Prof. Abdulrahman Al Lily

Prof. Al Lily earned his PhD from the University of Oxford. As Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research at a leading university, he oversees over 2,000 researchers and 70 graduate programs. Under his leadership, the University has undergone a remarkable research transformation: the number of research articles increased by 350% within 5 years, citations by 500% within 5 years, and research funding by 300% within 1 year. Before his time as the Director of Innovation and Business Development Sector, the University used to average one patent per year. Yet, through his team’s efforts, the University came to secure over 631 patents in a single year, ranking #1 globally on the U.S. 2024 list. His leadership philosophy centres on simplifying processes and digitizing operations. His impact extends beyond his institution, serving as a visiting professor and consultant to international organisations. Beyond institutional leadership, he has been a member of national committees responsible for higher education reform in Saudi Arabia. He has written 35 articles and coined 14 theories and concepts, published in prestigious global publishers. He is the author of Life Is Suffering: 34 Facts, a book ranked no. 1 on one of Amazon’s bestseller lists. Beyond academia, his global perspective and deep cultural insight set him apart, having travelled to over 40 countries.