King Abdullah University (KAUST). What do you think?

yep Gigi says it correct.. Engineering.. there currently isnt a demand for female engineers here.. Rarely internationals companies maybe like ARamco might hire one, but otherwise the girls would have to find employement outside SaudiArabia and thats not what they want.. So for now, its really only open for men... There is a new univeristy in my town of Khobar.. PMU.. Prince Mohammed University.. this is its 2nd year.. Its also an engineering university with a few select classes of business for women... It has hired many professionals from a Texas based univerisity system.. So far its doing well.. But its still under the new microscope and obviously it will want to shine to attract many to survive... I think we need many universities (free ones though) for our countrymen and women.. Our young people need this and are owed this... For such a wealthy country, there needs to be 1 or 2 universities in every major city.. It needs to be

salam @ Mintee... Well, honestly. Im loving it. Im in Jeddah, and Rabigh is about an hour or an hour and a half drive from where I live, and I have seen the construction. Theyre toiling at it. In terms of staff, King Abdullah promised the best, and you better know this man soon, because he really sticks to his words. Now women and universities are another issue, seeing that it is a wonderful country with equally wonderful islamic shariah laws (which DO NOT PROHIBIT women from going to universities) but is SOMEWHAT a bit over the line when it comes to tradition. Women in the kingdom are usually expected to raise kids and make them the best that they can be. We only now see (well, starting about 10-13 years ago) what happens when saudi women enter universities (no offence to my saudi sisters out there). Alot of kids left not taken care of, mostly because mummy has to study, so she doesnt really care about the kids and lets the maid take care of them (btw, in a study conducted by the ministry of interior, one in 3 saudi households have atleast 1 maid, while in the suburbs of jeddah and riyadh, that number can reach up to 2 to 3 maids in every 3 households>the houses in between tend to need the services of one maid only.

Everybody hopes that, but only time will show. How good it will become is based on many factors, such as the staff that will be employed and way that people's roles will be established within the institute. I am personally hopefull, but I find that the only drawback- as I have already seen their masters program- is that it focuses on engineering an area where currently many saudi girls are hesitant to join as they worry they will be no appropritate jobs for them afterwards. Nevertheless engineering was their focus as they want to relate it to their innovation centre for the creation of patents and connect it directly with the industry. Thus I would say albeit a great idea, that they need to incorporate specialisations that would reflect the needs of the society as a whole ; but that could be their next plan :)

Yes, it will make it all the way, hopefully, though it will have a lot of challenges. If you are living in Saudi, then you would understand the following: among all the big projects that been announced recently, 2 big projects were held to big companies and not government institutions to implement them. That are King Abdullah City and King Abdullah University. One to Emaar and the second to Aramco. And both projects are progressing well. I know that King Abdullah U already gave scholarship for top students who are studying now in different colleges (including private ones) to continue their higher education there. The scholarships offers were VERY good to local standards. So, the University is serious about it.

By the grace of Almighty God it will come good

it's obvious that such project is a result of deep and thorough planning from a very determined ruler. something of this magnitude wouldn't (shouldn't) come short in any aspect...so I'm betting on it's success... although i agree that it's too early to include Saudi females due to the lack of specialization in the offered fields..it certainly should be open to females from around the world. and yes it's true that women in Saudi somewhat neglected the very crucial role of raising their kids to pursue self fulfilling achievements in education and work...but we're coming back and we're coming strong...I'm working on my postgraduate degree, married with a kid, and running my own business in jeddah and taking care of my house with no maid, nanny or even any help from my family...and alhamdu l'allah I'm doing a great job at it (if i could say so myself) ...so we're pulling our Saudi society together one family at a time...you just wait and see ;)

hyber universty

I believe it will be great uni.