University of New Haven Becomes First Institution to Receive Approval to Open an International Branch Campus in Saudi Arabia

The University of New Haven announced today that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers has approved its plans to establish a branch campus in Riyadh, which is set to open in Fall 2026.

The University of New Haven is the first university to be approved for establishing an international branch campus in Saudi Arabia.

“This is a historic day for the University of New Haven,” said President Jens Frederiksen. “The University has been an active supporter of higher education in Saudi Arabia for more than 20 years, both within the Kingdom and on our Connecticut campus, and we are excited to advance this work by establishing a campus in Riyadh that supports the Kingdom’s transformative Vision 2030 goals.”

Vision 2030 provides a blueprint for diversifying Saudi Arabia's economy, empowering citizens, increasing private sector participation in higher education, and creating a vibrant environment for both local and international investors.

“We have long been an institution comprised of students from across the world who drive economic growth and who contribute to thought leadership, innovation, and scientific discovery,” said President Frederiksen. “Our commitment to international education has generated significant global attention and awareness for our vision of delivering an unparalleled return on investment for our domestic and international students. This visibility has created opportunities worldwide to offer our dynamic programs that respond to the rapid pace of change being realized across all sectors of industry. We are excited to help create bright futures for generations of deserving Saudi students.”

The University’s campus in Riyadh will feature a College of Business and Digital Innovation; a College of Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing; and a College of Arts and Applied Sciences. Undergraduate and graduate degrees will be offered alongside executive education and micro-credentials to support lifelong learning. Students will have access to both the University's main campus in West Haven and its Tuscany campus, as well as the numerous educational and career-related resources available to all University of New Haven students.

“We have a rich history of cultivating learning communities with a local feel and a global reach for students from across the world,” said Mario T. Gaboury, J.D., Ph.D., the University’s vice president for government affairs and global engagement. “We are looking forward to creating educational opportunities for bright and hard-working Saudi students that prepare them to excel as leaders in the elite global workforce of the future.”

In April, the University and Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Education, its Ministry of Investment, and the Royal Commission for Riyadh signed an MOU at the second annual Human Capability Initiative creating a path for the University to open a branch campus in Riyadh. The University and the Kingdom are committed to creating connections with business and industry to support academic programs, internships, and recruitment pathways for students; identifying sponsors for student scholarships; and establishing educational and training partnerships that achieve the Kingdom's workforce development goals.