Universiti Tun Abdul Razak was established on 18th December 1997, as one of the first private universities in Malaysia. Named after Malaysia's second Prime Minister, the late YAB. Tun Abdul Razak, the university welcomed its first batch of 162 students in September 1998. On 21st December 1998, the university was officially launched by Tun Abdul Razak's eldest son, the then Minister of Education YB. Dato' Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak.