King Abdulaziz University

King Abdulaziz University (KAU)
جامعة الملك عبد العزيز
Other name
KAU
Mottoاقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ
"Read: in the Name of your Lord" (Quran 96:1)
TypePublic research university
Established1967
EndowmentUS$1 billion
PresidentTareef Yousuf Alaama
Administrative staff
4,000
Students117,096 (55,576 male and 61,525 female students - academic session 2022/23)
Location, ,
Saudi Arabia

21°29′38″N 39°15′1″E / 21.49389°N 39.25028°E / 21.49389; 39.25028
CampusBoth urban and rural
Websitewww.kau.edu.sa

King Abdulaziz University (KAU) (Arabic: جامعة الملك عبد العزيز) is a public research university in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Established in 1967 as a private university by a group of businessmen led by Muhammad Bakhashab and including author Hamza Bogary, it was named after the country's first monarch, King Abdulalziz ibn Saud. It was converted into a public university by King Faisal in 1974.

With over 117,096 students in 2022, it is the largest university in the country. Located in south Jeddah, the university is the center of teaching and research of the city, comprising 24 faculties, 15 of these are located on the campus and 9 are off-campus. The university also offers some courses that are unavailable at any other universities in Saudi Arabia, such as marine science, meteorology, and astronomy.