King Abdulaziz University

University rankings
University rankings
Global – Overall
ARWU World	151–200 (2023)
QS World	=143 (2024)
THE World	251–300 (2024)
USNWR Global	=65 (2023)
Regional – Overall
QS Arab region	5 (2024)
USNWR Arab countries	1 (2020)

King Abdulaziz University (KAU)
جامعة الملك عبد العزيز
Other name	KAU
Motto	اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ; "Read: in the Name of your Lord" (Quran 96:1)
Type	Public research university
Established	1967
Endowment	US$1 billion
President	Tareef Yousuf Alaama
Administrative staff	4,000
Students	117,096 [55,576 Male and 61,520 Female students- Academic session 2022-2023]
Location	Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia; 21°29′38″N 39°15′1″E / 21.49389°N 39.25028°E
Campus	Both urban and rural
Website	www.kau.edu.sa

King Abdulaziz University (KAU) (Arabic: جامعة الملك عبد العزيز) is a public research university in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Established in 1967 as a private university by a group of businessmen led by Muhammad Bakhashab and including author Hamza Bogary, it was named after the country's first monarch, King Abdulalziz ibn Saud.^[2] It was converted into a public university by King Faisal in 1974 and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in Saudi Arabia.

With over 117,096 students in 2022, it is the largest university in the country. Located in south Jeddah, the university is the center of teaching and research of the city, comprising 24 faculties, 15 of these are located on the campus and 9 are off-campus. The university also offers some courses that are unavailable at any other universities in Saudi Arabia, such as marine science, meteorology, and astronomy.

History

Private university

In the year 1964, the idea of establishing a private university in the city of Jeddah was originally put forward by Mohammed Ali Hafiz. In the same year, a preparatory committee of 6 members was formed, including Mohamed Ali Hafiz and Muhammad Abu Bakr Bakhashab. Shortly after, then-Crown Prince Faisal officially approved the idea. In 1965, the university's executive committee was formed. In 1966, the KAU held a competition to design their logo. The winning design was submitted by Abdul-Halim Radwi, a local artist from Jeddah.^[3]

In the year 1967, King Abdulaziz University was officially established as a private university, with goals to spread higher education in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Prior to this date, there were no higher-education institutions in Jeddah. These goals were met through efforts of high-ranking businessmen and notable Saudi figures; and additionally with the help of King Faisal's encouragement and financial support. The university started its first academic year in 1968, with a relatively small number of students (68 male - 30 female). In 1969, the first faculty was established (Faculty of Economics and Administration). In 1970, the Faculty of Arts and Humanities was established. The university was named after King Abdulaziz, founder of Saudi Arabia.

Public university (1974-present)

In 1974, the Council of Ministers of Saudi Arabia decided to merge the university with the government; converting it to a public university. As of 2017^[update], it had almost 31,000 students, of which 28% are international.^[4]

The building's construction was designed by Bangladeshi-American architect Fazlur Rahman Khan.^[5]

In 2018, it was ranked the 1st Arab university by Times Higher Education due to very strong citation impact and highly international outlook.^[6] It also ranked no. 1 in percentage of total publications with international collaboration, according to US News rankings.^[7]

Research programs

Between 2004 and 2014, King Abdulaziz University enacted a program to attract the international community and has welcomed nearly 150 researches or various disciplines. The university has developed international research partners, including in Morocco where it has developed a joint lunar research program with the Astronomic Observatory of Oukaïmeden.^[8] The university has 13 different research centers, predominantly in the fields of medicine (medical genomes and osteoperosis), environment and energy, climate change, and desalination.^[9]

Founded in the 1970s by Sami Angawi, the research center on pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj Research Center) conducts a series of works around the religious event, notably on the aspects of logistics surrounding the pilgrimage.^[10]

Faculties

Faculty of Engineering

Electrical Engineering
Computer Engineering
Biomedical & Electrical Engineering
Nuclear Engineering
Aeronautical Engineering
Chemical & Materials Engineering
Civil Engineering
Electrical & Computer Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Mining Engineering
Production Engineering and Mechanical Systems Design
Thermal Engineering and Desalination Technology

These programs are accredited by ABET as Substantially Equivalent Programs since 2003.^[11]

Faculty of Economics and Administration

The Faculty of Economics and Administration was the first college to be established in King Abdulaziz University, and until this day it is called "The Base of Founder's University," referring to the founder of the country.

Department of Business Administration
Department of Finance
Department of Marketing
Department of Human Resource Management
Department of Accounting
Department of Management Information Systems
Department of Political Science
Department of Health Administration
Department of Public Administration
Department of Economics
Department of Law (defunct in 2012; separated into a new faculty)

In 2015, FEA received its fourth international accreditation, the AACSB making it one of the top business colleges in the middle east and across the world.

Faculty of Law

The Faculty of Law was established in 2012 as it segregated from Faculty of Economics and Administration.

Public Law
Private Law

Other faculties

Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences
Faculty of Medicine
Faculty of Medicine at Rabigh
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Faculty of Business
Faculty of Education
Faculty of Communication and Media
Faculty of Computing and Information Technology
Faculty of Design
Faculty of Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture
Faculty of Nursing
Faculty of Science
Faculty of Pharmacy
Faculty of Dentistry
Faculty of Earth Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Environmental Designs
Faculty of Home Economics
Faculty of Marine Sciences
Faculty of Tourism
Faculty of Maritime Studies
Faculty of Architecture and Planning

Ranking

King Abdulaziz University is ranked between 101 and 150 since 2020 by Academic Ranking of World Universities.^[18] Furthermore, according to U.S. News & World Report Best Global University Ranking, King Abdulaziz University is ranked 44 in 2022.^[19] And according to QS World University Rankings, King Abdulaziz University is ranked at number 143 in 2021^[20] in the world's top universities ranking by the London-based Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).^[21]

KAU has faced criticism for allegedly paying highly cited researchers from around the world to cite KAU as a "secondary academic affiliation" in order to boost their rankings.^[22]^[23]^[24] It also faced criticism for its high ranking by Times of Higher Education.^[25]

Notable alumni

Magda Abu Ras, microbiologist and Deputy Director of the Saudi Environmental Society
Nahed Taher, Saudi founder and chief executive officer of Gulf One Investment Bank, which has its headquarters in Bahrain. In 2006, Forbes magazine ranked Taher 72nd in the list of the 100 Most Powerful Women in the World.
Sulaiman Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi, Saudi billionaire economist, owner of Al Rajhi Bank, the 38th richest person in the world.
Adel Fakeih, Saudi billionaire engineer and former mayor of Jeddah.
Muna AbuSulayman, Saudi businesswoman.
Waleed Abulkhair, Saudi Arabian lawyer and human rights activist.
Tariq Alhomayed, journalist and former Editor-in-Chief of the Arabic-language newspaper Asharq Alawsat, the youngest person to be appointed that position.
Samar Alsaggaf, first female Saudi anatomist.
Tasneem Alsultan, Saudi-American photographer and artist, covering stories primarily for The New York Times and National Geographic .
Yahya Al-Hamud, Saudi politician and Governor of Bareq.
Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, Saudi businessman and philanthropist
Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Saudi Minister of transport
Abdallah Bin Bayyah, Muslim scholar, teaches in the university; Bin Bayyah holds a Mauritanian citizenship
Amr Dabbagh, Saudi economist and businessman. Member of World Economic Forum and founder of Jeddah Economic Forum
Shalimar Sharbatly, Saudi abstract artist
Said Aqil Siradj, leader of Nahdlatul Ulama, world's largest Islamic organization in Indonesia