The Scientific Council is the highest advisory body that oversees academic and research affairs in the colleges and institutes affiliated with the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu. Its primary role is to advance the educational and research processes and to ensure the quality of academic outcomes in line with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s development strategies.

The Council is chaired by a president appointed through a resolution issued by His Excellency, the President of the Royal Commission and the Supreme Council for Colleges and Institutes. It also includes faculty members from different colleges and institutes holding at least the rank of Associate Professor, in addition to expert members from Saudi universities. The Council holds its meetings on a regular basis.

The main responsibilities of the Scientific Council include:

1. Deciding on academic promotions for faculty members in accordance with the Higher Education Council and Universities System and its regulations.
2. Evaluating academic degrees and certificates submitted by faculty members.
3. Reviewing matters referred by the councils of colleges and institutes.
4. Overseeing committees responsible for promoting scientific research and publications.
5. To foster scientific research, authorship, translation, and publication, the Council also:

- Establishes regulations to encourage the preparation of scientific research.
- Proposes the establishment of scientific research centers.
- Coordinates among research centers and sets a general plan for them.
- Organizes collaboration with external research centers.
- Determines incentive and recognition awards for scientific work, evaluates them, and approves their disbursement.
- Publishes research papers, books, and theses deemed suitable for publication.
- Recommends the issuance of scientific journals.
- Recommends the establishment of scientific societies and coordinates among them.
- Approves textbooks and theses referred for review.
- Establishes a database for completed research and scholarly works.

Additionally, the Council follows up on the implementation of research plans, proposes mechanisms for cooperation with local and international research institutions, and contributes to the development of the academic and research environment.

The Scientific Council also serves as a link between the colleges and institutes and the Supreme Council for Colleges and Institutes by providing recommendations and proposals that help develop the educational and research processes in line with labor market needs and the Kingdom’s comprehensive development goals.