National Company for Mechanical Systems | Saudi Arabia
Dr. Muhammad Atiqullah is an accomplished scientific and technical leader whose career spans four decades of continuous contributions to chemical engineering, polymer science, materials science, and defense-related composite technologies. His work integrates advanced research, technical consulting, academic leadership, and industrial innovation, with a strong specialization in polymer reaction engineering, polyolefin catalysts, and thermoset polymer composites. As a Senior R&D Engineer and consultant in the defense sector, he focuses on developing high-performance composite materials and selecting polymeric systems for critical defense applications. His extensive experience at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals includes serving as Professor, Senior Research Engineer, founding director of major research centers, and contributor to establishing national research infrastructures. He led large-scale, high-impact collaborative programs with global organizations and developed strategic research initiatives in polyolefin catalysts, synthetic lubricants, polymeric flow aids, and advanced composite materials. Dr. Atiqullah’s work has generated substantial national value, including major competitive research funding and industry-sponsored projects. He is the lead inventor of multiple U.S. patents and has published extensively in high-ranking scientific journals, earning over a thousand citations. His editorial leadership includes serving as Editor-in-Chief of a materials science journal, and he is widely recognized as an expert reviewer across numerous scientific platforms. His research encompasses defense polymer composites, energy-efficient polymer processes, catalyst development, and high-value polyolefin technologies that underpin modern materials engineering and industrial chemistry. Beyond research, he has mentored graduate researchers, developed advanced laboratories, shaped research strategies, and contributed to national innovation ecosystems. Recognized through prestigious fellowships, awards, and leadership roles, Dr. Atiqullah continues to pursue scientific advancements with a forward-looking vision to establish specialized centers for defense polymer composites and to promote innovation-driven economic growth through technology development and talent cultivation.
Featured Publications
1. Rawas, Y. A., Abdelaal, A. F., Al‐Muallem, H. A., & Atiqullah, M. (2025). Effects of catalyst activation, deactivation, and active site physical residential environment on ethylene−α‐olefin elastomeric copolymerization. Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, e00406.
2. Atiqullah, M., Abdelaal, A. F., Adamu, S., & Alasiri, H. S. (2024). Catalytic making of ethylene-1-hexene elastomers: Thermodynamic guide to process development. AIChE Journal.
3. Atiqullah, M., & Al‐Asiri, H. S. (2022). Polyolefin catalyst research: A product-driven industrial perspective. The Chemical Record.
4. Ahmed, A. K., Atiqullah, M., Al-Harthi, M. A., Abdelaal, A. F., & Pradhan, D. R. (2020). Nonisothermal crystallization of Ziegler-Natta i-PP-graphene nanocomposite: DSC and new model prediction. The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, 98(6), 1398–1410.
5. Atiqullah, M., Al-Sarkhi, A. S., Al-Thenayan, F. M., Al-Malki, A. R., & Alasiri, H. S. (2019). Energy-saving UHMW polymeric flow aids: Catalyst and polymerization process development. Catalysts, 9(1002), 1–15.