KAUST operates the Middle Easts most powerful supercomputer, Shaheen III, which is also ranked 20th in the world rankings

The Middle East's most powerful supercomputer, Shaheen III, is operated by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), according to TOP500, the authoritative voice in supercomputer statistics. 

SC23, an international conference for supercomputing, revealed important information about Shaheen III's capabilities. Additionally, Shaheen III ranks number 20 in the world.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), the world's top supercomputer manufacturer, created Shaheen III, a system that is around six times quicker than KAUST's Shaheen II system and has more processing power than 500,000 MacBook Pros running at the same time. With its foundation in the HPE Cray EX supercomputer, which powers three of the top ten systems in the world, Shaheen III is designed to enable performance and scalability never seen before.

Shaheen III will be operated by KAUST to facilitate the development and testing of predictive mathematical models through the use of machine learning based on neural networks, emulation based on statistics, and classical simulations based on differential equations. These mathematical models may be used for a variety of purposes, such as policy assistance, engineering design, and scientific discovery.

Shaheen III's initial mission will involve superpower research in a variety of areas that support sustainability objectives, including materials science, catalysis, the burning of alternate fuels, carbon sequestration, and bioinformatics. Shaheen III will be able to produce high-resolution models in fields such as aerodynamics engineering, which includes, for example, Formula 1 cars, and atmospheric and ocean dynamics.

Additionally, Shaheen III will offer cutting-edge noninvasive imaging for applications including nondestructive structural assessment, medical imaging, and petroleum reservoir finding.

The entire Shaheen III programme is scheduled for completion by the end of 2024. KAUST, one of the top supercomputing facilities in the world, is expanding on the success of Shaheen I, its first supercomputer, which was introduced in 2009. Shaheen II is an HPE Cray EX supercomputer, which can process 5.54 petaflop/s, which is 25 times faster than Shaheen I.

Currently, more than 66% of KAUST faculty groups are using Shaheen II supercomputers, and it is anticipated that even more will be using Shaheen III.