Originally, this institution included Colleges of Shari'ah and Education and an institute to teach Arabic language to non-Arabs, all of which functioned as branches of the King Abdul Aziz University. Later Colleges of Agricultural Sciences, Arabic Language, Applied Sciences and Engineering, Da'wa and Usul El-Din, Education (in Taif) and Social Sciences were opened.
A number of scientific centers are affiliated to the colleges of this University (for example, the Educational and Psychological Research Center, the Hajj Research Center, the International Center for Islamic Education, the Scientific and Engineering Research Center and the Scientific Research and Islamic Heritage Rejuvenation Center). In addition, the Umm Al-Qura University co-operates with a number of foreign universities and other academic institutions through scientific exchange and scholarships.
