King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, paid an inspection visit to the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) project here Wednesday. The King saw aerial photographs of the site before the commencement of the university construction as well as photographs taken two weeks before his visit, showing completion of the campus and most of the residential buildings. Khalid Al-Faleh, President of Saudi Aramco, briefed the Monarch on the progress of the project. The first academic year of the university will start on September 5 this year with 400 students and 75 to 80 faculty members. These include scientists selected from renowned international universities and institutes, Al-Faleh informed the King. The university will start with 10 scientific specializations and 10 research centers. The number of university employees will be complete by the first academic day. Spread on an area of 700,000 sq. meters, the campus includes buildings for engineering and science faculty, as well as that for applied mathematics. It also has a library and a lecture hall for 1000 people, the King was informed. In addition, there are four giant buildings allocated for specialist research centers. They are covered with solar cells. The campus also has King Abdullah Grand Mosque that can accommodate 1,500 worshippers and four other mosques. There are 3,500 housing units. Those working on the project listened to the directives of the King to double their efforts to achieve the aspired goals for establishing the university. The King and the accompanying officials toured King Abdullah Grand Mosque. King Abdullah saw the water canal passing next to the grand mosque. The Monarch then toured the university's facilities by bus as well as the venue being readied for the university's inauguration. The university's official inauguration will take place during the Kingdom's 79th National Day anniversary celebrations. King Abdullah was accompanied by Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Prince Meqrin Bin Abdul Aziz, Chief of General Intelligence and other princes. __
