King Saud University Professor Muhammad Khurram Khan Elected Fellow of UNESCO’s TWAS
Prof. Muhammad Khurram Khan, Professor of Cybersecurity at the Center of Excellence in Information Assurance at King Saud University, has been elected a Fellow of UNESCO’s The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS). This distinction recognises his outstanding scientific contributions to cybersecurity, complemented by his professional leadership, scientific impact, policy engagement and technological innovation, and reinforces the University’s international standing in research and academic excellence.
Professor Khan joins the TWAS Class of 2027, which brings together distinguished researchers from countries including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, China, Singapore, Belgium, Austria, Brazil, among others. His election places him within an international scientific community recognised for advancing knowledge and addressing challenges of global importance.
Established in 1983 under the leadership of Nobel laureate Abdus Salam, UNESCO’s TWAS advances scientific excellence and capacity in developing countries. Based in Trieste, Italy, the Academy’s elected Fellows represented 112 countries and included 11 Nobel laureates, reflecting the international reach and distinction of its scientific community.
Election to TWAS is a lifetime honour based on internationally recognised scientific excellence. Candidates undergo a rigorous, multistage assessment involving specialist Membership Advisory Committees, the Elections Committee and the TWAS Council, followed by a majority vote of the membership. The process recognises sustained and significant contributions with their impact to the advancement of science.
TWAS’s recognition of Prof. Khan highlights his advances in cybersecurity, digital authentication, privacy protection, digital trust, Internet of Things and cyber-physical systems security, and AI-enabled cyber defence. His research addresses challenges central to public trust in digital technologies, including protecting sensitive information, verifying digital identities and strengthening the security of connected systems. These contributions have particular relevance to critical infrastructure, networks and systems, and other services where cybersecurity can directly affect people’s privacy, safety and well-being.
Professor Khan’s academic record combines sustained scholarship with technological invention. He has authored more than 550 scientific publications and holds 12 granted US patents in cybersecurity. Research.com ranks him second in Saudi Arabia in its 2026 Computer Science ranking, further recognising his sustained research influence and scholarly contributions.
Prof. Khan received two consecutive KSU’s Awards for Scientific Excellence in Research Productivity in 2015 and in Inventions, Innovations and Technology Licensing in 2016. His subsequent honours include the Cybersecurity Excellence Award in 2024, the Lifetime Achievement Award in Cybersecurity in 2025, the Education and Talent Development Award in 2025, and the Cybersecurity Innovator of the Year Award in 2026. He has also received multiple best paper awards and gold and bronze medals at international invention exhibitions.
His contributions also encompass education, mentorship and the development of cybersecurity expertise. At KSU, he played a leading role in developing the bachelor’s degree track in cybersecurity. His teaching and academic leadership help prepare students to address emerging security challenges, connecting research knowledge with the skills required by government, industry and the wider community.
Within the profession, Prof. Khan serves as Editor-in-Chief of Telecommunication Systems, an international journal published by Springer-Nature and indexed in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE). Through editorial service to leading international journals, research collaboration and international scientific engagements, he contributes to the quality and dissemination of cybersecurity scholarship. He has represented KSU through keynote addresses, panel discussions and invited lectures at more than 150 international conferences and forums, supporting knowledge exchange, inspiring emerging researchers and strengthening connections between academia and practice.
His public-interest engagement includes contributions to United Nations forums and G20-related cyber policy initiatives, alongside leadership of an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) task group on child online protection in the metaverse. These activities connect cybersecurity expertise with issues affecting families and communities, including the protection of children and vulnerable users and the advancement of women’s participation in the cybersecurity profession.
Professor Khan’s election to UNESCO’s TWAS is a proud moment for King Saud University and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It recognises a career that brings together research excellence, academic leadership, innovation and service to society, while strengthening KSU’s presence in the global scientific community and its contribution to a secure, resilient and knowledge-driven future as per Saudi Vision 2030.
