You will find below a list of the most popular international and bilingual schools for expats in Saudi Arabia with fee information. The list includes nursery schools, primary and secondary (high) schools for you to find the right school to prepare for the International Baccalaureate and other accreditation in Saudi Arabia. Some schools may follow the American or British curriculums with English speaking programs while others are regulated under the French, German, Italian or India language and system, among others.

Education in Saudi Arabia

Public education - from primary education through college - is open to every Saudi citizen. The second largest governmental spending in Saudi Arabia goes for education. The government spends 8.8% of its gross domestic product on education, compared with the global average of 4.6%, which is nearly double the global average on education (2019 data).

Islamic studies are part of the education system alongside scientific and social studies that vary from educational institution to another.

Public, private, and international nurseries (for children between 0 and 3) and kindergarten or pre-school (for those between 3 and 5) are plentiful. However, these are not compulsory throughout the Kingdom.

Primary school

In Saudi Arabia, primary school is for students between 6 and 12 years old and is overseen by the national Ministry of Education. In fact, all students in the Kingdom must legally attend all six years of primary school. However, none of the higher levels of education are compulsory.

Secondary school

Depending on the institution, secondary school may have a different meaning in Saudi Arabia. After primary school, the Saudi system splits into intermediate (ages 13 – 16) and secondary (ages 17 – 19) stages. Meanwhile, some international schools call secondary school high school and offer it for those aged between 14 and 17. Neither secondary nor intermediate school is compulsory in the Kingdom – although it is highly advisable.

International Schools

International schools can be the perfect solution for an expat student (multinational corporation executives, children of diplomats, NGO staff) in Saudi Arabia. Many schools provide similar standards of schooling around the globe, providing for an easy transition between schools whether they are in France or Vietnam.

There may be some local population, but the schools are usually geared for an international student body. Schools may follow a curriculum model from the US, UK, France, etc. Primary instruction may be any language (and multiple languages are usually taught), but it is usually in English, French, Spanish, German, or Japanese. Schools also provide internationally accepted accreditation such as the international baccalaureate.

Admission and enrolment procedures vary from school to school. Space is often limited and preference may be given to students based on nationality. Tuition tends to be expensive based on local standards, but offers high standards of learning, boast smaller class sizes, first-rate facilities, and extracurricular. Boarding facilities are available at some schools, but most only provide day classes.

Accreditation & Membership

• The CoIS (Council of International Schools) is a non-profit association of international schools and post-secondary institutions which provides educational accreditation, teacher and leadership recruitment services, links to higher education, governance assistance and help with founding new schools.
• European Council of International Schools (ECIS) is a collaborative network promoting the ideals and best practice of international education, complemented by grants and awards.
• Council of British International Schools (COBIS) is a responsive organisation that serves, supports and represents its member schools.
• New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC) is a regional accrediting association which establishes standards for all levels of education, from pre-K to doctoral.
• Agency for French Education Abroad (Agence pour l'enseignement français à l'étranger, AEFE) is a national public agency under the administration of the French government that assures the quality of schools teaching the French national curriculum outside France.
• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) represents over 1100 independent schools and associations in the United States and abroad.

International schools in Riyadh

Abdulaziz International Schools - Al Sulaimaniah
Address: Prince Turki Bin Abdullah Al Saud Street
PO Box 68629, 11537 Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 11 473 8555
Email: info@aissulaimaniah.sabis.net
Tuition Rates: From 30,000 Saudi Riyal (SR) ($8,000) to 40,500 Saudi Riyal (SR) ($10,800) [school year 2021-22]

IS-Al-Sulaimaniah is a highly academic, non-selective, co-educational, English-medium, independent day school catering for the complete individual. The curriculum implemented at AIS-Al-Sulaimaniah is specifically designed by SABIS® to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to develop a solid academic foundation. SABIS® is a global education network that has an active presence in 20 countries on five continents. The network educates over 70,000 students.

Al Alia International Indian International School
Address: P.O. Box 26539, Riyadh - 11496
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 412 8884, 412 8885
Email: alaliaschool@yahoo.com
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

Al Alia International Indian International School welcomes students from Grade 1 to Grade 12. The school is affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi and is recognized by the Ministry of Education, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The students are prepared for the All India Secondary School Examination (AISSE), All India Senior School Certificate Examination(AISSCE). The medium of instruction in the school is English, with Hindi as compulsory second language.

