Four Qassim University Journals Rank in Arcif 2026

Four scientific journals published by Qassim University have been included in the 2026 Arab Citation and Impact Factor (Arcif) ranking, with improved performance indicators compared with the previous year, according to an announcement carried by the Saudi Press Agency. The result reflects the higher quality of the university’s scholarly output and the growing standing of its journals within the Arab research landscape, reinforcing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s wider push to strengthen higher education and knowledge production under Vision 2030.

The ranking, released in Buraidah and reported by the Saudi Press Agency, placed the Journal of Educational and Psychological Sciences in the second quartile (Q2) for 2026, a significant advance from the fourth quartile in 2025. The Journal of Sharia Sciences also secured a Q2 placement, while the Journal of Arabic Sciences and Humanities and the Journal of Administrative and Economic Sciences were placed in the third quartile. All four journals recorded increases in their impact factors compared with the previous year. What does this recognition tell international observers about the direction of Saudi higher education?

Context and Background

The Arcif ranking, formally known as the Arab Citation and Impact Factor, is a regional bibliometric standard that assesses the quality, reach, and citation performance of scholarly journals published across the Arab world. It is designed to give researchers, universities, and funding bodies a reliable picture of where rigorous academic work is being produced, and it has become an increasingly important reference point for institutions seeking to benchmark their research output against peer publications in the region. For a university such as Qassim University, inclusion in the ranking is not merely an honor but a measurable signal of scholarly credibility.

Qassim University, based in the Buraidah region of central Saudi Arabia, has invested steadily in its academic infrastructure, research programs, and faculty development in recent years. That investment is part of a broader national effort to raise the quality of Saudi higher education and to ensure that Saudi scholarship contributes meaningfully to global knowledge. The university’s performance in the 2026 Arcif ranking builds on earlier gains in relevant indicators, suggesting that its strategy of supporting research and improving journal standards is producing consistent results rather than a one-off success. Why do bibliometric rankings matter so much to universities in the region?

The improvement is especially notable because it spans disciplines. The Journal of Educational and Psychological Sciences moved from the fourth quartile to the second, a two-quartile jump that indicates a substantial rise in citation impact and editorial quality. The Journal of Sharia Sciences maintained a strong Q2 position, while the Journal of Arabic Sciences and Humanities and the Journal of Administrative and Economic Sciences both improved their impact factors even as they were placed in the third quartile. Together, these outcomes point to a broad-based strengthening of the university’s publishing ecosystem rather than isolated gains in a single field.

Key Details

The most striking result is the advance of the Journal of Educational and Psychological Sciences, which moved from the fourth quartile in 2025 to the second quartile in 2026. Quartile placements in the Arcif system are determined by a journal’s citation impact relative to others in its field, so a jump of this magnitude implies a meaningful increase in the visibility and influence of the research it publishes. For the journal’s editors, authors, and reviewers, the result validates years of work to raise editorial standards, attract higher-quality submissions, and expand the journal’s readership across the Arab region and beyond.

The Journal of Sharia Sciences secured a place in Q2, reflecting the continued strength of Saudi scholarship in Islamic studies and related disciplines. This is a field in which Saudi universities hold particular depth and authority, and the journal’s placement underscores the value of rigorous, peer-reviewed work in shaping contemporary understanding of Sharia and its applications. Meanwhile, the Journal of Arabic Sciences and Humanities and the Journal of Administrative and Economic Sciences were placed in the third quartile, with both recording increases in their impact factors compared with the previous year. That combination, a higher impact factor alongside a third-quartile placement, suggests that competition within those fields is intensifying even as the journals themselves improve.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the recognition reflects the university’s efforts to support scientific research, improve the quality of its journals, enhance the quality of research content, and expand its citation reach. Those four pillars, research support, journal quality, content quality, and citation reach, form a coherent strategy that links institutional investment to measurable academic outcomes. The university has also emphasized that the achievement builds on its strong performance in relevant rankings and its commitment to developing its academic environment, supporting knowledge production, and strengthening its competitiveness and presence in local and international indicators. How does a university translate investment into citation impact?

International and Regional Impact

For international readers, the Arcif results offer a window into the rapidly evolving research landscape of the Arab world. Rankings of this kind help scholars outside the region identify journals that meet recognized standards of peer review and citation performance, making it easier to collaborate with Saudi institutions and to cite Saudi research with confidence. When journals from Qassim University improve their quartile placements, they become more attractive venues for researchers from across the region and beyond, which in turn raises the visibility of Saudi scholarship on the global stage.

Regionally, the outcome strengthens Saudi Arabia’s position as a hub for academic excellence and knowledge exchange. Universities in the Kingdom are increasingly competing, and cooperating, with established institutions in the wider Middle East and North Africa, and bibliometric performance is one of the clearest ways to demonstrate that they belong in that conversation. The presence of four Qassim University journals in the 2026 Arcif ranking, with improved indicators across the board, signals that Saudi higher education is not only expanding but also deepening in quality. What does sustained regional recognition mean for the next generation of Saudi researchers?

Economic and Strategic Significance

The strategic significance of this achievement extends beyond academia. Saudi Arabia’s long-term economic transformation depends on building a knowledge-based economy, and that requires a robust pipeline of research, innovation, and skilled human capital. Strong scientific journals are part of the infrastructure of that economy: they disseminate findings that can inform policy, improve professional practice, and attract international partners. By raising the quality and reach of its journals, Qassim University is contributing to a national ecosystem in which research feeds directly into economic and social development.

