The new research centers will be established at the colleges of sciences, medicine and engineering at Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh and the college of dentistry at Taiba University in Madinah.

King Abdullah also approved the establishment of an institute of studies and consultancy services at Taiba University, and a training and legal consultancy center and a criminal studies center at the colleges of law and political science at King Saud University.

Two deanships for IT and e-education, and development and quality will be established at Shaqra University, two deanships for preparatory year, and e-education and distance education at Majmaa University. The IT unit at Tabuk University would be transformed into a deanship, Al-Anqari said.

Falih Al-Suleiman has been appointed vice president of  King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran for technological development and industry relations while Muhammad Al-Aseeri vice president of Najran University, Talal Al-Sharief, vice president of Princess Noura bint Abdul Rahman University, Abdul Rahman Al-Khodairy, vice president of Alkharj University and Ibrahim Hekami vice president of Taif University.