The University of Ha’il, known as UOH, is a public university located in Ha’il City, in the northwest of Saudi Arabia. It was established in 2005 by royal decree as part of the expansion of public higher education institutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Hail Community College, which was founded in 1998, is the core of the current university. The college was affiliated with King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals at the time, and continued its activities for seven years until it became an independent institution under the name University of Hail.

Clearly, the university has come a long way. Today, it serves over 45,000 students and stands as one of the most significant educational institutions in the region.

University at a Glance

The numbers speak for themselves. Here is a quick overview of what the university offers:

14 academic colleges
45,644 enrolled students (male and female)
2,031 faculty members
1,095 staff members
83,539 total graduates
3 branch campuses (outside the main headquarters)

Moreover, the university continues to grow year after year. Its steady expansion reflects its commitment to meeting the educational needs of the Ha’il Region.

Academic Programs and Colleges

The University of Ha’il has 14 colleges that offer 51 undergraduate programs and 32 postgraduate programs. All science, engineering, business, medical, and health science programs are taught in English.

The colleges are divided into three main categories:

Scientific and Applied Colleges

Engineering
Computer Science
Sciences
Applied Sciences

Medical and Health Colleges

Medicine
Dentistry
Pharmacy
Applied Medical Sciences
Nursing

Humanities Colleges

Education
Arts
Business Administration
Sharia and Law
Social Sciences

Furthermore, the university runs a Preparatory Year Program. This program is designed to develop foundational academic skills and English-language proficiency required for entry into specialized academic tracks.

Additionally, the university offers a Bridging Program. This program provides diploma holders with structured pathways to continue their education through parallel study programs in selected disciplines.

Research and Innovation

Research is a core part of what UOH does. There are also research and graduate studies at the University of Ha’il that are overseen by the Vice Presidency for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research. The university conducts applied and academic research across various disciplines and has been included in international institutional and research rankings.

The University of Ha’il hosts ten research chairs, including the Chair for Research on Women, the Prince Saud Bin Abdul Mohsen Chair for Studies of Civil and Charitable Work in the Kingdom, and the Dr. Nasser Al-Rasheed Chair for Hail Studies.

Most importantly, the university recently inaugurated a Medical and Diagnostic Research Center, under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad bin Abdulaziz. This center signals a strong push toward medical research and innovation.

In 2019, the university also earned two excellence awards for scientific production among Saudi universities in global databases. Consequently, its research reputation continues to grow both locally and internationally.

Accreditations and Rankings

The University of Ha’il holds a strong portfolio of international and local accreditations. These include:

NCAAA: National Commission for Academic Accreditation and Assessment (Institutional Accreditation, 2026)
ABET: International accreditation for engineering and computing programs
ASIIN: German accreditation for science and engineering programs
ASIC: Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges and Universities
AHPGS: Local accreditation for health programs
CBAHI: Saudi Center for Accreditation of Healthcare Institutions
IBCT: International accreditation for business programs
ISO: International quality standard certifications
Saudi Commission for Health Specialties: Accreditation for health-related programs

Additionally, the university appears in the Times Higher Education World Rankings at the subject/program level. It has also earned recognition in Arab university rankings, making it one of the leading institutions in the region.

Notably, in 2023, the university received the European Excellence Certificate for Sustainable Performance, an award that highlights its commitment to quality and long-term growth.

Digital Services and E-Learning

The University of Ha’il has embraced digital transformation fully. The university provides Office 365 services to all beneficiaries — students, employees, and faculty members — free of charge.

Indeed, students and staff can access a wide range of electronic services through the university’s unified digital portal. These services include:

Single Sign-On (SSO) Portal: One login for all university services
Blackboard: Interactive e-learning platform for students and faculty
Preparatory Year Portal: Dedicated digital space for new students
Saudi Digital Library: Access to thousands of academic and scientific resources
Student Clearance System: Online checkout process for departing students
Hadir System: Electronic attendance management for staff and faculty
Ejraa System: Digital management of requests and administrative workflows
Student Technical Support (Daeem): Dedicated IT support portal for students
Performance Evaluation System: Digital tool for staff performance tracking

Furthermore, the university has made an open data platform available to all citizens and visitors. This platform allows anyone to use and share university data freely, with no technical or financial restrictions.

Community Service

The university is active and engaged in serving the local community through numerous community partnerships. All faculty members are required to demonstrate active community service. The Deanship of Community Service offers numerous lifelong and continuing education programs and services that cater to the local community.

Beyond campus, the university regularly organizes student competitions, national events, and cultural programs. For example, it hosted the Ha’il Municipal Innovation Hackathon, where UOH students swept the top positions.

Vision, Mission, and Core Values

The university’s vision is to be locally and globally distinguished in preparing competitive graduates, innovative researchers, and active community contributors.

The vision of the university is to maintain an advanced blended academic, administrative, and research environment.

The university’s core values are:

Justice: Fair treatment for all members of the community
Belonging: A sense of pride and identity
Excellence: High standards in all activities
Creativity: Innovation at the heart of learning
Responsibility: Accountability toward society and the nation

Furthermore, the university actively aligns its strategic goals with Saudi Vision 2030, contributing to the Kingdom’s drive for knowledge-based economic development and human capital growth.