Al Faris International School
Address: Abi Saad Ibn Muhammad, At Taawun Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 12476
Tel: +966 56 577 0642
Email: info@alfarisschools.com
Tuition Rates: From 35,000 Saudi Riyal (SR) ($9,330) to 42,500 Saudi Riyal (SR) ($11,330) [school year 2020-21]

Al Faris International School is a certified IB World School in the PYP, MYP and DP programs. Its program is also accredited by AdvancEd. They offer a holistic, inquiry-based, global education for PreK-12, as well as both SAT and IB diploma tracks for students Grades 11-12.

Al Hussan International Schools
Address: 3885 جبل علي، حي الندى، Riyadh 13317 7641, Saudi Arabia (headquarters)
The schools are located in Khobar, Riyadh and Jubail.
Tel: +966 13 834 0500
Email: media@alhussan.edu.sa
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

Al Hussan International Schools offers education from Kindergarden to High School Program. From Kindergarten to Grade 8, the school follows the Al-Hussan Curriculum that has been developed in-house and is vertically and horizontally aligned.  English, Math and Science are based on the standards of both Cambridge (British) and Common Core (American) while the curriculum for every other subject has been developed completely by Al Hussan. The High School Program is a four-year program from Grades 9 – 12. These are college-preparatory programs that offer students three tracks: The British/Cambridge Program (IGCSE and A level), The International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB DP) Program, and The American High School Program. During the high school years, many students take the TOEFL or IELTS tests and American College Board Examinations such as SAT1 and SAT2.

Al Rissalah International School
Address: Al taleem, Riyadh 12242, Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 55 929 9773
Tuition Rates: From 10,500 Saudi Riyal (SR) ($2,800) to 19,000 Saudi Riyal (SR) ($5,070) [school year 2021-22]

The school offers education for both boys and girls for all levels: KG, Primary, Intermediate and Secondary.RIS provides American curricula (McGraw-Hill and Pearson) with a distinctive international education content that meets the modern education requirements. The curriculum combines distance and traditional education that gives students the opportunity to follow up and study online. The school pays great attention to Arabic and Islamic education subjects so that the graduate will be able to fully master both English and Arabic, which is mostly the student’s mother tongue language, in addition to French as a third language.

American International School – Riyadh
Address: P.O. Box 990 Riyadh 11421, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 11 459 7500
Email: admissions@aisr.org
Tuition Rates: From 43,167 Saudi Riyal (SR) ($11,510) to 108,346 Saudi Riyal (SR) ($28,890) [school year 2021-22]

The American International School - Riyadh (AIS-R) (previously known as American Preparatory School of Riyadh, RICS and SAIS-R is an independent, non-profit, Kindergarten - Grade 12, coeducational day school following an American-based curriculum with a focus on international perspectives. The IB Diploma Program is also offered in the high school.

Saud International School
Address: Hamdan Street, Sulaimaniyah Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 59772
Tel: +966 92 000 2877
Email: enquiries@sis.edu.sa
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

Saud International School was established at the beginning of the 1998 - 1999 academic year to serve Riyadh’s expanding expatriate community. The  School  Management  is  committed  to  a  curriculum  that  meets  the   highest  academic standards.  Grades  1 -  5  follow an American  curriculum.  However, the curriculum for Grades 6 – 8  is  aligned  with  the  national  curriculum  of  the  United  Kingdom,  in preparation for the IGCSE’s in Grades 9 and 10, and AS and A2 levels in Grades 11 and 12. The  IGCSE’s  and  AS  and  A2  Levels  are  international  examinations  that are administered by  the  University  of Cambridge  and  the  Edexcel  International Board, under the guidance of the British Council.  They are widely recognised  for  student  placement in universities around the world.

Indian Schools

International Indian School Riyadh
Address: P.O. 89788 Riyadh, 11692 Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 11 408 3668 (girls section) and 11 491 2239 (boys section)
Email: admissions@iisriyadh.com
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

The School follows C.B.S.E. Syllabus. The curriculum in each subject area reflects a coherent, orderly progression through the grades. The School prepares the pupils for the All India Sr. Secondary and Secondary School Examination conducted annually by CBSE, New Delhi.

