#InsideIT

The KAUST Information Technology Department blog

Build a website without needing tech skills

07 August, 2025

Have you ever wanted to create a professional website for your department, conference, or project at KAUST, but weren’t sure where to start? You’re in luck. With the KAUST Sitefinity Website Platform, anyone can request and manage their own website. No coding required.

Whether you're organizing an event, leading a research group, or launching a new initiative, Sitefinity makes it easy.


What Is Sitefinity?

Sitefinity is KAUST’s official website platform. It lets you create websites that look great, follow the university’s style, and are easy to update. You don’t need to be a designer or developer. If you can write an email or update a PowerPoint, you can manage a Sitefinity site.

People use it for:

  • Department or division websites
  • Conference or event sites
  • Research group pages
  • Service or program information
  • Community or outreach initiatives

Explore Templates and See What’s Possible

If you’re not sure how your site should look, explore demo layouts and examples:

These show ready-made homepage layouts and flexible building blocks you can use to create a polished site.


Add What You Need

Once your site is created, it’s easy to add and update content using drag-and-drop building blocks.

You can include:

  • Text and images
  • News or announcements
  • Event details
  • Buttons and links
  • Photo galleries
  • Contact information

You’ll be able to preview changes before publishing, no coding required.


Who Can Manage the Website?

Once your site is ready, your team decides who should update the content. You don’t need to rely on IT for day-to-day changes.

Typical roles include:

  • Editors: Add and update pages
  • Approvers: Review and publish content
  • Admins: Manage layout and permissions

You can assign one or more people depending on your needs.


What to Know Before Requesting a Site

Here’s a quick checklist to help you prepare:

  • Know what the site is for
  • Choose a main contact person
  • Identify who will update the content
  • Decide on a name or title for the site
  • Have a general idea of the pages or features you need

You don’t need to have all the answers, this is just a helpful starting point.


How to Request Your KAUST Website

When you’re ready, requesting your site is simple. Just fill out the form at the link below, and the IT team will take it from there.

Request a Sitefinity Website


Why Use Sitefinity?

BenefitWhat It Means for You
Easy to useNo coding or design skills needed
On-brandYour site will match KAUST’s official look
Made for KAUSTDesigned with departments and events in mind
FlexibleWorks for many types of websites
SupportedIT will help get you started
Self-managedYou stay in control of your content

Ready to Get Started?

If you’ve been thinking, “We should have a website for this,” now is a great time to begin. Sitefinity makes it easy to share your work with the KAUST community and beyond.

Read the full Getting Started Guide

Have questions or want to see examples? Explore the demos, review the guide, and submit your request. Your next website is just a few steps away.