King Abdulaziz University

King Abdulaziz University, popularly known as the Founder's University, is named after King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud. Located in the western region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the city of Jeddah, it was established in 1967 as a private university. In 1971, a decision was made to transform it into a public university. It was the first of two universities established during the reign of King Faisal Bin Abdulaziz, followed by Imam Mohammad Bin Saud Islamic University.

King Abdulaziz University ranked first among Arab universities, according to the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings for 2023. Additionally, it ranked 101st globally in the Times 2023 Rankings.

King Abdulaziz University is considered one of three independent public universities, based on a decision by the Minister of Education issued on July 16, 2020. This allows the university greater flexibility in choosing specializations and enables it to establish its academic, financial, and administrative regulations.

The university consists of twenty-nine faculties, of which seven are in its branches. It also has three institutes and forty-nine research and scientific centers in various fields. The university houses two hospitals: University Hospital and the University Dental Hospital. Its campuses are spread across various districts in Jeddah, including al-Sulaymaniyah, al-Rehab, and al-Murjan, in addition to the university's branches in Rabigh Governorate. Notable faculties include Marine Sciences, Meteorology, Earth Sciences, Nuclear Engineering, Aviation and Space, Mining, and Biomedical Engineering.

In its early days, the number of students at King Abdulaziz University did not exceed sixty-eight male students and thirty female students. However, according to 2020 statistics, the number of students had risen to around 136,560, with 6,322 faculty members.

The total area of the university's projects is 5,400,000 m², with the university city occupying five million m² in north Jeddah. This area includes green spaces and various facilities for students and staff to engage in different activities, such as an equestrian club, a sports village, and a sports stadium. In addition to the faculty residential complex for male and female faculty members, consisting of about 780 villas, covering a total area of 650,000 m².

The logo of King Abdulaziz University, designed by artist Abdulhalim Radawi in a competition, consists of the base of a ship symbolizing the port of Jeddah, an open book representing the Quran with the verse, "Read in the name of your Lord", inscribed, and a minaret topped by a feather pen symbolizing knowledge. The logo as a whole embodies the university's values, including dedication, responsibility, patriotism, ambition, and quality.

In 2022, King Abdulaziz University registered about 177 patents, with 250 patents under development and four hundred innovative ideas from three hundred inventors. It ranked eighth among the top one hundred universities worldwide in patent registration at the U.S. office in 2022, according to a list prepared by the National Academy of Inventors in the United States.