International School Fees in Al Khobar: 2026 Cost Guide for Expat Families

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

Al Khobar, Dammam and Dhahran form one continuous metropolitan area on the Gulf coast, and for school purposes they behave as a single market. Most expat families here are connected to Saudi Aramco, SABIC or the contractors that serve them, and a large share arrive with an education allowance written into the contract. Knowing exactly what international school fees in Al Khobar look like in 2026 matters for two reasons: to negotiate that allowance properly before you sign, and to understand what you will pay out of pocket if the package covers only part of the bill or a limited number of children.

How the Eastern Province school market is organised

Schools cluster along the corridor between Al Khobar's corniche and the Aramco compound in Dhahran, with a second group in Dammam to the north. The premium tier is dominated by the International Schools Group, ISG, which runs the American-curriculum Dhahran campuses and Dhahran British Grammar School, and by BISAK, the independent British school founded in 1977. Below that sits a broad middle market of Saudi-owned international schools teaching in English with British, American or IB programmes, and a third tier of community schools serving Indian, Pakistani and Filipino families at much lower prices.

Geography is simpler than in Riyadh or Jeddah. Compounds and villa districts in Al Khobar's Al Ulaya, Al Rakah and Al Aqrabiyah neighbourhoods are 10 to 25 minutes from most schools, and the King Fahd Causeway to Bahrain starts just south of the city. Traffic peaks are short but sharp, so school bus routes matter more than distance on a map.

Curricula available in Al Khobar and Dhahran

• American: the ISG Dhahran campuses offer a US programme with the IB Diploma in the final two years; several mid-market schools follow American standards with a high school diploma.
• British: BISAK and Dhahran British Grammar School run the English National Curriculum through Cambridge IGCSE and A Levels, as do a number of Saudi-owned schools.
• International Baccalaureate: available at Dhahran High School and at Al Hussan International School and International Programs School.
• Community curricula: Indian, Pakistani and Philippine national programmes at schools serving those expatriate communities.

Schools worth visiting, and what they charge

British International School Al Khobar (BISAK)

BISAK is the longest-established British school on the Gulf coast and the default choice for UK-linked families. It teaches the English National Curriculum from Foundation Stage to Year 13, with IGCSE and A Level results that regularly place it among the strongest British schools in the Kingdom. Tuition in 2026 runs from roughly SAR 50,000 in the early years to about SAR 85,000 for sixth form, before VAT and one-off fees. Waiting lists exist in the primary years, so apply as early as the posting is confirmed.

Dhahran High School (ISG)

The ISG Dhahran high school is the American option at the top of the market, offering a US diploma alongside the IB Diploma Programme and a wide range of sports and activities on a large campus next to the Aramco community. Fees are the highest in the Eastern Province at roughly SAR 80,000 to 100,000 a year, and a very high proportion of students are fully sponsored by an employer.

Dhahran British Grammar School (ISG)

Also part of ISG, the British Grammar School follows the English National Curriculum through IGCSE and A Levels and shares the group's facilities and admissions system. It is a genuine alternative to BISAK for British-curriculum families, priced at roughly SAR 65,000 to 95,000 depending on year group.

Al Hussan International School

Part of the long-standing Al Hussan education group, this Saudi-owned international school offers IGCSE and the IB Diploma at fees that are far below the ISG and BISAK tier, roughly SAR 25,000 to 45,000 a year. It attracts a mix of Saudi families and expatriates whose packages do not stretch to the premium schools, and class sizes are larger as a result.

International Programs School (IPS)

IPS is a well-regarded mid-market option combining an American programme with the IB Diploma. Fees of roughly SAR 35,000 to 60,000 place it between the community schools and the premium tier, and it is often the school families move to when an allowance is capped.

International school fees in Al Khobar: the full picture for 2026

Headline tuition is only the beginning. Every school in the Eastern Province adds some or all of the following:

• Application fee: SAR 500 to 1,500, non-refundable, payable per child.
• Registration or enrolment fee: a one-off SAR 3,000 to 10,000 at the premium schools, occasionally partly refundable when the child leaves.
• Security deposit: some schools hold one term's fees as a refundable deposit.
• Uniforms: SAR 800 to 1,500 for a full set, more for PE and sixth form kit.
• Transport: SAR 6,000 to 10,000 a year for a school bus, depending on distance from the campus.
• Books and technology: SAR 1,000 to 3,000, with a laptop programme at most secondary schools.
• External examinations: IGCSE, A Level and IB Diploma entries are billed at cost, typically SAR 3,000 to 8,000 in an exam year.
• Language support: intensive English classes can add SAR 5,000 to 15,000 a year where offered.

The single most important line to check is VAT. Saudi Arabia charges 15 percent value added tax on private education, and since 2018 the state has paid that tax on behalf of Saudi citizens. Expatriate families are not covered, so a fee list that reads SAR 80,000 will be invoiced at SAR 92,000 unless the school states clearly that its published prices include VAT. Ask every school for a VAT-inclusive quote in writing before you compare.

Fees are usually billed in two or three instalments at the start of each term, and most schools accept bank transfer only. Sibling discounts of 5 to 15 percent from the second or third child are common outside the ISG schools, and a few schools offer a discount for paying the full year in advance.

Practical advice for budgeting in Al Khobar

Read the allowance clause before the fee list. Many Aramco and contractor packages cover tuition for two or three children up to a stated cap, and some exclude registration fees, transport and exam costs. The gap between a SAR 60,000 cap and a SAR 92,000 VAT-inclusive invoice is the most common unpleasant surprise for arriving families.

Confirm the academic calendar. International schools here follow the Saudi Ministry of Education calendar, starting in the last week of August and finishing in June, with breaks that move each year around Ramadan and Eid. Fees are not pro-rated for a late start in most schools, so a January arrival still pays the full second term.

Ask about Arabic and Islamic studies. Saudi and Muslim students at international schools are required to study Arabic and Islamic education under Ministry rules; non-Muslim expatriate children typically take Arabic as a foreign language. This affects timetables and occasionally fees for additional teaching.

Compare schools across Saudi Arabia

To see how the Eastern Province schools stack up against Riyadh and Jeddah, browse the independent ranking of the best schools in Saudi Arabia, built from verified profiles, reviews and fee data.

More guides to schools in Al Khobar

• How to Choose an International School in Al Khobar: 2026 Guide for Expat Families
• Best Schools in Saudi Arabia: the ISA ranking

Frequently asked questions

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

Yes. Private education is subject to 15 percent VAT, and the government pays it only for Saudi citizens. Expatriate families should expect the tax on top of published tuition unless the school states that prices are VAT-inclusive. On a SAR 80,000 fee that adds SAR 12,000 a year, which is why written, VAT-inclusive quotes are essential when comparing schools.

What is the cheapest international school option in Al Khobar?

Community schools following Indian, Pakistani or Philippine curricula charge roughly SAR 8,000 to 25,000 a year, and Saudi-owned international schools with British or American programmes start at around SAR 20,000. The premium ISG and BISAK campuses cost three to five times more, so the realistic budget depends mainly on which tier your employer's allowance is designed to cover.

Are there sibling discounts at Al Khobar schools?

Most mid-market schools offer 5 to 15 percent off tuition for the second and subsequent children, and a few extend it to registration fees. The premium schools generally do not discount because most of their families are employer-sponsored. Always ask, because discounts are rarely advertised on fee schedules and are sometimes negotiable for three or more children.