The decision to establish the college of medicine and medical sciences was taken on 30 March 1980 by the General Council of Ministers of Education in the GCC Countries. The first batch of students were received when 37 students was admitted to the Pre-Medical Programme of the College in October 1982. The first class graduated during the academic year of 1989/90. The university admits up to 150 students annually from across the GCC. In 2009, there were approximately 797 students studying at the university. Since 1982, female students outnumbered male students with the ratio currently being 41:12.