Background Info

The Zanzibar University, the first University on the Isles, is a private institution sponsored by Darul Iman Charitable Association (DICA). The main campus is situated at Tunguu area, in the Central District, some 19 kilometers from Zanzibar Town. The University campus, with a total area of 69 hectares of land, is located among pleasant and quiet countryside surroundings overlooking vast expanses of deep blue waters of Indian Ocean. It is an ideal place for serious academic work and research. Public transport from Zanzibar Town will bring you to the University campus gates. Private cars are also common...

Accreditation & Ownership

The Zanzibar University was founded and is owned and governed by Darul-Iman Charitable Association. It was established on the basis of the following: The Constitution of Darul-Iman registered under the Society's Act No. 6, 1995 given at Zanzibar on 2nd August, 1996. A letter of Interim Authority issued by the then Higher Education Accreditation Council bearing Ref. No. HEAC/SU of 1st May, 1998. The Certificate of Provisional Registration No. 007 of 22nd December, 1999. The Certificate of Full Registration No. 003 of 4th May, 2000; The provisions of the Universities Act, 2005; and The Zanzibar University Charter, 2010 issued on 24th March, 2010 by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Dr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete.

Memoranda of Understanding

• Zanzibar University has established memoranda of understanding with several institutions to promote staff and student exchange programs, as well as academic collaboration. These partnerships include the Zanzibar Higher Education Loans Board, the International University of Africa (IUA) in Khartoum, Sudan, and the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) located in Mbale, Uganda.
• Other partner institutions are El-Neelain University in Khartoum, Sudan; Honora Telecommunications Company Ltd. (HONORA); the College of Health Sciences, Zanzibar (CHSZ); and Kwarara Media Center. Additionally, Zanzibar University maintains collaborative relationships with other universities and institutions such as the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), SKYCHUO, the University of Dodoma (UDOM), the Muslim University of Morogoro (MMH), and the Open University of Tanzania (OUT).

Establishment of Faculties

• The proliferation of business enterprises, hotels, beach resorts, and the gradual expansion of the tourism industry in the country convinced development partners to begin with the establishment of the Faculty of Business Administration in 1998, aiming to satisfy the immediate needs of the business community. Following its success, five more faculties were established in response to the growing market demand for other professions. In 1999, the Faculty of Law and Shariah was introduced, followed by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences in 2002. Within the next several years, more modern structures with larger classrooms were constructed to accommodate the increasing student population.
• Further expansion continued with the establishment of the Faculty of Engineering in 2012/2013, the Faculty of Health and Allied Sciences in 2013/2014, and the Faculty of Science in 2015/2016. Additionally, specialized institutes were developed to support lifelong learning and advanced research, including the Institute of Continuing Education and the Institute of Postgraduate Studies and Research, both established in 2008/2009.
• The growth culminated in the formation of the Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance in 2016/2017, reflecting the university’s commitment to meeting diverse academic and professional needs..