Saudi researchers often assume Scopus and Web of Science are the same thing. They are not, and mixing them up has real consequences. A promotion committee or grant reviewer will check whether your publication actually satisfies their specific policy. Some Saudi universities accept either database as equivalent. Others specify one database by name and reject the other outright. This happens even if the journal is genuinely well ranked in the unrequested database.
This guide explains the real difference between the two systems and how to check your university’s requirements. You’ll also learn how to avoid publishing in the wrong database entirely.
Scopus and Web of Science Are Different Databases, Not Different Names for the Same Thing
Scopus is owned and maintained by Elsevier. Web of Science is owned by Clarivate. Both are large and respected citation databases with overlapping journal coverage. However, each system calculates journal quality using its own distinct metrics. Scopus uses CiteScore, SJR, and SNIP alongside its Q1 to Q4 quartile system. Web of Science uses the Journal Impact Factor to determine quartile rankings. These rankings are calculated within specific categories like SCIE, SSCI, and AHCI.
A journal can be Q1 in Scopus while sitting in a completely different tier in Web of Science. It might even be absent from one database entirely. ولهذا السبب تحديداً، يُعدّ النشر في Web of Science والنشر في سكوبس أمرين منفصلين تماماً أكاديمياً.
Why This Distinction Matters So Much for Saudi Academic Promotion
يرتبط النشر العلمي في السعودية بمتطلبات محددة تضعها كل جامعة على حدة. ولهذا السبب تحديداً، تُعدّ معرفة الفرق بين قاعدتي البيانات أمراً ضرورياً قبل التقديم لأي مجلة.
King Saud University, King Abdulaziz University, and KFUPM each publish their own promotion policies. These guidelines are not always aligned on which database counts. Some Saudi colleges accept Q1 journal publications; Saudi Arabia requirements are satisfied through either Scopus or Web of Science. Some Saudi policies specify Web of Science exclusively for departments like medicine and engineering, where WoS carries extra institutional weight. A paper in a strong Scopus Q1 journal can still fail promotion. This happens if Web of Science was explicitly required.
This is not a minor technicality. Researchers have lost entire promotion cycles over this exact mismatch. They published strong papers, but in the wrong database for their college’s policy.
How to Check Which Database Your University Actually Requires
Do not assume. Go directly to your college’s written promotion or research policy document, not a general university-wide statement, since requirements frequently differ by college even within the same university. Look specifically for the words “Scopus,” “Web of Science,” “Clarivate,” or “ISI,” since some older Saudi policy documents still use the historic ISI naming convention for what is now Web of Science.
If the policy says “Q1 journal publication Saudi Arabia requires either database,” confirm this in writing with your department, since informal understanding among faculty does not always match the current written policy, and policies do get updated between promotion cycles.
If your department accepts both databases, choosing the one with a better fit for your subject area and a faster realistic review timeline is usually the smarter move rather than defaulting to whichever database you are more familiar with.
Comparing Q1 and Q2 Requirements Across Both Databases
Quartile requirements are not identical between the two systems even when a journal is dual-indexed. A journal ranked Q1 in Scopus for one subject category might land in Q2 or lower under Web of Science’s separate ranking system for the same broad field, because the two databases calculate quartiles from different citation data and different category groupings.
For Q2 journal publication requirements in Saudi Arabia specifically, this gap matters even more, since Q2 sits closer to the boundary where classification differences between the two databases are more likely to push a journal above or below the line depending on which system is being used. Always check the specific quartile in the specific database your policy names, not just the journal’s general reputation across both.
Common Mistakes Saudi Researchers Make With This Distinction
Assuming a journal listed as a Scopus-indexed journal with a strong quartile automatically satisfies a Web of Science requirement, without separately checking Clarivate’s Master Journal List.
Relying on a journal’s own homepage claims about being “Web of Science indexed” without verifying directly through Clarivate, the same trap that applies to unverified Scopus claims.
Choosing a journal based on which database is easier to get accepted into, rather than which one the specific promotion or grant policy actually names.
Not confirming with the department in writing before submission, and only discovering the mismatch after the paper is already published and the promotion file is being reviewed.
What to Do If a Journal Is Only Indexed in One Database
If your target journal is a strong fit for your research but only appears in one of the two databases, you have a few realistic options rather than abandoning the paper entirely.
First, confirm again whether your department’s policy genuinely requires that specific database, or whether it was simply the assumption your supervisor or colleagues have been working from without checking the current written policy. Promotion policies update frequently. Older, informal guidance often fails to reflect current requirements.
Second, if a database mismatch exists, pivot immediately. Look for a comparable journal in your field that meets or exceeds the required quartile in the right database. This costs some additional selection time, but it is far less costly than publishing a paper that will not count toward your promotion file.
Third, target journals dual-indexed in both Scopus and Web of Science if you have enough time. This removes the database issue entirely. It also protects your promotion file if your department’s policy changes before review.
Building a Journal Shortlist Around the Right Database
Once you confirm your department’s required database, shortlist three to five verified journals in that system. Look beyond general reputation in your field. For each journal, note its quartile, typical review timeline, and any secondary indexing.
This approach protects you from two different failure modes at once. It prevents publishing in an unrecognized database. It also keeps you from wasting a submission cycle on a journal that misses your required quartile.
Getting Support With Journal Database Selection
It is easy to make mistakes under deadline pressure. Finding a journal with the right quartile in your college’s required database takes careful checking. Fast Publications works with Saudi researchers to confirm database and quartile requirements against their actual university policy before recommending a journal, rather than assuming Scopus and Web of Science are interchangeable.
Our Scopus journal selection services also cover Web of Science verification as part of the same process. For a full breakdown of what Scopus indexing itself actually means and how to verify it, see our guide on Scopus indexed journals for Saudi researchers, an existing page already ranking on fastpublications.com. If your submission was already rejected once, our journal resubmission support guide, also already live on the site, covers how to reposition your paper toward a better fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Scopus and Web of Science the same thing?
No, they are separate databases with different owners. Elsevier runs Scopus, while Clarivate manages Web of Science, so each system can rank the same journal differently.
هل يمكن أن تكون المجلة مصنفة في سكوبس وغير مدرجة في Web of Science؟
نعم، وهذا أمر شائع جدا. تدرج كل قاعدة بيانات مجلات مختلفة جزئيا، وقد تكون المجلة من مجلات Q1 في سكوبس دون أن تكون مدرجة إطلاقا في Web of Science، والعكس صحيح أيضا.
Does my Saudi university accept either database for promotion?
It depends entirely on your specific college’s written policy. Some accept either Scopus or Web of Science publication Saudi Arabia requirements interchangeably, others require one specifically, so always confirm directly with your department in writing.
ما الفرق بين تصنيف Q1 في سكوبس وتصنيف Q1 في Web of Science؟
تُحسب التصنيفات بطرق مختلفة في كل قاعدة بيانات، حيث تعتمد سكوبس على مقاييس مثل CiteScore وSJR، بينما تعتمد Web of Science على معامل التأثير الخاص بها، لذلك قد تختلف مرتبة نفس المجلة بين النظامين.
What happens if I publish in the wrong database for my department’s requirement?
The publication remains valid research output, but it may not meet your department’s specific promotion-file requirement if your department explicitly names a different database, which can delay your promotion timeline by an entire review cycle.