There are more Indian International Schools also located in Jeddah, Al-Jubail and Dammam

French Schools in Riyad

École Française Internationale de Riyad
Address: P.O.Box 87811, Riyad 11652 – Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 92 000 8322
Email: ecole.francaise@efiriyad.com
Tuition Rates: From 37,000 Saudi Riyal (SR) ($9,865) to 42,462 Saudi Riyal (SR) ($11,325) [school year 2022-23]

The French International School of Riyadh (EFIR) is one of the 155 French establishments abroad that have an agreement with the AEFE. It serves leveling levels maternelle (preschool) through lycée (senior high school) and it follows the French curriculum.

International schools in Jeddah

Advanced Generations School
Address: An Nahdah District 4744, Jeddah 23615
Tel: +966 12 263 7167
Email: info@ags.edu.sa
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

Advanced Generations School follows the Cambridge Curriculum (IGCSE) + Arabic curriculum (Ministry of Education Books) for all Grade KG1 – Grade 12. It also offers a secondary educational path with the American Curriculum + Arabic Curriculum (Ministry of Education Books) for Grade 9-12. As a bilingual private school, AGS is committed to delivering a progressive, innovative curriculum whilst at the same time emphasising mastery of Arabic and the application of Islam in daily life.

Al Waha International School
Address: Bani Malyan, Al-Rehab, Jeddah 23345, Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 12 619 9181
Email: office@alwahaschool.org
Tuition Rates: From 12,500 Saudi Riyal (SR) ($3,335) to 21,000 Saudi Riyal (SR) ($5,600) [school year 2021-22]

The course of study is aligned with the National Curriculum of England and Wales. Students from kindergarten to Grade 12 undertake programs of study that maintain a flow and continuity ensured by academic staff. The senior students of Grades 9 to 12 are trained for the Cambridge-based International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and General Certificate of Education, Advanced Level examinations. For the purpose of these examinations, Al Waha is an attached centre of the British Council, Jeddah. Cambridge International administered Primary Checkpoint Examinations and Lower Secondary Checkpoint Examinations, are mandatory standardized, externally marked examinations undertaken by all students of grades 5 and 8 respectively.

Al-Andalus Private International School
Address: Kayyal Street, Rawdah District,P.O. Box 10714,Jeddah 21443, Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966
Email: pr@as.sch.sa
Tuition Rates: From 32,000 Saudi Riyal (SR) ($8,535) to 10,135 Saudi Riyal (SR) ($38,000) [school year 2021-22]

As an AdvancEd accredited School, Al-Andalus Private International School follows the American Diploma. Its aim is to inspire the individual potential of all students and enable them to become principled, skilled, analytical, and thoughtful lifelong learners from Elementary to High School grades.

American International School of Jeddah
Address: District، 8310 Prince Sultan Rd Al-Mohammadiyah, Jeddah Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 12 232 8668
Email: advancement@aisj.edu.sa
Tuition Rates: From 29,750 Saudi Riyal (SR) ($7,935) to 83,000 Saudi Riyal (SR) ($22,135) [school year 2021-22]

Established in 1952, the American International School of Jeddah is a U.S. accredited Pre-Kindergarten – Grade 12 college preparatory institution. It offers a rigorous American-based curriculum serving a diverse student body through a holistic approach.

Coral International School
Address: P.O. Box 9864 Jeddah 21423 KSA
Tel: +966 55 661 5604
Email: info@coralschool.edu.sa
Tuition Rates: From 19,000 Saudi Riyal (SR) ($5,065) to 22,800 Saudi Riyal (SR) ($6,080) [school year 2021-22]

CIS’s provides education from Kindergarten to High School based on the American curriculum and has earned the accreditation of AdvancED school.

Jeddah International School
Address: Al Khaledeyah, behind Badreyya towers Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 21413
Tel: +966 12 606 5700
Email: info@jischool.org  
Tuition Rates: From 10,500 Saudi Riyal (SR) ($2,800) to 34,430 Saudi Riyal (SR) ($9,180) [school year 2021-22]

Jeddah International School (also known as JIS) is an American-accredited School (grades KG - 12) located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It is accredited by the Middle States Association, making it one of the few schools in the area to receive such accreditation. The school has two sections based on language preference, consisting of American English and French. Arabic is also taught. It has over 1,000 students and has 2 sections; an English section and a French section. It has both a girls' section and a boys' section. It is accredited by AdvancED and MSA.

