Originally founded as the Adventist College of Beirut and located in Mouseitbeh, in 1946 the institution was relocated to its present location, east of Beirut in Sabtieh, Sad El-Bauchrieh. During the same year it was renamed Middle East College and the cornerstone of what is now North Hall was laid by Sheikh Bechara El Khoury, the then President of the Republic of Lebanon.
On June 28, 2001, Middle East College was formally and legally renamed Middle East University.