In the five years since King Abdullah ascended the throne, the Kingdom has witnessed tremendous developmental achievements in all sectors, but nowhere more so than in the areas of education and scientific research. Within the framework of the support provided by the Government to create a knowledge-based society, 26 percent of the state's budget is allocated for education. The Cabinet approved the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Project for the Development of Public Education at a cost of SR 9 billion in 1428H for the development of curriculum, advanced education for teachers and the improvement of the educational environment. The project was developed in response to the requirements of the “Education Document” presented by King Abdullah to the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. As many as 24 government universities and nine private universities have been established during King Abdullah's reign. They serve one million male and female students and include a teaching staff of 33,000 academicians for the academic year 1430H/1431H. In addition there are 34,000 schools for boys and girls with more than five million students and 470,000 male and female teachers. The King has laid foundation stones of new universities including the Universities of Jizan, Najran, Baha, Hail, Northern Border, Tabuk and Al-Jouf at a cost of SR 5 billion in the first phase of these projects. The King approved in 1430H the establishment of four universities in Al-Dammam, Al-Kharj, Shaqra and Al-Majma'ah. The state's general budget for the fiscal year 1431H/1432H allocated more than SR 3 billion for these universities. King Abdullah patronized the ceremony for laying the foundation stone for the Princess Nora Bint Abdulrahman University for Girls in 1429H. The King inaugurated and laid the foundation stone in 1430H for a number of construction projects for King Saud University at a cost of SR 14.39 billion. The King opened the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Thule in September 2009. KAUST was built at a cost of SR 10 billion as a higher education institution for distinguished scientists and researchers as well as talented students.