German Schools in Jeddah

Deutsche Internationale Schule Jeddah
Address: Asmaa Bint Abi Bakr, Ar Rabwah, Jeddah 23449, Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 12 691 3584
Email: office@disj.school
Tuition Rates: From 26,880 Saudi Riyal (SR) ($7,170) to 60,060 Saudi Riyal (SR) ($16,015) [school year 2018-19]

The German International School Jeddah is a recognized German School abroad. They offer a German education from KG to grade 12, as well as cultural services like German courses for adults.The GISJ includes grades 1 to 10, and also a German kindergarten and a preschool. The school teaches in German language, based on German curricula, offering additional Arabic language lessons. In grades 6 to 10 education is based on upper secondary school level, differentiated for pupils of lower education levels. The 2nd foreign language is French, compulsory for upper level secondary school pupils. Students with deficiencies in the German language may get special remedial option in "German as a foreign language".

Italian Schools in Jeddah

Italian School International
Address: North Corniche Road – P.O. Box 1808, 21441 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 12 606 4335
Email: scuolaitalianagedda@hotmail.com
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

The Italian School International offers kindergarten, primary school and secondary education programmes operating as a bilingual school, unique in that field, and suitable to accommodate students from different cultures. The school aims to spread Italian culture and to give young students an education relevant to the standards, programs and directives of the Italian Ministry of Education. The school has obtained recognition and study certificates issued by the Italian state that are equivalent to those issued to Italian public schools.

International schools in Al-Khobar

Al Majd International School
Address: P.O. Box 76240, Al-Khobar 31952, Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 858 0377, 859 0111, 859 0222
Email: info@almajdinternationalschool.com
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

Al Majd International School  offers education from KG-1 till Grade 10 (O’ Level) and Grades 11 & 12 (A’ Levels). The school follows IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education), GCE (General Certificate of Education) Course and Syllabus of studies of the University of Cambridge, UK. Classes from KG-1 till Grade Seven (7) follow the Oxford Syllabus. The Academic Year commences from the month of September and ends in June the following year. The academic sessions is divided into two semesters.

British International School of Al Khobar (BIS)
Address: 3909 As Sadafah District, Al Khobar, 34215, 8640 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 13 831 7300
Email: receptionist@bisak.org
Tuition Rates: From 52,553 Saudi Riyal (SR) ($14,015) to 75,127 Saudi Riyal (SR) ($20,035) [school year 2021-22]

British International School of Al Khobar welcomes students from Pre-Prep School to ages from 16 to 19 (Years 12 to 13). The Senior School is divided into Key Stages 3, 4 and 5: Key Stage 3, which covers Years 7-9 and follows the National Curriculum for England and Wales, and Key Stage 4, which covers Years 10 and 11 follows either GCSE or IGCSE courses with examinations after a 2 year course. BISAK has developed a high quality of internationally recognised AS/A Level subject choices which continue to develop pupil skills from Key Stage 4 in preparation for University or work applications. Key Stage 5 is the delivery of education for the ages from 16 to 19 (Years 12 to 13).

There are more BIS Schools also located in Jeddah and Riyadh (with campuses in Al Hamra, Diplomatic Quarter, Salwa, Taif and Tabuk)

American International School Dhahran
Address: P. O. Box 31677, Al-Khobar 31952, Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 13 330 0555
Email: asd.admissions.esms@isg.edu.sa (Elementary and Middle School) and asd.admissions.hs@isg.edu.sa (high school).
Tuition Rates: From 76,765 Saudi Riyal (SR) ($20,470) to 81,200 Saudi Riyal (SR) ($21,655) [school year 2022-23]

In 2021, Dhahran Elementary Middle School (DEMS) and Dhahran High School (DHS) merged to become the American School Dhahran (ASD). ASD is an accredited, not-for profit, Kindergarden-Grade 12 school that caters to different cultures and nationalities by blending the American curriculum with unique opportunities offered by living in the Arab world.