Saudi Arabia opens its classrooms to world as foreign universities move in

Foreign universities and international schools are increasingly turning their focus to Saudi Arabia as the kingdom opens its education sector to global institutions, marking a major shift in its learning landscape.

Following the success of similar initiatives in neighboring Gulf countries, Saudi Arabia has begun permitting foreign institutions to establish campuses and schools as part of its broader plan to modernize and diversify education.

Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt University has signed an agreement to open a campus in Riyadh, pending regulatory approval, while the University of New Haven in the United States and the University of Strathclyde in Scotland have received permission to launch branch campuses by 2026.

In the schools sector, Sherborne School from the United Kingdom opened its Jeddah campus in August 2025, joining Beech Hall, Aldenham Prep, Kings College, Reigate Grammar, and Buckswood, all of which have recently expanded into Riyadh.

For Saudi Arabia, this development supports its drive to diversify the economy and workforce under Vision 2030, while for international institutions, it offers an early opportunity to gain a foothold in one of the region’s most promising education markets.

Saudi Arabia introduced new executive rules in late 2023 allowing foreign universities to operate independent branch campuses.

Licenses are issued for five years and renewed based on compliance with quality standards, financial solvency, and alignment with national education goals.

Universities can independently manage their internal operations and offer courses in their home language.

At the same time, the Ministry of Education and the Royal Commission of Riyadh City are providing incentives to attract global K-12 providers, including access to land and buildings at competitive prices to reduce capital costs.

Since the new framework took effect, at least seven international universities have announced plans to establish a presence in Saudi Arabia.

Along with Heriot-Watt and Strathclyde, Ireland’s Royal College of Surgeons, Spain’s IE University, and Australia’s University of Wollongong have committed to opening campuses.

The United States’ Arizona State University and the University of New Haven are also preparing to launch operations, with New Haven expected to begin teaching in 2026–27.

The Connecticut-based university, which already runs a campus in Italy, will offer programs in business and digital innovation, engineering, and the arts at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

The initiative aligns closely with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to attract SAR 50 billion in education investment and raise private sector participation to 25% by the end of the decade.

The plan includes the creation of 1,200 new private schools and over 70,000 additional school seats to meet growing demand.

On the higher education front, the country expects to add up to 900,000 new university seats by 2030, expanding total capacity to about 2.8 million.

Much of this growth will focus on specialized disciplines such as artificial intelligence, robotics, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing to meet the needs of a diversifying economy.

The expansion presents both opportunities and challenges for institutions. Universities and schools entering the Saudi market must navigate complex regulatory systems, ensure compliance with national standards, and align their curricula with local education requirements.

Yet, the Kingdom’s streamlined licensing processes, full foreign ownership rights, and strong government backing make it an increasingly attractive environment for education investors.