Renowned chemist Dr. Omar M. Yaghi has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, becoming the second Muslim scientist to receive this prestigious honor in the field. Born into a Palestinian refugee family, Dr. Yaghi has gained global recognition for his groundbreaking research in combating climate change and developing technology to extract drinking water from arid regions.

The first Muslim Nobel laureate in Chemistry was Egyptian-American chemist Dr. Ahmed Zewail, who received the award in 1999 for his pioneering work.

Dr. Yaghi, a professor of chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, is a pioneer in the field of 'reticular chemistry', a new branch of chemistry he defined as “stitching molecular building blocks together through strong bonds to create extended frameworks.” His revolutionary work in this area has led to the discovery and design of three transformative materials: Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs), and Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks (ZIFs). He was awarded the Nobel Prize alongside two other scientists for his work on MOFs.

These materials possess the highest surface area of any known substances, making them highly versatile and critical for human welfare. Their applications include extracting potable water from desert air, capturing and converting carbon dioxide, storing hydrogen and methane, and serving as catalysts in chemical processes.

Dr. Yaghi’s work has had a profound global impact, with over 300 research papers published, collectively cited more than 250,000 times, and an h-index of 190.

Born in 1965 in Amman, Jordan, to a Palestinian refugee family, Dr. Yaghi grew up in a single-room home with limited access to electricity and clean water. Inspired by his father, he moved to the United States at the age of 15. Despite limited proficiency in English, he began his academic journey at Hudson Valley Community College and later earned a bachelor’s degree from the University at Albany. He completed his Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 1990 under the mentorship of Dr. Walter G. Klemperer, followed by postdoctoral research at Harvard University under Dr. Richard H. Holm.

In recognition of his scientific contributions, Dr. Yaghi was granted Saudi citizenship in 2021 as part of Saudi Arabia’s 'Vision 2030' initiative to attract global talent for national development.

Dr. Yaghi currently leads several prominent research institutions, including:

- Berkeley Global Science Institute: Focused on establishing research centers in developing countries and providing opportunities for young researchers.
- Kavli Energy NanoSciences Institute: Emphasizes fundamental science for energy transformation at the molecular level.
- Bakhar Institute of Digital Materials for the Planet: Aims to develop cost-effective, scalable MOFs and COFs to address climate change challenges.

In addition to the Nobel Prize, Dr. Yaghi has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Wolf Prize in Chemistry (2018), King Faisal International Prize in Science (2015), Solvay Prize (2024), Tang Prize (2024), and Balzan Prize (2024).

His journey from a refugee background to a Nobel laureate serves as an inspiration, highlighting the transformative power of science and perseverance.