You are eligible to participate in the Plan on the first day you are employed with the University if you are a full-time faculty or staff member and are not:

• A U.S. citizen or resident of the U.S. (green card holder),
• A Saudi National, or
• Eligible to receive benefits under the General Organization of Social Insurance (GOSI), GOSI Old Age Annuity.

You are automatically enrolled in the Plan on the first day of employment and the University will start making contributions to an account in your name.

When you are enrolled in the Plan, you must name your beneficiary to receive your benefits in the event of your death. Your beneficiary may be your estate, a trust or any person you designate. You may also want to consult with a lawyer or financial professional to better understand the legal and investment consequences of your designation. Either download the Beneficiary Designation form from this site or obtain a copy from the KAUST Human Resources Department. Once you have completed and signed the form, return it to:

Human Resources Department
4700 King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Thuwal 23955-6900
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Or email to: [email protected]

If you are married, your beneficiary must be your spouse, unless your spouse consents to a different beneficiary in writing. The Beneficiary Designation form must be signed by your spouse and witnessed by a member of the KAUST Human Resources Department for the consent to be valid.

If you are not married, you can name any beneficiary you want.

If your named beneficiary is not living at the time of your death, or you failed to name a beneficiary, your benefits will be paid to the first surviving person in the order specified below:

1. Your surviving spouse,
2. Your surviving children,
3. Your surviving parents or
4. Your estate.

• Eligibility service determines when you can participate in the Plan and is measured by your employment with KAUST.


• Cash balance service refers to your period of employment with KAUST. You earn one year of cash balance service for every year in which you perform one hour of service as an eligible employee of KAUST and are employed on December 31 of the year.


• Vesting service determines whether you are entitled to receive a benefit under the plan. Generally, your vesting service is your period of employment with KAUST measured from your date of hire to your termination date.

  If you were hired prior to December 31, 2015:

  Your vesting service is measured on a calendar year. You will become 100% vested when you complete three (3) years of vesting service. A year of vesting service is a calendar year in which you complete at least 1,000 hours of service. For each calendar month during which you work at least one day, you will be given credit for 190 hours of service. You will automatically become 100% vested if you:

  • Complete 3 years of vesting service;
  • Reach normal retirement age (age 60) while an employee; or
  • Die while in active employment with KAUST or an associated company.

  If you were hired after January 1, 2016:

  Your vesting service is measured on a calendar month (all references to months, quarters or years are based on the Gregorian calendar). You will become 100% vested when you complete thirty-six (36) months of vesting service. You will automatically become 100% vested if you:

  • Complete 36 months of service;
  • Reach normal retirement age (age 60) while an employee; or
  • Die while in active employment with KAUST or an associated company.