Universities in Saudi Arabia

Overview

Saudi Arabia has built one of the largest higher education systems in the Arab world, with more than thirty public universities and a growing number of private institutions.

Public universities

King Saud University, founded in Riyadh in 1957, was the first modern university in the Kingdom. The King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, founded in Dhahran in 1963, is a leading centre for energy and engineering. Other major institutions include King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University in Dammam, and Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah.

Research universities

The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), opened in 2009 near Thuwal, is a graduate research university with a focus on science and technology. It has become a significant centre for research in water, energy and materials.

Private universities

A private higher education sector has developed since the 1990s, including Alfaisal University, Prince Sultan University and Effat University, the first private university for women in the Kingdom.

Access and reform

Higher education has expanded rapidly, with a large increase in enrolment and in the number of women graduates. The Vision 2030 programme has emphasised the alignment of university output with labour market needs.