Al Rayyan International University College (ARIU) is the successor of the first private university in the State of Qatar, which opened its doors in September 2000. For more than 24 years, the university has specialized in providing business-related degrees with a focus on tourism, hospitality, and international business studies. From 2000 to 2021, the university operated under the name Stenden University Qatar as part of a collaboration between Al Rayyan International Education (ARIE) and NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands.

In 2021, ARIE discontinued its cooperation with NHL Stenden and entered into a new academic partnership with the University of Derby in the UK. Since September 2021, the university has offered UK-accredited undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in international hospitality management, international tourism management, and international business management. Currently, ARIU offers a portfolio of eight academic programs BSc in International Business Management, BA in international Hospitality Management, BA in International Tourism Management, MBA Global, MSc in TOURISM Management ,MBA Global in Hospitality Management , BA in Event Management AND BSc in Accounting & Finance .

ARIU is fully licensed and recognized by the higher education authorities in Qatar, and its programs are nationally and internationally accredited.
ARIU in partnership with the University of Derby is a higher education institution of excellence and a premier provider of university level education in Qatar, the GCC region, and internationally.The university campus is located in West Bay, Doha’s main business district.