There is also a reputational dimension. International rankings and citation indices influence where students choose to study, where faculty choose to work, and where partners choose to invest. A university whose journals perform well in the Arcif ranking is better positioned to attract talented researchers, forge international collaborations, and secure research funding. The improvements recorded by Qassim University’s journals therefore have practical consequences for the institution’s competitiveness and for the Kingdom’s broader ambition to be recognized as a leader in science, scholarship, and innovation. How do academic journals influence a nation’s economic trajectory?

Vision 2030 Alignment

The achievement aligns closely with Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s national roadmap for diversifying the economy, empowering citizens, and building world-class institutions. Vision 2030 places education, research, and innovation at the center of the Kingdom’s future, and the performance of Qassim University’s journals in the Arcif 2026 ranking is a concrete example of those ambitions translating into measurable results. By supporting scientific research, improving journal quality, and expanding citation reach, the university is helping to build the knowledge infrastructure that a diversified economy requires.

The recognition also reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to developing its academic environment and strengthening its presence in local and international indicators. As Saudi universities continue to invest in research and publishing, achievements such as this one are likely to become more common, reinforcing the country’s reputation as a serious contributor to global knowledge. For Qassim University, the 2026 Arcif results are both a validation of past efforts and a platform for future growth, and they underscore the role of Saudi higher education in advancing the Kingdom’s long-term vision and its global standing. What will the next edition of the ranking reveal about Saudi scholarship?

20 Questions

Q1. What is the Arcif ranking?

A1. Arcif, the Arab Citation and Impact Factor, is a regional bibliometric ranking that evaluates the quality, citation performance, and reach of scholarly journals published across the Arab world, providing a reference for researchers and institutions.

Q2. How many Qassim University journals were included in the 2026 Arcif ranking?

A2. Four scientific journals published by Qassim University were included in the 2026 Arcif ranking, with improved performance indicators compared with the previous year, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Q3. Which journal made the biggest improvement in the 2026 ranking?

A3. The Journal of Educational and Psychological Sciences advanced from the fourth quartile in 2025 to the second quartile (Q2) in 2026, the most significant improvement among the four journals.

Q4. What quartile did the Journal of Sharia Sciences achieve?

A4. The Journal of Sharia Sciences was placed in the second quartile (Q2) in the 2026 Arcif ranking, reflecting the strength of Saudi scholarship in Islamic studies and related disciplines.

Q5. How did the Journal of Arabic Sciences and Humanities perform?

A5. The Journal of Arabic Sciences and Humanities was placed in the third quartile in the 2026 ranking, and it recorded an increase in its impact factor compared with the previous year.

Q6. What was the placement of the Journal of Administrative and Economic Sciences?

A6. The Journal of Administrative and Economic Sciences was placed in the third quartile in the 2026 Arcif ranking, while also recording an increase in its impact factor compared with the previous year.

Q7. Did all four journals improve their impact factors?

A7. Yes. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the other three journals recorded increases in their impact factors compared with the previous year, and the Journal of Educational and Psychological Sciences also improved its quartile placement.

Q8. What does the recognition reflect about Qassim University?

A8. It reflects the university’s efforts to support scientific research, improve the quality of its journals, enhance research content, and expand citation reach, contributing to knowledge and serving researchers across disciplines.

Q9. Why are quartile placements important for academic journals?

A9. Quartile placements indicate a journal’s citation impact relative to others in its field, helping researchers, universities, and funders identify publications that meet recognized standards of quality and influence.

Q10. Where is Qassim University located?

A10. Qassim University is based in the Buraidah region of central Saudi Arabia, where it serves as a major higher education institution and a center for research across multiple disciplines.

Q11. How does this achievement relate to Vision 2030?

A11. It aligns with Vision 2030’s emphasis on education, research, and innovation, demonstrating how Saudi institutions are building the knowledge infrastructure needed for a diversified, knowledge-based economy.

Q12. What is the significance of the Journal of Sharia Sciences ranking in Q2?

A12. It underscores the depth and authority of Saudi scholarship in Islamic studies, a field where Saudi universities hold particular expertise and contribute to contemporary understanding of Sharia and its applications.

Q13. What does an improved impact factor indicate?

A13. An improved impact factor indicates that a journal’s published research is being cited more frequently, suggesting greater visibility, influence, and relevance within its academic field.

Q14. How does the Arcif ranking benefit international researchers?

A14. It helps international researchers identify credible Arab-world journals, making it easier to collaborate with Saudi institutions, cite regional scholarship, and follow developments in various disciplines.

Q15. What strategy has Qassim University pursued to improve its journals?

A15. The university has focused on supporting scientific research, raising editorial and content quality, and expanding citation reach, building on its strong performance in relevant rankings and its commitment to academic excellence.

Q16. Why is regional recognition important for Saudi higher education?

A16. It demonstrates that Saudi universities can compete with established institutions across the Middle East and North Africa, strengthening the Kingdom’s reputation as a hub for academic excellence and knowledge exchange.

Q17. What economic benefits can strong academic journals bring?

A17. They disseminate research that informs policy and practice, attract international partners and funding, and help build the skilled human capital needed for a diversified, knowledge-based economy.

Q18. How does this achievement build on previous performance?

A18. It builds on the university’s strong performance in relevant rankings and its ongoing commitment to developing its academic environment, supporting knowledge production, and strengthening competitiveness in local and international indicators.

Q19. What role does the Saudi Press Agency play in reporting such achievements?

A19. The Saudi Press Agency is the Kingdom’s official news agency, providing authoritative reporting on government, educational, and institutional developments, including the Arcif 2026 results for Qassim University.

Q20. What does this recognition suggest about the future of Saudi research?

A20. It suggests that continued investment in research and publishing is producing measurable results, positioning Saudi universities to contribute increasingly to global knowledge in line with Vision 2030.

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