The initial idea of the university was founded in 2007 by a group of renowned Muslim scholars in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah who wanted to provide contemporary Muslims with modern yet suitable educational tools which would equip them of living in the challenging world today. Al-Madinah International University (MEDIU) was named after Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, the holy and blessed city where Prophet Muhammad SAW established the capital of the first Islamic state.

MEDIU has been officially recognized as a private university by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) Malaysia on 26 December 2006 and subsequently was registered on 20 June 2007 (KPT/JPS/DFT/US/B22). 

Since its establishment, the university has shown encouraging progress in various levels of studies by having 97 academic programs offered by six (6) academic faculties namely Faculty of Islamic Sciences, Faculty of Languages, Faculty of Finance and Administrative Sciences, Faculty of Computer and Information Technology, Faculty of Education and Faculty of Engineering.

All of the academic programs offered by the university have been accredited by Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA). MQA acts to implement the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF) which is a basis for quality assurance of higher education. Thus, it monitors and oversees the quality assurance practices and national accreditations of higher education at global standard.

MEDIU has more than 3000 alumni and some are able to secure jobs with the government agencies. Some local graduates of MEDIU also serve in various public service sectors in Malaysia such as JAWI, MAIWP and MAIK.