Saudi education is the biggest opportunity in the Gulf right now. Do not miss it.
Here is what I would advise you to do before they take a decision.
First. Get the latest regulations. They changed in December 2025. The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing issued a new framework covering private schools, nurseries, and education complexes. New building standards, minimum space per student, street access requirements, and rules around on-campus student housing. If you are working off anything older than that, you are already behind.
Second. Understand Saudisation properly. And here is the part most people get wrong. The 50% Saudi teacher quota applies to private schools teaching the national curriculum, specifically in Arabic, Islamic Studies, and social studies. International curriculum schools are exempt from that requirement. The government has also reduced the overall local workforce percentage for schools. On top of that, if you come in through the RCRC programme, you get a three-year Saudisation exemption on teaching staff during the start-up phase. Schools attracted by RCRC are also exempt from Saudisation on leadership and administrative roles entirely. Know which category you fall into before you build your staffing plan.
Third. Tuition fees. This is where the real financial opportunity sits, and it is worth getting precise about. The MoE approves fee structures for all schools, including international ones. But the approved rates for international schools are significantly higher than national curriculum schools. Look at the actual numbers. King's College Riyadh charges between SAR 45,899 and SAR 68,848 a year, and that is the current published range with more year groups still to open. Downe House Riyadh goes up to SAR 84,800 for the senior years. Reigate Grammar tops out at SAR 74,900. Some schools in Riyadh are now well above SAR 90,000. The MoE sets the ceiling, but for international schools, that ceiling is high. Your financial model needs to reflect that.
Fourth. Parents here care deeply about Arabic, Islamic Studies, and Saudi values. Research shows 76% of parents want a combination of local and international qualifications. This is non-negotiable. If your school cannot deliver that credibly, parents will notice within the first term.
Now, the part that most people overlook. The support available to you.
RCRC runs the International Schools Attraction Program. This is serious, government-backed support, coordinated across the Ministries of Education, Investment, and Human Resources. It is how King's College, SEK, Aldenham, Downe House, Reigate Grammar, Beech Hall, One World, and Buckswood all came to Riyadh. Eight schools, over 8,500 seats, all facilitated through one programme.
The incentives include government-allocated sites, the three-year Saudisation exemption mentioned above, co-education permitted up to Grade 6, flexibility on academic calendars, and dedicated visa processing support. RCRC also connects incoming schools with local investors and operators, and provides market intelligence on demand and opportunities. They handle a lot of the complexity that would otherwise slow you down.
Then there is Infra. The National Infrastructure Fund. This is a newer player in the education space and worth watching closely. Infra's CEO spoke at ETIF 2026 specifically about financing solutions for education and training projects. Their focus is on linking financing incentives directly to student outcomes, which is a different way of thinking about education investment. They provide long-term and short-term loans, equity, credit enhancement, and the full range of structured financing products. Education is one of their priority sectors. If you are planning a school and you have not explored what Infra can offer on the financing side, you are missing a significant piece of the picture.
Tatweer is worth understanding, too. PIF-owned, it is the executive arm of the Ministry of Education. They handle curriculum development, teacher training, digital learning platforms, and early childhood education programmes. They work with both public and private operators. If you are building a school and you do not know what Tatweer brings to the table, you are leaving support unused.
The Ministry of Investment, through Invest Saudi, is currently showcasing over 70 active investment opportunities in education. 22 in K-12, 17 in training, 17 in early years. The government also subsidises teacher salaries, particularly for qualified foreign staff, and provides capital expenditure support for land and buildings.
Saudi Arabia spent over $50 billion on education in 2023. Investment licences in education rose 86% in a single year. PIF has a target of 25% private school enrolment by 2030.
The money is there. The support structures are there. The demand is there.
But wanting to be here and being ready to be here are two different things. Do your homework before you sign anything.
If you are serious about education investment in Saudi Arabia, RCG is the team that gets it done. We have the relationships, the access, and the ground-level knowledge to take you from idea to execution. Get in touch.
