King Saud University, Research university in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

King Saud University occupies a large campus in Riyadh, with separate colleges for the arts, sciences, engineering, medicine and agriculture, plus the King Salman Central Library. Its main gate takes the form of two open books joined by an arch, clad in pale stone tiles, with a maroon emblem and the dates ١٣٧٧–١٤٢٧ on one page. The King Salman Center facade has a stone canopy on two pillars with pointed arches and dark glass panels behind.

King Saud University was founded in 1957 by Royal Decree No. 17, issued on 21 Rabi' al-Thani 1377 AH, and opened with the College of Arts the following academic year. It was renamed Riyadh University in 1964, then restored to its original name in 1982 under King Khalid. The 1961 statute made it an independent legal entity with its own budget.

The grounds hold the Palm Mosque, whose architecture reflects Islamic design elements and gained recognition in an architecture competition. The campus organizes separate areas for male and female students according to local custom, with both groups accessing academic facilities equally.

Visitors can explore the publicly accessible areas of the grounds, including the library and select outdoor spaces, with some faculties and research centers possibly requiring advance permission. The campus is large, so plan time to walk between buildings and consider visiting in early morning or late afternoon during hot weather.

The institution produces nearly a quarter of Saudi Arabia's academic research output and operates the country's first Medical City with globally ranked departments for oncology and cardiology. These specializations attract researchers and professionals from different regions who work on advanced medical projects.