AL-AZHAR COLLEGE

What AL-AZHAR COLLEGE does

Al-Azhar College is a London-based registered charity and educational institution serving as the officially accredited branch of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in the United Kingdom. Established in 2006 by the Agreement between Sheikh Al-Azhar Dr Muhammad Tantawy and founder Sheikh Dr Mohamed Elsharkawy, and officially opened in 2007 by Deputy Sheikh Al-Azhar Omar El-Deeb, the College awards Bachelor's degrees, Diplomas, and Certificates in Islamic sciences — including Islamic Studies, Islamic Jurisprudence, Abrahamic Religions, Arabic Language, Quranic Studies, and Chaplaincy — all following the curriculum of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in Cairo, founded in 970 CE and recognised as the oldest university in the world. Its core research asset is the Al-Azhar Institute for Dialogue with the Monotheistic Religions, positioned as the world's first Islamic academic centre for scholarly research on Judaism and Christianity, and the institution co-publishes Tafsir, a journal of Quranic exegesis, with The Quran Society.

The College operates with approximately 13 employees — a Dean and Professor of Quranic Exegesis, four Presidents, lecturers in Islamic Jurisprudence, Arabic Language, and Abrahamic Religions, an academic registrar, librarian, development director, and bursar — drawn from Azharite scholars who also constitute the institution's Governing Body. Technology and content assets centre on an expanding library of Arabic and Islamic scholarship, electronic dissemination of classical Islamic materials (including English translation projects), and a content footprint of scholarly publications; there are no AI, API, or software-product capabilities in the portfolio. Operations are delivered from a single registered office (PO Box 67481, London NW3 9RN) and the institution is incorporated as a Company Limited by Guarantee (Company No. 07258592) and registered with the Charity Commission (Charity No. 1136927).

Revenue derives from tuition across degree, diploma and certificate programmes (recurring enrolment-based, with the public fee schedule not disclosed in source data) and from charitable donations collected via the College's charity status. Admission is by application and interview, with degree and diploma candidates required to demonstrate fluency in Arabic. GTM is sales-led: prospective students enter via the website, supported by The Quran Society's short-course public-education programme (Introduction to Islam, Introduction to the Quran, Tajwid) as a top-of-funnel community channel, and by participation in interfaith events such as Imams and Rabbis at Parliament, the Catholic Islamic Conference, and Oxford Scriptural Reading. The customer base is concentrated in a single primary segment — students seeking accredited Islamic higher education in the UK and internationally — and there is no enterprise or B2B customer base.

Name

AL-AZHAR COLLEGE

Legal name

Al-Azhar College

Website

https://al-azhar.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Al-Azhar College is the officially accredited UK branch of Cairo-based Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, awarding accredited Bachelor's degrees, Diplomas, and Certificates in Islamic sciences — including Islamic Jurisprudence, Abrahamic Religions, Arabic Language, and Chaplaincy — to students in the United Kingdom and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education — Islamic Studies

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Islamic Colleges & Sharia/Fiqh Institutes (EDAHAKAI)

Keywords

• Islamic higher education
• Religious studies programs
• Arabic language courses
• Quranic studies
• Chaplaincy training

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Educational Programmes: The College generates revenue through degree, diploma, and certificate programmes in Islamic studies. All programmes are accredited by Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and follow its curriculum.
2. Charitable Donations: As a Registered Charity (Charity Registration Number: 1136927), Al-Azhar College accepts donations to support the advancement of Islamic education and building of understanding.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Al-Azhar College is the officially accredited UK branch of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, providing higher and continuing Islamic education. It offers Bachelor's, Diploma, and Certificate programmes in Islamic studies, Arabic language, Quranic sciences, and Abrahamic religions, alongside academic publications such as the Tafsir Journal and short courses through The Quran Society.

