The College of Engineering at KFU was established in 2009 utilizing a scientific educational model and strategic plan to achieve excellence. Transportation, which has been selected as one of the College priorities, encompasses three themes: Rails, Asphalt Pavement, Tunnels and Bridges. Hence, the College has adopted several initiatives including the establishment of scientific chairs for these themes. In 2014, Saudi Aramco collaborated with KFU to sponsor the Saudi Aramco Chair on Asphalt Pavement (SACAP). The objectives of establishing the chair are as follow:

• Enhance KFU’s role in the field of Civil Engineering

• Promote studies and develop research in the area of roads and in particular Asphalt Pavement

• Assist KFU in the transfer, development, and localization of related technology

• Assist KFU in its goal to be the Kingdom’s Research Center for Sustainable Transportation

• Assist KFU in developing its Civil Engineering related academic curricula and postgraduate studies for the benefit of both parties.

Two internationally prominent scholars in the area of asphalt pavement have been selected to assist in providing leadership in this field: Dr. Dallas Little from Texas A&M University as the chair professor and Dr. Imad Al-Qadi from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as the chair advisor.