King Khalid University

King Khalid University is a prominent public institution of higher learning located in the Asir region of southwestern Saudi Arabia, with its main headquarters in the city of Abha. The university serves as one of the largest and most prestigious educational institutions in the Kingdom while it functions as the main engine for intellectual and cultural development throughout the southern regions of the country. The university operates its extensive modern campus system which includes the University City development, as it maintains its dedication to academic research, social responsibility, and environmental protection within its unique geographical area that contains both mountains and cultural heritage sites.

The university was officially established in 1998 following a royal decree by the then-Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, which ordered the merger of the local branches of Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University and King Saud University. The consolidation was designed to establish a single academic institution which would provide educational services to the increasing student population throughout the area. The institution expanded rapidly throughout the next 30 years because it grew from its initial college base into a complete university system which included multiple campuses and research facilities that became essential to national higher education development.

Based on the QS World University Rankings of 2026, King Khalid University is positioned as the #535 top university in the world, which makes it the #6 top university in Saudi Arabia.