King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM or UPM) (Arabic: جامعة الملك فهد للبترول و المعادن Ǧāmaʿat al-Malik Fahd Lilbetrūl wa al-Maʿādin - short:(جامعة البترول Ǧāmaʿat al-Betrūl)) is a public university in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. It was established on 23 September 1963 by a Saudi royal decree as the College of Petroleum and Minerals providing high-level education about petroleum and minerals, two of the most-valuable natural resources in Saudi Arabia. It was elevated to university status in 1975. Among Saudi universities, it is highest regarded for excellence in its science and engineering programs. It offers some programs that are not offered elsewhere in Saudi Arabia. It is named after King Fahd. It was renamed to its current name in 1986. Located in Dhahran, the campus is between the headquarters of the Saudi Arabian oil company, Saudi Aramco and the Dhahran Air Base. It is near the Persian Gulf and is seven kilometres from Khobar city. The port city of Dammam is 20 kilometres away. The oil-producing town of Abqaiq is 70 kilometres west, and the oasis city of Al-Hasa is about 130 kilometres south of the campus.