As we unveil the first issue of 2025, it is both an honor and a turning point for the Arab Gulf Journal of Scientific Research (AGJSR). After decades, as one of the region's eldest refereed journals, this year marks our most significant transformation: a sharpened title, a focused scope and an energized vision for our academic future.
Earlier, the journal welcomed a broad array of submissions spanning natural resources, climate sciences, medicine, computer science, biotechnology, educational and management sciences and digital innovation. This diversity reflected both regional priorities and emerging interdisciplinary fields. However, the rapidly evolving scientific landscape and the urgency of sustainable solutions motivated us to realign our editorial mission.
Now, as the Arab Gulf Journal of Scientific Research: Water, Energy, Food and Environment (AGJSR-WEFE), we dedicate our platform to the most critical challenges facing our world and the Gulf region:
Integrated management of water, energy, food and the environment (WEFE) resource;
Advanced research on climate change and how it affects WEFE;
Use of space technology and geoinformatics to support environmental sustainability;
Developments in circular waste management and recovering resources;
Practical biotechnology applications for sustainable farming, energy and environmental health;
Innovation, green businesses and development of sustainable cities.
We have emphasized on global significance in submissions but sustain a special commitment to research reflecting the realities and urgencies of GCC countries. These priorities have guided the expansion of our editorial board, welcoming leading experts from the Arabian Gulf countries and beyond to shepherd this new era for the journal.
Transition is always challenging. Since February, our editorial team spurred by newly appointed associate editors has rigorously triaged submissions, ensuring alignment with our updated scope. This meant making difficult decisions, including many out-of-scope rejections and investing in broad awareness campaigns to support authors during this period of change. The reward for this collective effort is now clear: submissions are rising in both quality and relevance and our review process is robustly on track.
Our new focus and rigorous standards have been matched by remarkable progress in journal metrics. In 2025, AGJSR's Scopus ranking advanced from Q4 to Q2 an unprecedented leap. Our CiteScore climbed to 2.6 in 2024 and is fast rising, signaling growing visibility, citations and impact for all contributors.
Despite the transition's demands especially the high proportion of initial out-of-scope manuscripts we now confidently look forward; this year, AGJSR will publish two issues inaugurating our reinvigorated mission. The entire editorial team is committed to restoring publishing regularity and setting the pace for quarterly issues in the coming years, firmly rooted in the WEFE nexus and sustainability led innovation.
To our authors and reviewers, thank you for your patience, trust and dedication. AGJSR is now uniquely positioned to amplify regional solutions for global challenges and equally, to welcome science of global importance contextualized for the Gulf. We encourage bold, original research across the new scope and invite all those invested in water, energy, food, environment, climate, innovation and sustainability to join us in shaping a resilient future.
We should not forget the close cooperation of our publishers (Emerald), who worked with us to create the road map of this esteemed journal.
Prof. Waheeb Essa Essa Alnaser
Editor-in-Chief, AGJSR: Water, Energy, Food and Environment
