Umm al Qura University

The Umm al Qura University (PO Box 715, Makkah), founded in 1979 (1399/1400 AH) and accorded university status in 1981-1982 (1401-1402 AH), had on its register more than 20,000 students in the year 2000/2001 (1420-21 AAH), of whom more than 8,000 were female. Originally, this institution included Colleges of Shari'ah and Education and an institute to teach Arabic language to non-Arabs, all of which functioned as branches of the King Abdul Aziz University. Later Colleges of Arabic Language, Applied Sciences and Engineering, Da'wa and Usul El-Din, Education (in Ta'if) and Social Sciences were opened. A number of scientific centers became affiliated to the colleges of this University (for example, the Educational and Psychological Research Center, the Institute of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for Hajj Research, the International Center for Islamic Education, the Scientific and Engineering Research Center and the Scientific Research and Islamic Heritage Rejuvenation Institute). In addition, the Umm al Qura University co-operates with a number of foreign universities and other academic institutions through scientific exchange and scholarships. In 1986 the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques laid the foundation stone of Al 'Abdiya campus to meet the rising demand for student places. In 1995 (1415 AH) the Faculty of Shariah and Islamic studies, the Faculty of Arabic Language and the Faculty of Engineering and Islamic Architecture began the gradual move to the new campus, followed by the Faculty of Medicine and Medical Studies, which was established by a royal decree in 1996 (1416 AH) for both male and female students. For the university website, click here