October brought a full calendar of activities to KAUST, from breast cancer awareness and community outreach to family fun, wellness, food and culture.
Led by Campus and Community (C&C) in collaboration with Bupa Arabia, Human Resources, International Medical Center (IMC), Coastline Inc., Al Khozama Hotel & Residences and community clubs, the month brought people together across KAUST and its neighboring communities.
Here’s a look back at some of the highlights.
KAUST Autumn Season
The KAUST Autumn Season brought fresh experiences to familiar community spaces, with activities for families and residents of all ages.
Wellness and community
From water games to outdoor entertainment, the season brought people together across campus:
- KAM Splash: 350 friends and families enjoyed water games, music and a picnic at King Abdullah Monument Park.
- Splash and Bounce: 330 children and adults joined the poolside fun at the Island Recreation Club.
- Beach Beats: 287 people enjoyed music, food and activities at South Beach.
- Spooktacular Family Day: More than 165 community members joined the Halloween-themed family event at South Beach.
- Family Movie Night: 116 people enjoyed an outdoor movie experience by the Harbor Sports Club pool.
- Trick or Treat: More than 112 homes, recreation centers and Al Khozama Hotel took part, welcoming visiting families for an evening of costumes, treats and community spirit.
The season also offered opportunities to slow down or get active, with Sunrise Yoga hosted by the KAUST Yoga Club, refreshing experiences at The Canal combining movement, relaxation and padel, and live sports screenings bringing fans together at Discovery Square.
Food, culture and entertainment
October also offered opportunities to discover local traditions, enjoy new flavors and spend time together.
- Layali Al Bahr: Celebrated Thuwal’s fishing heritage with seafood, live music and traditional boats at the Harbor.
- Roshan Al Balad and Sahret Om El Donia: Special dining experiences showcased Egyptian flavors and the culinary traditions of Old Jeddah.
- Community Quiz Night: Teams came together to test their knowledge.
Spooky Open Mic: Hosted by the Music Club, the event filled the venue with music, dance and singing performances, including a special appearance by KAUST President Sir Edward Byrne.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Hope starts with awareness. Together, we can make a difference.
Throughout October, C&C and its partners brought the community together to promote breast cancer awareness, encourage early detection and support those affected.
Across campus, the Awareness Hub, Trees of Hope, Steps of Hope and pink landmarks shared messages of hope and support. Health education sessions, creative activities and community events gave people opportunities to learn and get involved.
Some of the campaign highlights included:
- Health education: More than 200 attendees took part in awareness events and activities hosted by KAUST Health, IMC, Human Resources and Bupa Arabia. This included an educational session led by Dr. Fayeza Alrais and Bupa Arabia’s bilingual awareness webinar.
- Screening: 88 women received breast ultrasounds or mammograms through the campaign at KAUST Health.
- Awareness in the Square: More than 300 community members joined music performances, awareness booths and interactive activities.
- Support and connection: Weekly women’s support sessions provided a welcoming space to share experiences and connect. The group will continue meeting throughout the year.
- Thuwal outreach: More than 60 residents took part in awareness sessions delivered with local health, education and community partners.
Run for a Cure
The month culminated in the fourth annual Run for a Cure on October 30, bringing together more than 600 runners and walkers from KAUST, Thuwal, KAEC and Jeddah.
With 10K and 5K runs and a 3K walk along the Red Sea, the event brought people together to raise awareness, celebrate survivors and promote health and well-being.
Congratulations to all the participants and race winners, and to everyone who took part and reached a personal milestone. The full race results have been sent to all the participants by email. For more information or queries, please reach out to recreation@kaust.edu.sa.
First place winners across categories
| Race | Category | Age group | Winner | Time |
| 10K | Male | 16–29 | Abu Jilan | 00:36:20 |
| 10K | Male | 30–39 | Ahmed Hussain | 00:43:12 |
| 10K | Male | 40–49 | Mohammed Rilwan | 00:38:45 |
| 10K | Male | 50+ | Sean Stewart | 00:41:19 |
| 10K | Female | 16–29 | Ayazhan Kadessova | 00:47:50 |
| 10K | Female | 30–39 | Naseem Binshihoun | 00:44:42 |
| 10K | Female | 40–49 | Basma Binshihon | 00:44:40 |
| 10K | Female | 50+ | Aysen Keresteci | 00:53:20 |
| 5K | Male | 16–29 | Mohammed Dada | 00:18:25 |
| 5K | Male | 30–39 | Nawaf Ail | 00:18:05 |
| 5K | Male | 40–49 | Geoff Bowery | 00:19:09 |
| 5K | Male | 50+ | Daniele Boffi | 00:22:47 |
| 5K | Female | 16–29 | Emma Higgins | 00:20:28 |
| 5K | Female | 30–39 | Alexandra Vancea | 00:25:20 |
| 5K | Female | 40–49 | Charlotte Heesbeen | 00:21:05 |
| 5K | Female | 50+ | Aida Mizouni | 00:28:22 |
| 3K | Male | 12–15 | Joshua Jones | 00:09:15 |
| 3K | Female | 12–15 | Kayan Shadi | 00:13:35 |
Browse the photo albums
Relive your favorite moments from the month through the Campus and Community Flickr. Look for yourself if you attended any of the events and tag us on Instagram @KAUST.Life.
Help us make future activities even better
What did you enjoy most this October? What could we improve?
Take a few minutes to complete the C&C Experience Survey and share your feedback. Your input helps us plan activities that bring the community together.
When completing the survey:
- Select “I attended an event” from the first dropdown.
- Choose the event
- Rate your experience and share your feedback.
Thank you to everyone who participated, volunteered, organized and supported October’s activities. We look forward to bringing you more opportunities to connect, learn and enjoy community life together.
CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY
