International schools in Riyadh
Discover international schools in Riyadh
Riyadh's international sector has grown quickly, with British, IB and American schools across the Diplomatic Quarter, north Riyadh and newer developments. Tell us your children's ages, curriculum, budget and location, and start a private school search.
No account needed. Tell us you are moving to Riyadh and our team will email your recommended schools.
Riyadh at a glance
- Regulator
- Ministry of Education
- Main curricula
- British, IB, American, Saudi national
- School year
- August to June
- Ages served
- 3 to 18
One search
Tell us about your family once instead of enquiring school by school.
Focused shortlist
Start with schools recommended for your requirements, so you have somewhere to begin.
Explore and compare
Other suitable schools stay available to explore, compare and add.
Direct contact
Choose which admissions teams to contact and message them directly.
Start your school search for Riyadh
Tell us your children's ages, the curriculum you are considering, your budget and where you will be living. Our team will review your request and email a recommended shortlist of Riyadh schools worth looking at.
Your school search is private to you. Nothing reaches a school until you choose it and send your message.
Your schools
Your search
International School A
North campus
Curriculum
British / IGCSE
Ages
3-18
Location
Example location
Fees
Within your budget
Why this school may fit: British curriculum with places in the entry year you need.
International School B
City campus
Curriculum
International Baccalaureate
Ages
3-18
Location
Example location
Fees
Within your budget
Why this school may fit: IB continuum with mid-year entry support.
International School C
Main campus
Curriculum
American / AP
Ages
4-18
Location
Example location
Fees
Upper end of your range
Why this school may fit: American curriculum and transfer-credit recognition.
Select up to 3 schools to contact
What shapes the choice in Riyadh
A fast-changing supply of places
New international schools and campuses have opened in recent years. Capacity, staffing and programme maturity vary between a new campus and an established one.
Accreditation and recognitionCurriculum and later moves
British and IB routes dominate among relocating families, largely because they transfer well to other countries.
Compare the main curriculaDistance and traffic
Riyadh is geographically large. A school 20 kilometres away can mean a very long school run twice a day.
Questions to ask a schoolTotal annual cost
Registration, transport, uniform, trips and examination entry sit outside tuition at most schools.
Understanding school feesHow schooling works in Riyadh
Private and international schools in Saudi Arabia are licensed by the Ministry of Education, which sets the framework for curricula, enrolment and school operation.
Regulation and licensing
The Ministry of Education licenses private and international schools and approves the curricula they may deliver.
Where a school claims a specific programme, check the underlying authorisation: IB authorisation, a British curriculum inspection body, or a recognised American accreditation.
The school year and intakes
International schools generally run from August to June, with the main intake at the start of the academic year.
Because the market is expanding, availability can change materially between one admissions cycle and the next.
New campuses and growth
Several international schools have opened or expanded in Riyadh recently. New campuses often have space in year groups where established schools do not.
Ask a new school about staffing, the year groups it currently teaches, and its accreditation or authorisation timeline.
Arabic and Islamic studies
Arabic is part of the curriculum in schools in Saudi Arabia, and Islamic studies applies to Muslim students.
Ask how these subjects are timetabled and what support exists for children with no prior Arabic.
Explore international-school curricula
We explain each system once, in the curricula library.
How matching works for Riyadh families
Results are based on fit, not on payment. Schools cannot buy a position in your shortlist, and nothing you write reaches a school until you choose to contact it.
Ages and entry year
Where each child would be placed in the systems available locally, including age cut-off differences.
Curriculum
The systems you are open to, and how easily a later move would carry across.
Budget
Tuition alongside the fees that are commonly billed separately in this market.
Location and commute
Where you will live or work, and what the daily journey realistically looks like.
There is no single best school in Riyadh
In a market growing this quickly, a school's reputation often lags behind what it is actually delivering today.
Look at current year-group availability, the authorisation behind the curriculum, staffing stability and the realistic commute from where you will live.
Set your own criteria first, then contact the admissions teams you want to hear from.
Common questions about searching in Riyadh
Planning a move to Riyadh?
Start your search and tell us you are moving to Riyadh. Our team will match you against the schools we cover and email your recommendations.
No account needed. Tell us you are moving to Riyadh and our team will email your recommended schools.
Continue reading
How admissions work
The stages most international schools use, and where families lose time.
Understanding school fees
What sits inside tuition, what is billed separately and what to confirm in writing.
School year and intake timing
When places open, and what a mid-year move changes.
All destinations
Every city we cover, and where school search is open.
Last reviewed: August 2026
Riyadh information is compiled from official regulators, curriculum authorities and school-published material. Fees, intakes and requirements change, so confirm details directly with a school before you rely on them.
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