The Zanzibar University (ZU) is a private university in Zanzibar, Tanzania.It opened in 1998 as the first university in Zanzibar, Zanzibar university is a private university sponsored by the Darul Iman Charitable Association, an Islamic religious organization in Ontario, Canada. It is situated at Tunguu area, in the Central District, some 12 miles (19 km) from Zanzibar Town. The University campus, with a total area of 170 acres (0.69 km2) of land, is located among quiet countryside surroundings overlooking the Indian Ocean. There is public transport to the University. The Darul Iman Charitable Association accepted the Zanzibar government request, and Zanzibar University was officially opened in April 1998. Prof. Shamseldin Z. Abdin (Sudanese national) was the first Vice Chancellor for the University. He began his tenure with the opening of the University and stayed on until the first class graduated in 2002. Zanzibar University received a Certificate of Provision Registration in 1999 and a Certificate of Full Registration on 4 May 2000. In cooperation with the Euro-African Management Research Centre (E-AMARC) based in Maastricht, The Netherlands, ZU has established a center for Small Business Development.
