Overview

It is universally acknowledged that engineering is one of the most important and beneficial sciences for humanity. It is tightly related to our daily life in many ways; there is hardly any field that can do without engineering (with its various branches), directly or indirectly.

And of engineering sciences, civil engineering is deemed to be the oldest, most beneficial, and the science to which Man has always attached paramount importance. We'll not be going far from the truth if we dub civil engineering "the mother of engineering specialties".

It should come as no surprise, as such, that the civil engineer, in some countries, is called: the comprehensive engineer. Indeed, there are many grounds to justify this; for many, it is fair enough. One reason is that engineering students (especially undergraduates) receive intense knowledge in numerous engineering branches and sciences. As a result, civil engineering students usually have a greater degree of awareness of the various engineering specialties (or, at least, of the basics and fundamentals thereof). Even after finishing university study, and getting involved in developing their career (in the public or private sectors), civil engineers find themselves still required to keep abreast of a wide array of areas of knowledge to be able to best assume their responsibilities. No wonder, then, management of construction projects is most often assigned to civil engineers.

Hence, a very simplistic definition of civil engineering could be: the science of everything having to do with the city and civilization.

In other words, it is the science of all human civil work. A more detailed definition could be: a branch of engineering that focuses on the city, its dwellers, and all civil work going on in it (construction, road works, water and sanitation networks, etc.) Civil engineering, thus defined, is the science relevant to all phases of such kinds of work: starting form planning and studies, through to implementation (construction), and finally maintenance and operation.

And it has been observed that, in recognition of civil engineering, its experts and specialists, leading positions and roles are often undertaken by civil engineers, not only in KSA, but across the world. This could be viewed as a recognition of the unparalleled importance of civil engineering as one of the core engineering specialties. This testifies, also, the confidence entrusted in civil engineers, given their vast knowledge, and impressive skills..

Founded in 1407H, the Department of Civil Engineering was the third engineering department to be introduced in Umm al-Qura University (the first and second being the Department of Islamic Architecture and the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science respectively). Its inception came within the framework of the ambitious plans set by the kingdom to keep up with the upswing it is witnessing in construction. Another objective was to provide Makkah and the surrounding areas with highly qualified civil engineers, who are well aware of the local environment, and of the specific needs of this area. By doing so, the department allowed its graduates to effectively partake in the development of the whole area.

Mission:

To provide students with high-quality educational services that would enhance their capabilities and skills as civil engineers, and raising their potentials to the maximum, so that they could go on with post-graduate studies, and conducting research for the advantage of the Holy City of Makkah, with a view to satisfy its Hajj-associated engineering needs, as well as the needs of the Saudi society as a whole.

Objectives :

 To prepare a generation of civil engineers who are capable of competition at the domestic and international work markets;

 To boost students' ability to meet the work market needs and requirements, by bolstering their educational attainment, and developing innovative solutions to address study-related problems;

 To adopt the academic accreditation approach, according to the nationally and internationally quality criteria, and develop mechanisms to apply, evaluate and foster quality;

 To serve society, by way of participating in preserving and developing the local environment, as well as suggesting the architectural innovations that would help realize this goal;

 To hone the faculty members' skills, and prepare the direct and supportive educational services;

 To enhance and tighten the institutional bond between the Department of Civil Engineering and the community, in order for the department to serve as a hub of specialized expertise in this domain, at both the theoretical and practical levels;

 To develop empirical research, and further academic cooperation and partnerships, with a view to upgrading research to the internationally approved standards;

 To make students the focal point of the learning process, for whose sake all development plans are set.

Soil Engineering Lab: