The history of the Arab University Games is not very clear. There are some references to events being held in Iraq in the early 1970s and in Egypt in 1998. Other reports mention that the first games were held in Amman, Jordan in 2004.

Recent reporting mentions the second edition of Arab University Games, held in Aghadeer city in Morocco from April 16 to 23, 2018.

There has also been an Arab University Games for Beach Sports, held in Agadir Morocco in November 2016.