Deanship Profile

Deanship at a Glance

About the Deanship

Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU) is distinguished as one of the largest academic institutions in the fields of Islamic and human sciences in general, and Sharia sciences in particular.

In recognition of the importance of scientific research in this regard, the university, in its fifth session on 15 Shawwal 1397 AH, took the initiative to establish a Research Center to oversee scientific research at the university.

In line with its commitment to promoting scientific research and expanding its scope to keep pace with continuous developments, the Research Center was transformed into the current Deanship of Scientific Research by virtue of Supreme Council Decision No. 3 of 1405 AH. Thus, IMSIU was a pioneer as the first Saudi university to establish a deanship dedicated to scientific research. Subsequently, the Unified Regulations for Scientific Research in Saudi Universities, issued by the Higher Education Council in its tenth session under Resolution No. 2/10/1419 AH, and approved by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, President of the Council, by Royal Directive No. 7/B/4403 dated 2/4/1419 AH, mandated in Article Four the establishment of a Deanship of Scientific Research at every university under the Vice Rectorate for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research.

This underscores the university’s early and pioneering commitment to scientific research, as evidenced by its establishment of the Deanship of Scientific Research even before the issuance of the Unified Regulations and the general directive to establish such deanships in all universities.

Former Deans

1. Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al-Rubai

2. Prof. Fahd Al-Sumairi

3. Prof. Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Al-Rubaie

4. Prof. Turki bin Sahoo Al-Otaibi

5. Prof. Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al-Askari

6. Dr. Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz Al-Muqbil

7. Prof. Mohammad bin Mohsen Babteen

Word of Dean

Message from the Dean of Scientific Research

The generous support that scientific research has received from His Excellency the University President and the care of the Vice Rector for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research has — by the grace of God — had a remarkable impact on achieving a number of research accomplishments and new milestones. These achievements have positively reflected, thanks to Allah, on the university’s research output and its position in global rankings. They include an increase in the rate of classified scientific publications, a rise in citations of research papers published under the university’s name, expanded research output in globally indexed databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, and Nature, an increase in the publication rate per faculty member, growth in the number of international researchers collaborating with university researchers from G20 and EU countries, a doubling in the number of research teams formed, an increase in research funding grants, publication in emerging research fields of global interest, and an improvement in the university’s global research ranking.

All of this has coincided with greater investment in the infrastructure for scientific research through the adoption of several development projects with dedicated budgets, aimed at improving the efficiency of research and student laboratories, expanding the range of research services provided to researchers, developing the university’s scientific journals and preparing them for broader reach and better classification, digitizing all services offered by the Deanship of Scientific Research, and implementing a promising organizational restructuring that includes establishing research centers serving all scientific fields. A supportive and stimulating environment for researchers, both male and female, and graduate students has also been fostered, alongside a doubling of the number of training courses offered to them in the field of scientific research.

The university’s research development efforts remain ambitious, aiming for further support to invigorate scientific research, drawing on the latest and best global institutional and university experiences, in pursuit of contributing more effectively to the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and serving humanity.

Dean of Scientific Research

Dr. Salem bin Ali Al-Yami

Vision