REEF AL SHABNAN: “Being in a religious environment where religion is practiced it makes it more understandable and easier to practice the religion itself.”

She likes Catholic University because of its conservative values.

REEF AL SHABNAN: “Family values, I mean the nuclear family, pro-life the position of the school on those issues go along with my position as well.”

Christine Mica heads the university’s admissions office.

CHRISTINE MICA: “While they may not be Catholic, there is this sense of security and safety of practicing their faith on the campus here.”

Wiaam Al Salmi came to Catholic University from a university with no religious ties. She says faith is a way of life here.

WIAAM AL SALMI: “The environment here is also religious and the teachings that they teach here is similar to the teachings that I grew up with and so going to pray that’s nothing out of the ordinary for them. So they understand.”

In a five-year period, the number of Muslim students more than doubled - from forty-one to ninety-one. Most were from Saudi Arabia. Tanith Fowler Corsi is Catholic University’s Assistant Vice President for Global Education.

TANITH FOWLER CORSI: “We attribute that a lot to our connection with the Saudi Embassy here in Washington D.C., and there has been a conscious effort to develop a good relationship with the embassy.”

Kenny White, a Catholic, says he is good friends with a Muslim student. He says seeing his friend pray has strengthened his own beliefs.