His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Arab Open University, announced the opening of the university in the Kingdom of Morocco, making it the tenth campus within its educational network across the Arab world. The announcement was made during the 45th meeting of the University’s Board of Trustees, held virtually with the participation of Their Excellencies, the Board members.
His Highness expressed his deepest gratitude and appreciation to His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco and his esteemed government for the support and empowerment extended to the university, from the inception of the idea of establishing the university in Morocco until the campus became fully ready to receive its first cohort of students at the beginning of the 2026–2027 academic year. He emphasized that the relevant government authorities and private sector institutions in Morocco, particularly the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, provided extensive support and all necessary facilitation that contributed to the realization of this ambitious Arab educational project.
His Highness, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, stated:
“The opening of the university’s tenth campus marks a new milestone in the journey of expanding open and quality higher education across the Arab world. It also embodies the vision of the university’s founder, His Royal Highness Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz—may Allah have mercy on him—who began working on this project in 1996, driven by his belief that education is a right for (everyone), and that access to quality university education should not be limited to a particular group but made available to all segments of Arab society, especially those most in need. We thank Almighty Allah for enabling us to continue this mission and fulfill an important part of what His Highness aspired to achieve.”
He added that Morocco’s inclusion in the university’s network reflects the country’s distinguished academic and cultural standing and strengthens the university’s presence in North Africa. This expansion will help broaden opportunities for flexible higher education and provide modern academic programs that respond to development needs and labor market demands across the Arab region. He stressed that selecting Morocco also reflects its historic role in fostering knowledge, as it is among the earliest Arab and Islamic countries to establish institutions of higher education. Morocco is home to Al-Qarawiyyin University in Fez, regarded as one of the oldest universities in the world, thereby bringing together the richness of Morocco’s scholarly heritage with the university’s mission of providing quality education to present and future generations.
His Highness concluded by extending his thanks and appreciation to the members of the Board of Trustees for their distinguished efforts and valuable contributions in supporting the university’s journey and enabling it to fulfill its educational and developmental mission over the past 24 years.
For his part, Professor Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al-Zakari, President of the Arab Open University, explained that the opening of the university in Morocco reflects the commitment to the developmental mission established by its founder—may Allah have mercy on him—which aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to enter the labor market through high-quality academic programs that meet labor market demands and contribute to sustainable development.
Prof. Al-Zakari added that the campus in Morocco will be open to (all), with tuition fees affordable to different segments of society. He expressed his hope that, God willing, the campus will become an educational hub serving learners across the African Sahel region, benefiting from Morocco’s strategic location and its strong civilizational and academic influence across the African continent.
He called upon students in Morocco to seize this opportunity and join the university, which was established for their benefit. Its locally and internationally accredited academic programs, developed in partnership with one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious open universities, are designed to provide students with the education they deserve. They will become part of a university community that currently includes more than 90,000 students, joining over 400,000 learners who have enrolled since the university began operations in 2002, and whose graduates have earned the recognition and appreciation of employers both within their home countries and abroad.
