The University was established on 24 Moharam 1417 H - 12th June 1996 under the Republican decree number (91) ,1996. Ibb University is regarded as the fifth government university in the Republic of Yemen, and by the beginning of the academic year 1996/1997, it started to function independently after the Republican decree (167), 1996, which appointed Professor (Dr) Nasser Abdullah Al-Awlaqi as the President of the University .

However, it is worth mentioning that the Faculty of Education in Ibb city was inaugurated in 1988 / 89 affiliated to Sana'a University, and then the Faculty of Education in Al-Nadira. These two faculties were the core around which the IbbUniversity  was established. It currently consists of  institutions the following faculties:

* Faculty of Education - Ibb city.

* Faculty of Education - Al-Nadira.

* Faculty of Arts.

* Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences.

* Faculty of Sciences.

* Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine.

* Faculty of Engineering and Architecture ( opened in 1998 / 99 ) .

* Faculty of Dentistry ( the decree for opening this Facility is recently issued by the higher council of the universites 2000 / 2001 )

At present, Ibb University is a member of the Arab Universities Union and the Presidents union of International Universities, applying for the membership of Islamic Universities Union. It has established a very distinguished relationship with many Yemeni, Arab and International universities . It has also signed several agreements with some universities, namely University of Asyout  , University of Swiss Canal , the University of Jordanian , University of Bagdad . University of Al-Anbar , University of Babel , University of Science and Technology-Iraq, University of Al-Mustanserea , University Almousel , and University of Nottingham . The university is on the way to sign  agreements with some  more Arab and Asian universities, particularly with some Malaysian and Indian universities.

 Ibb University  is also a member of the Arab Council for the Exchange of Arab universities students . It participates in the meetings of the Council; and trains every year a group of  distinguished students ( as part of the exchange training program ) from some Arab universities which are members of the Council .  The university is ,moreover, a member of the preliminary committee for the National Council of the Exchange Programme for training students of Yemeni universities . This Council was established at the sixth Arab symposium for training Yemeni tertiary level students, which was held at the university of Aden in February 2000.