Product overview

Al-Azhar College is an educational institution offering a structured portfolio of accredited degree, diploma, and certificate programmes in Islamic sciences. The core offerings include a Bachelors Degree in Islamic Studies, three Diploma programmes (Islamic Studies, Islamic Jurisprudence, and Abrahamic Religions), and multiple Certificate programmes (Arabic Language, Quranic Studies, Abrahamic Religions, and Chaplaincy). The Quran Society provides short course public education programmes. The College also publishes Tafsir, the journal of Quranic exegesis. All academic programmes are accredited by, and follow the curriculum of, Al-Azhar Al-Sharif.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor's Degree in Islamic Studies Accredited undergraduate degree programme in Islamic Studies offered under the academic authority of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, designed for individual students seeking a UK-based pathway to Al-Azhar-recognised higher-education credentials.
• Diploma in Islamic Studies Post-secondary diploma programme in Islamic Studies offered to individual learners seeking Al-Azhar-recognised credentialing below degree level.
• Diploma in Islamic Jurisprudence Specialist diploma programme in Islamic Jurisprudence, providing individual students with Al-Azhar-recognised credentials in fiqh.
• Diploma in Abrahamic Religions Diploma programme in Abrahamic Religions offering comparative study across Islamic, Jewish, and Christian traditions for individual learners.
• Certificate in Arabic Language Certificate programme providing structured Arabic-language instruction for individual learners, supporting access to primary Islamic scholarly sources.
• Certificate in Quranic Studies Certificate programme in Quranic Studies offering individual students structured engagement with Quranic sciences and interpretation.
• Certificate in Abrahamic Religions Certificate programme introducing comparative study of Abrahamic traditions for individual learners.
• Certificate in Chaplaincy Certificate programme in Chaplaincy preparing individual learners for chaplaincy roles in UK institutions under Al-Azhar-affiliated credentials.
• Tafsir Journal Academic publication (journal) on Quranic interpretation, distributed to readers and the scholarly community as part of the college's publishing activity.
• The Quran Society Short Courses Short, non-degree courses on Quran and related topics delivered through The Quran Society for community learners who do not seek full academic enrolment.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Al-Azhar University (Cairo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAl-Azhar University in Cairo is the parent institution and oldest university in the world (founded 970 CE). Al-Azhar College is the officially accredited branch in the United Kingdom, awarding degrees and diplomas that follow the curriculum of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif.
• Al-Azhar TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAl-Azhar College was established and accredited by the Agreement of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif with Al-Azhar Trust (previously Ar-Rahman Academy) dated 9 August 2006. The Trust facilitated the establishment of the College as an official branch of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in Britain.
• Catholic Islamic ConferenceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDialogue Society recognised by Al-Azhar Al-Sharif. The Catholic Islamic Conference advances interfaith dialogue between Catholic and Islamic traditions.
• Children of AbrahamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDialogue Society recognised by Al-Azhar Al-Sharif. Focussed on building understanding among the Abrahamic faiths.
• Al-Azhar Institute for Interfaith DialoguecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Al-Azhar College as the world's first Islamic academic centre for research and scholarly study of Judaism and Christianity, and interfaith relations. Advances the work of the Al-Azhar Permanent Committee for Dialogue with the Monotheistic Religions.
• The Quran SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Quran Society collaborates with Al-Azhar College to publish Tafsir, the journal of Quranic exegesis, in both online and print format. It also provides short course programmes for continuing public education.
• Al-Azhar SchoolminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRelated institution under the Al-Azhar educational network, providing Islamic education services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• International Open University (IOU): Online Islamic higher education provider offering accredited degrees in Islamic studies globally, competing for the same international student base through a distance-learning model.

Direct peers

• Ebrahim College: London-based Islamic higher education institution offering degrees, diplomas, and certificate programmes in Islamic studies, Arabic, and theology. Directly comparable as a UK-based Islamic college competing for the same student segment.
• The Muslim College: London-based institution offering Islamic higher education and professional development, comparable in mission, geography, and target audience to Al-Azhar College.
• Cambridge Muslim College: UK-based Islamic higher education provider offering degrees and training programmes in Islamic studies and chaplaincy, with a similar focus on producing qualified Islamic scholars for Western contexts.
• Al-Salam Institute: UK-based educational institute offering Islamic studies programmes including Arabic, Quranic studies, and traditional Islamic sciences, serving a similar student demographic in Britain.
• Markfield Institute of Higher Education: UK-based Islamic higher education institution validated by the University of Bolton, offering degrees in Islamic studies, theology, and education, serving a comparable UK Muslim student audience.

Regional players

• Zaytuna College: US-based liberal arts Islamic college offering accredited undergraduate programmes in Islamic studies. Comparable in mission and academic positioning but operating in a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• Al-Azhar University (Cairo): The parent institution in Cairo, founded in 970 CE, and the world's oldest university. Directly comparable as the source of accreditation and curriculum, with a much broader scope of programmes and global student base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/al-azhar-college

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AL-AZHAR COLLEGE