The King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Institute for Islamic and Arabic Studies in Banda Aceh, Republic of Indonesia — affiliated with Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU) — has entered a new stage of growth and development following the signing of a contractor agreement to construct a new building. The project is generously funded by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) with an amount of 46,001,604 SAR, reflecting the depth of the Saudi-Indonesian partnership in education, development, and human capacity building.
The new institute building is a landmark project built on a land area of 10,560 square meters, compared to the current building's area of around 1,200 square meters. It has been designed according to modern engineering standards that meet the needs of the educational process and ensure a high-quality academic environment, accommodating more than 1,500 male and female students, while the current building holds fewer than 500.
The new facility includes state-of-the-art classrooms equipped with modern learning technologies, advanced language laboratories, administrative offices, multipurpose halls, a scientific library, a prayer area, service facilities, and student activity spaces, creating a supportive and inspiring educational environment. By comparison, the existing building contains only nine classrooms, six administrative offices, and a single language lab.
The project aims to strengthen the institute's mission of national development across Indonesia, particularly in Aceh Province, by promoting cultural and scientific cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, spreading the Arabic language associated with the Qur'an, the Sunnah, and the Islamic civilization rooted in moderation and tolerance, and rejecting extremism. It also seeks to expand educational opportunities in Aceh by providing a larger, more advanced learning environment, preparing qualified human resources, and creating new job opportunities for the local community in education, administration, and services.
Since its establishment through the 2025 academic year, the institute has graduated more than 1,620 students, who have contributed to spreading the Arabic language and promoting Islamic education based on moderation and balance throughout Aceh and other regions of Indonesia. Currently, the institute has 504 students across four academic levels and 31 staff members, including faculty, administrators, and service personnel.
H.E. Prof. Ahmed S. Alaameri, President of Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, expressed his deep gratitude and appreciation to KSRelief for its generous funding and support. He emphasised that this project embodies the centre's commitment to advancing education as a cornerstone of serving humanity and realising Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to uphold values of moderation, tolerance, and coexistence.
His Excellency added that completing the new institute represents a strategic step toward enabling students in the region to elevate their academic level and enhance cultural and civilizational exchange between peoples. He affirmed that the university rmains committed to supporting every effort that will make the institute a beacon of knowledge and enlightenment in Southeast Asia.
Meanwhile, Dr. Waleed A. Al-Othman, Dean of the Institute of Islamic and Arabic Sciences in Indonesia, stated that the project marks a turning point in the institute's journey by expanding its capacity and providing a fully integrated educational environment that supports Arabic and Islamic studies while reinforcing moderation and balance. He praised KSRelief's support and the cooperation of local partners for ensuring the project's success.
Similarly, Mr. Saeed K. Al-Ghamdi, Director of the Banda Aceh Institute, explained that the project continues the Kingdom's longstanding efforts to spread knowledge and education, contributing to local development and community service, while highlighting the university's direct supervision to ensure the highest academic standards in execution.
The Banda Aceh Institute development project stands as a living model of international cooperation in education, knowledge, and sustainable development — a continuation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's leading role in promoting education and spreading peace and coexistence worldwide. It also reflects the joint commitment of the Uuniversity and KSRelief to supporting international educational partnerships, in line with Saudi Vision 2030 and its focus on developing human capabilities and using education as a bridge for cultural exchange and building a global knowledge society.