The Ministry of Higher Education has approved the establishment of 13 research centers in various Saudi universities at a cost of SR550 million. This is part of the first phase of the Centers of Research Excellence project to help universities develop scientific research. The Centers of Research Excellence designated to benefit are: King Saud University's Material Engineering Center, Biology Center and Science and Mathematics Education Development Center; King Abdul Aziz University's Genomic Medicine Center, Environmental Studies Center, Osteoporosis Center, and Water Desalination Center; King Fahd University for Petroleum and Minerals' Petroleum and Petrochemicals Refining Center, Renewable Energy Center, and Corrosion Center; the Palms and Dates Center at King Faisal University; the Haj and Umra Center at Umm Al-Qura Univesrsity, and the Fiqh Center of Contemporary Affairs at Imam Muhammad Bin Saud Islamic University.
