The founder of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, King Abdul Aziz was well aware that there were two essential requirements if the Kingdom were to develop as he wished. A first-class infrastructure would be needed to facilitate the movement of people and goods. Even more important, the people must be educated. In 1949, he established a Shariah College in the Holy City of Makkah. This was followed by a teacher training college, also in Makkah, with an extension in Taif.

The task of establishing a national educational system fell to Prince Fahd.