The university journals office revealed that it received, in the last two years, about 500 requests from Saudi, Arab, and international universities to publish their research in the UQU scientific journals specialized in applied sciences, Shari`ah and Islamic studies, linguistic sciences and literature, psychology and education, engineering and Islamic architecture, medical sciences, and social sciences.

This information was announced during the meeting held by His Excellency the UQU President and the General Supervisor of the scientific journals, Prof. Abdullah bin Omar Bafail, and the Vice President for Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research and the Deputy General Supervisor of the scientific journals, Dr. Thamir Al-Harbi, yesterday, Sunday, 24 Rajab, 1440 A.H., at Dr. Abdullah's office. The meeting was attended by the Director of the Journals Office, Mr. Abdullah Bakhdar, his deputy, the office staff, and the editors-in-chief of the seven scientific journals.

During the meeting, His Excellency the UQU President discussed the strategic policies adopted by the university scientific journals and the mechanism followed to develop them. He also confirmed that the university aspires to achieve leadership in the publication of outstanding scientific research, both in the Saudi Kingdom and internationally, thereby enriching science and knowledge in all useful specializations to serve the society and the Hajj and Umrah sector. The university also aims to develop the knowledge-based economy in line with the Saudi Vision 2030, and within the framework of international quality standards.

Dr. Bafail stressed the importance of research and the improvement of its outcomes, and of the promotion of the level of the university journals by increasing their outstanding and creative research production to enable Umm Al-Qura University to become one of the world-class universities. Dr. Bafail also gave directives to encourage the academic staff to publish their scientific production, and to support and foster the outstanding members among them in order to develop a new generation of researchers who give attention to scientific publication.

Dr. Thamir Al-Harbi praised the support and directives given by His Excellency the UQU President to the scientific research programs, as the scientific journals fall within his main interests and objectives. He also clarified that these journals are qualified to obtain the Arab Impact Factor Certificate issued by the Arab Classification Factor, which is a subsidiary of the Association of Arab Universities.

The university journals office seeks to meet the international publication standards and specifications in order to keep abreast of the global classifications, and to be included in the major journals and international research database (ISI).

The ISI Web of Knowledge, owned by the Thomson Corporation, provides a database containing the research published in the international journals of science and humanities along with their impact factors. It also provides statistical information on the journals and their impact factors, thereby helping the researchers know the optimum journals in each specialization.