Bilingual Schools in Riyadh: A 2026 Guide for Expat Families

Quick answer: What are the best bilingual school options in Riyadh in 2026? Riyadh families usually choose between IB schools that teach in English and Arabic, such as SEK International School Riyadh and One World International School, and dual-track schools like Manarat Al Riyadh and King Faisal School. Expect roughly SAR 20,000 to 85,000 a year, plus 15% VAT for non-Saudi families.

Last reviewed: September 2026 by Emma from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.

Looking for bilingual schools in Riyadh is a different exercise from looking for a classic international school. In the Saudi capital, "bilingual" almost always means Arabic and English carried side by side, with Arabic taught as a real academic language rather than a weekly extra. That suits Arab expat families who want their children to stay fluent in their home language, Western families planning a long stay, and mixed families who want both languages at a high level. This guide explains how the market works in 2026, which schools on our directory are worth a visit and what you should budget.

Why bilingual schooling matters in Riyadh right now

Riyadh is growing fast. The Regional Headquarters Programme, under which the government stopped awarding contracts to foreign companies without a regional base in the Kingdom from January 2024, has pulled hundreds of multinationals and their staff into the city. Many of those families arrive expecting to stay five years or more, and Arabic stops being a nice idea and becomes a practical skill for daily life, sport, friendships and, later, work in the region.

Geography matters too. Most expat families settle in the north and west of the city: Al Olaya, Al Malqa, Hittin, Al Nakheel, Al Rabie and the area around the Diplomatic Quarter. Traffic on King Fahd Road and the northern ring road can turn a 12 kilometre school run into a 45 minute drive at peak time, so shortlist schools within your own district before you compare curricula. The new Riyadh Metro lines help some commuters, but very few families rely on them for school.

Curricula and language models you will find

Bilingual provision in Riyadh falls into a few clear models. Knowing which one you want saves a lot of school visits.

IB with Arabic and English instruction. Schools following the International Baccalaureate teach through inquiry in English and give Arabic a strong, examined place, often from the early years.
American curriculum with Arabic. Common in the city, sometimes blended with the IB Primary Years Programme in the younger grades.
Dual national and international tracks. Large Saudi groups run a national track following the Ministry of Education curriculum and an international track, with Arabic and Islamic studies shared across both.
British curriculum with Arabic. English National Curriculum schools that add Arabic for Arab students and as a modern foreign language for others.

Ministry of Education rules require international schools to teach Arabic to Arab students and Islamic studies to Muslim students, so even schools that market themselves as English medium carry some Arabic. The difference in a genuinely bilingual school is the number of hours and whether subjects such as science or social studies are also taught in Arabic.

Bilingual schools in Riyadh worth visiting

SEK International School Riyadh

SEK International School Riyadh sits in the Al Rabie district, close to Kingdom Hospital and well connected via the King Salman and King Fahd roads. It belongs to the Spanish SEK group, which has run IB programmes for more than 40 years, and lists both English and Arabic as instructional languages. It opened in 2021 with the early years and primary grades and is building towards a full IB pathway from age 3 to 18, which makes it a good fit for families with younger children who want to grow with the school.

One World International School

One World International School (OWIS) describes itself as the first Apple Distinguished School in Saudi Arabia. In the early and primary years it combines the IB Primary Years Programme with the American curriculum, and its profile lists English, Arabic and French at a high level. Families who like technology-rich classrooms and want a third language on top of Arabic should put it on the list.

Manarat Al Riyadh International School

Manarat Al Riyadh International School is part of the Maarif Education group and offers both national and international tracks. It is one of the most reviewed schools on our directory, with more than 800 ratings, which gives you an unusually broad picture of parent opinion. Enrichment is a strength, with after-school clubs, a sports club, entrepreneurship programmes and holiday camps.

King Faisal School

King Faisal School combines a rigorous national and international programme built on the motto of Faith, Knowledge and Work. It is organised into Pre-School, Primary and Senior School, each with its own principal, and places real weight on Arab and Islamic heritage alongside an international outlook. It suits families who want Arabic to be a language of learning, not just a subject.

Bilingual school fees in Riyadh for 2026

Fees in Riyadh vary widely by model and grade. As a rough guide for the 2026 to 2027 year:

Dual national and international track schools: roughly SAR 20,000 to 50,000 a year.
IB and American curriculum schools with strong Arabic: roughly SAR 35,000 to 85,000 a year, rising in the upper grades.
Premium British and IB schools: can exceed SAR 100,000 a year for the final grades.

The hard fact every expat budget should include is VAT. Saudi Arabia charges VAT at 15%, the rate since July 2020, and private school tuition is taxable. The state covers VAT on tuition for Saudi citizens, but expat families pay it on top of the published fee, so a SAR 60,000 tuition becomes SAR 69,000. Some employers cover it as part of the education allowance, so ask HR before you sign.

Extras to add to your spreadsheet:

Application or assessment fee, often SAR 500 to 2,000 and non-refundable.
Registration or seat deposit, usually deducted from the first term.
Bus transport, roughly SAR 6,000 to 12,000 a year depending on distance.
Uniforms, books, devices and trips, easily SAR 3,000 to 6,000 a year.

Practical tips for choosing a bilingual school

Ask for the timetable, not the brochure. Request the weekly hours of Arabic by grade and ask which subjects, if any, are taught in Arabic. A school with eight or more hours of Arabic a week in primary is running a genuine bilingual model; three or four hours is closer to a language programme.

Check the Arabic stream your child will join. Most schools separate Arabic for native speakers from Arabic as an additional language. Ask how placement works and how children move between levels, especially if your child speaks Arabic at home but has never studied it formally.

Think about the long run. If you may move on in three years, an IB school keeps options open worldwide. If you expect to stay in the Gulf, a strong dual-track school can give your child fluent academic Arabic that is hard to rebuild later.

Compare the full Riyadh ranking

Want to see how these schools compare with the rest of the city on ratings, reviews and facilities? Browse our ranking of the best schools in Riyadh and contact schools directly from their profiles.

More guides to schools in Riyadh

Frequently asked questions

Do international schools in Riyadh have to teach Arabic?

Yes. Ministry of Education rules require international schools to teach Arabic to Arab students and Islamic studies to Muslim students. Most schools also offer Arabic as an additional language to non-Arab children. What varies is the depth: bilingual schools give Arabic many more weekly hours and sometimes teach other subjects in it.

Do expat families pay VAT on school fees in Saudi Arabia?

Yes. Tuition is subject to VAT at 15%, the standard rate since July 2020. The government covers the VAT for Saudi citizens, but expat families pay it on top of the published fee. Check whether your employer education allowance includes VAT before you accept a place.

Can a child with no Arabic join a bilingual school in Riyadh?

Usually yes, especially in the early years and lower primary. Schools place non-native speakers in an Arabic as an additional language stream and move them up as they progress. Joining later is harder, so ask how much support the school gives new arrivals and whether extra lessons carry a fee.