The organization was founded in Madrid, Spain on 1 June 1959, and is dedicated to promoting the modern carom billiards games.

The UMB provides a permanent and stable liaison with its affiliated regional confederations, and constitutes the largest governing body in carom billiards.

The UMB is a co-founding member, and the sole representative of carom billiards, in the World Confederation of Billiards Sports (WCBS), the international umbrella organization encompassing the major cue sports (billiards-type games), including carom billiards, pool games of several varieties, and snooker.

Four large confederations are recognized by UMB, namely:[1][2] The national federations subsumed within these broad, regional confederations, along with independent federations in the US, is recognized UMB affiliates.

(Note: Some US-based organizations are CPB affiliates, such as the United States Snooker Association.)