Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, known as IMSIU or IMAMU, is one of Saudi Arabia’s most distinguished public universities. It is located in Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, approximately 20 kilometers from King Khalid International Airport.

The university traces its roots to 1950, when King Abdulaziz commissioned the founding of an Islamic institute in Riyadh. The College of Sharia Sciences opened in 1953, and the institution officially became a full university in 1974 through a royal decree. It was named after Muhammad bin Saud Al Muqrin, the founder of the First Saudi State and the emirate of Diriyah.

Today, IMSIU stands as a comprehensive academic institution that integrates Islamic values with modern academic excellence. It serves students across Saudi Arabia and the world, contributing to knowledge, research, and the development of qualified professionals for the Saudi labor market and beyond.

Vision and Mission

Vision

To be a globally distinguished university that commits to Islamic values, academic excellence, and sustainable community partnership.

Mission

To nurture intellect, creativity, and moral values in men and women for leadership and service to society through high-quality learning and research. The university aims to meet the educational and development needs of Saudi society by preparing scientifically, culturally, and intellectually qualified human cadres to serve the community.

Colleges and Institutes

IMSIU is organized into 14 colleges, 3 higher institutes, 70 scientific institutes within Saudi Arabia, and 5 overseas institutes in Indonesia and Djibouti.

The 14 Colleges

College of Sharia and Islamic Studies
College of Religion Fundamentals (Usul al-Din)
College of Arabic Language
College of Social Sciences
College of Media and Communication
College of Languages and Translation
College of Computer Science and Information Science
College of Economics and Administrative Sciences
College of Medicine
College of Sciences
College of Engineering
College of Education
College of Education and Community Services
College of Law

The 3 Higher Institutes

Higher Judicial Institute (featuring a Virtual Court for practical training)
Institute of Dawah and Ihtisaab
Institute of Arabic Language Teaching for Non-Native Speakers

Overseas Institutes

IMSIU extends its educational mission internationally through institutes in Indonesia and Djibouti, making it one of the few Saudi universities with a formal overseas academic presence.

Specialized Learning Resources

Virtual Court at the Higher Judicial Institute for law and judiciary training
Hadith Lab at the College of Religion Fundamentals for Islamic studies research
Institute of Translation and Arabization for Arabic-to-foreign-language translation and vice versa
Bawabat Al-Marifa (Knowledge Portal) for access to university publications and conference proceedings

Academic Programs

IMSIU offers programs across multiple levels of education:

Diploma programs for vocational and pre-degree studies
Bachelor’s degree programs across all 14 colleges
Master’s degree programs managed by the Deanship of Graduate Studies
Doctoral (PhD) programs in a wide range of disciplines

Fields of study include Sharia, religion fundamentals, Arabic language, social sciences, media and communication, languages and translation, computer science and information science, economics and administrative sciences, medicine, basic sciences, and engineering.

Modes of Study

Conventional Education: full-time on-campus study
Parallel Education: for students who did not qualify through standard admission channels
E-Learning: fully online programs through the university’s digital platform
Distance Education: flexible study for students outside Riyadh
Continuing Education: professional development and short courses for the workforce

The language of instruction is Arabic in most programs. English is used in medicine, sciences, engineering, computer sciences, and languages and translation programs.

Tuition-Free Education and Scholarships

Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University is a tuition-free institution for all enrolled students. This commitment to accessible education makes it one of the most affordable high-quality universities in the Arab world.

In addition, the university offers scholarships that include:

A monthly stipend of 990 SAR for students in science and health programs
A monthly stipend of 840 SAR for students in humanities programs
A 75% discount on foreign academic books
Fully furnished university housing and hostel accommodation
Meals at the university restaurant
Free medical treatment and healthcare services
Full return air tickets to the student’s home country for international scholarship recipients

Currently, more than 7,400 international students study at IMSIU under scholarship arrangements, reflecting the university’s strong commitment to global academic inclusion.

Campus and Facilities

IMSIU’s main campus in Riyadh spans a total area of over 7 million square meters. It operates two separate campuses:

University City for Male Students: covering approximately 2.77 million square meters
King Abdullah City for Female Students: covering approximately 1.7 million square meters

The foundation stone for the current university building was laid on 5 January 1982 during the reign of King Khalid Ibn Abdul-Aziz Al Saud. The campus was officially opened in 1990.

Key Campus Facilities

Prince Sultan Library for Science and Knowledge: founded in 1952, now a partner of the World Digital Library
Sports facilities and recreational spaces
University housing and hostel complex
University restaurant and food services
Medical and healthcare center
IMSIU internal TV channel and College Studio
Miraat Al-Jami’ah: a weekly university newspaper
Electronic Services Portal and Cloud Services for students and staff
Alumni Program portal connecting graduates with the university community

Research and Academic Journals

Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University places a strong emphasis on academic research and knowledge production. The university’s research activities are organized at both national and international levels.

Peer-reviewed academic journals published by the university across multiple disciplines
Research centers dedicated to Islamic studies, social sciences, sciences, and engineering
Academic associations and knowledge communities supported by the university
The Knowledge Portal (Bawabat Al-Marifa) providing access to published conference proceedings
Active participation in international research partnerships and agreements

Accreditation and Quality

IMSIU holds full institutional accreditation from the Education and Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC), represented by the National Center for Academic Accreditation and Evaluation. This accreditation confirms the university meets Saudi Arabia’s highest standards for academic quality and institutional governance.

Globally, IMSIU is ranked in the 851 to 900 band in the QS World University Rankings 2026, placing it among the recognized universities in the Arab world.

Community and International Engagement

IMSIU’s mission extends well beyond the campus. The university actively serves the broader Saudi community and the global Muslim world through a range of programs and partnerships.

66 public education institutes (primary and secondary) operating across all regions of Saudi Arabia
The Institute of Translation and Arabization, facilitating knowledge exchange between Arabic and foreign languages
Overseas academic presence in Indonesia and Djibouti
International partnerships and cooperation agreements with universities and institutions worldwide
University Endowment programs supporting sustainable development and long-term community impact
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) initiatives aligned with the United Nations global agenda

Under: Ministry of Education, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Electronic Services: imamu.edu.sa/en/eServices

Why choose IMSIU?

One of Saudi Arabia’s oldest and most respected Islamic universities, founded in 1953
Fully tuition-free with generous scholarship packages for international students
14 colleges and 3 higher institutes covering Islamic, humanities, science, and technical fields
70 scientific institutes within Saudi Arabia serving communities across the Kingdom
International presence in Indonesia and Djibouti, extending the university’s global reach
Home to the Institute of Translation and Arabization, a unique resource for linguistic research
Ranked 851 to 900 globally by QS World University Rankings 2026
Fully accredited by ETEC (Education and Training Evaluation Commission)
Dual campus model with separate cities for male and female students, each with full facilities
Partner of the World Digital Library through the Prince Sultan Library for Science and Knowledge