IN REALIZATION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES, THE SAUDI GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN GIVING TOP PRIORITY TO THE EDUCATIONAL SECTOR. CURRENTLY, THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA IS ENRICHED WITH 17 UNIVERSITIES, WHICH HAVE BEEN BUILT ACCORDING TO THE MOST MODERN ARCHITECTURAL STANDARDS. IN 1424-1425, THE NUMBER OF COLLEGES AT THE LEVELS OF BACHELOR AND DIPLOMA DEGREES AMOUNTED TO 314 WITH A STRENGTH OF 574,000 STUDENTS, WHO ARE ASSISTED IN THE PURSUIT OF ACADEMIC STUDIES BY 25, 200 MEMBERS OF THE ACADEMIC STAFF. THE UNIVERSITIES INCLUDE THE MAKKAH-BASED UMMAL QURA UNIVERSITY (ESTABLISHED IN 1949); THE MADINAH-BASED ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY (ESTABLISHED IN 1961); THE RIYADH-BASED IMAM MOHAMMED BIN SAUD ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY (OPENED IN 1953) AND KING SAUD UNIVERSITY IN RIYADH (OPENED IN 1957) AS WELL AS THE JEDDAH-BASED KING ABDULAZIZ AND THE DHAHRAN-BASED KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS (KFUPM). THE NEW UNIVERSITIES INCLUDE QASSIM UNIVERSITY (ESTABLISHED IN 1424 AH); THE MADINAH-BASED TAIBAH UNIVERSITY (ESTABLISHED ALSO IN 1424 AH). IN 1426 AH,UNIVERSITIES OF HAIL, JOAF AND JIZAN WERE OPENED. IN 1427AH, TWO UNIVERSITIES WERE OPENED IN BAHA AND TABUK. IN ADDITION TO THIS, THREE NON-GOVERNMENTAL UNIVERSITIES WERE ALSO ESTABLISHED, NAMELY: AL-FAISAL UNIVERSITY AND PRINCE SULTAN BIN ABDULAZIZ UNIVERSITY IN RIYADH, AND PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN FAHD UNIVERSITY IN THE EASTERN REGION.
