International schools in Saudi Arabia
How licensing works, typical fees and admission in Riyadh, Jeddah and the Eastern Province.
In short
International schools in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam offer British, American, IB and other curricula. Many are in or near compounds. Fees range widely; ask your employer for a schooling allowance.
- Regulator
- Ministry of Education
- Fees
- SAR 20,000–120,000 per year
- Popular schools
- Near DQ, Al Olaya, Obhur
- School year
- August to June
Step by step
Tick each step as you finish it. Open a step to see what to do.
Bus routes often follow compounds.
Before moving
Documents checklist
Do’s and don’ts
Do
- Negotiate an education allowance per child
Don’t
- Don’t leave equivalency to the last minute
Cost estimator
Untick what doesn't apply to you. These are rough figures and fees change often, so check with the authority.
Watch out
- Dependent fees are charged per child monthly on top of tuition.
Common questions
Are schools mixed?
Many international schools are co-educational; some separate genders in higher grades.
Official links
Background and more detail
Licensing
International schools are licensed by the Ministry of Education. Curricula include British, American, IB, Indian and Pakistani.
Fees
Annual fees range from about SAR 15,000 at community schools to over SAR 100,000 at premium international schools. Check whether your employer provides an education allowance.
Admissions
- Apply early; good schools have waiting lists
- You need the child's iqama or proof it is in process
- Previous school reports and an attested transfer certificate
Location
Choose your home near the school if possible. Riyadh traffic makes long school runs tiring.
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School Placement
Curriculum advice, shortlisting and application support for your children.
- From
- USD 600
- Takes
- 2–6 weeks
Per child
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