of continuous tracking of Arab research. Despite regional challenges, research output has steadily increased over the years.
The ARCIF teams reviewed approximately 5,500 journals from 1,500 institutions in 20 Arab countries, excluding Djibouti and the Comoros. Additionally, Arabic-language journals from eight foreign countries were examined. Among these, 1,272 journals met 32 internationally recognized standards.
The report analyzed data from 364,000 Arab authors covering more than 956,000 scientific papers. Furthermore, work from 111,000 authors received citations, demonstrating the rising global influence of Arab researchers.
Comparing with 2016, ARCIF found a 367% increase in journals, an 870% rise in articles, and a 6,800% jump in cited authors. Therefore, the data indicates the growing impact of Arab research worldwide.
Dr. al-Khazendar emphasized that ARCIF has moved Arab research from invisibility to international recognition. He also noted that the ARCIF impact factor now serves as a trusted benchmark for journal influence.
He further highlighted that Arab researchers increasingly publish in Arabic to strengthen knowledge production. This, in turn, fosters regional innovation and enhances expertise across multiple fields.
In overall rankings, Algeria leads with 426 accredited journals, followed by Egypt with 364, Iraq with 122, Saudi Arabia with 75, and Jordan with 45. Consequently, these countries dominate Arab research output.
Egypt tops the general impact factor ranking, followed by Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Qatar leads in engineering and technology journals, while Egypt dominates economics, social sciences, education, law, and media.
Saudi Arabia ranks first in Arabic language and literature, whereas Palestine leads the Immediacy Index through the Journal of Open Education and e-Learning. Thus, regional specialization is becoming more visible.
In the cited authors index, Algeria leads with 26,834, followed by Egypt with 21,988, Iraq with 21,367, Saudi Arabia with 10,712, and Jordan with 6,098. Overall, citations continue to rise across the Arab world.
The digital edition of the 2025 report will release on the ARCIF website by the end of the year. It will provide researchers and policymakers with the latest insights into Arab scientific publishing trends.
The ARCIF impact factor operates under a Coordinating Council, including representatives from UNESCO Beirut, ESCWA, and Ma’arefa Database. Additionally, a scientific committee of Arab and international experts oversees the methodology.
This report confirms the growing significance of Arab Scientific Journals. Consequently, Qatar’s role in driving engineering and technology research is increasingly recognized across the Arab world.
