Quick answer: How do you choose an international school in Al Khobar? Start with where you will live, because Al Khobar, Dhahran and Dammam schools are spread across compounds and the Aramco camp, then match curriculum (British, American or IB) to your next posting. The Eastern Province has around fifteen international schools charging roughly SAR 25,000 to 90,000 a year, plus 15% VAT for non-Saudi families, so budget the tax line.
Last reviewed: September 2026 by Emma from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.
Choosing an international school in Al Khobar means choosing across three cities at once. Al Khobar, Dhahran and Dammam have grown into a single metropolitan area on the Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, and families move between them daily for work, school and shopping. The region has been home to expatriate families for longer than anywhere else in the Kingdom because of Saudi Aramco, and its international schools reflect that history: some are decades old with strong American roots, others are newer British and IB schools built for the post-2016 wave of arrivals. This guide explains how the local landscape works in 2026, which curricula you can find, what the main schools are known for, what they cost and the questions worth asking before you commit.
How the Eastern Province school landscape works
Where you live is the first filter. Aramco employees mostly live inside the Dhahran camp, which has its own schools, or in company housing nearby. Other expatriate families live in gated compounds along the Al Khobar corniche, in the Aziziyah and Half Moon Bay area to the south, in the newer districts of Al Khobar north towards Dammam, or in Dammam itself near the industrial and port areas. The Dhahran-Al Khobar highway and the King Fahd Causeway to Bahrain frame the region, and a compound in Half Moon Bay to a school in Dhahran can be a thirty-five minute drive.
The second filter is nationality. Saudi law has opened international schools to Saudi citizens, and most schools now have a mixed intake of Saudi and expatriate students. The international schools are licensed by the Ministry of Education and must include Arabic language, Islamic studies for Muslim students and Saudi social studies alongside their foreign curriculum.
The third filter is cost, and here 2026 has a specific point to check. Saudi Arabia raised VAT to 15% in July 2020, and private school tuition is subject to it. The government bears the VAT on private education for Saudi citizens, but expatriate families pay it, so a fee sheet showing SAR 60,000 means an invoice of SAR 69,000 for a non-Saudi family. Always ask whether a quoted fee is inclusive or exclusive of VAT.
Curricula available in Al Khobar and Dhahran
- American curriculum: the historic strength of the region because of Aramco, with US high school diplomas, AP courses and American accreditation at several schools.
- British curriculum: EYFS through IGCSE and A Levels at British-owned and British-style schools in Dhahran and Al Khobar.
- International Baccalaureate: the IB Diploma is offered at a small number of schools, often alongside an American or British middle school, and one school runs the full continuum.
- Indian, Pakistani, Filipino and Bangladeshi curricula: a large sector serving South and Southeast Asian families at much lower fee points.
- Saudi national curriculum with international elements: bilingual private schools popular with Saudi families that admit some expatriates.
International schools in Al Khobar and Dhahran worth visiting
British School Dhahran
The main British curriculum school in the region, located in Dhahran and running from Foundation through IGCSE and A Levels. It draws British, European and Saudi families and is the natural choice for children who will return to the UK system. Popular year groups fill early, so register as soon as your posting is confirmed.
Dhahran High School
Part of the International Schools Group, the long-established American curriculum network of the Eastern Province, with a US high school diploma, AP courses and American accreditation. It serves a large corporate community and has one of the strongest track records in the Kingdom for US university admissions.
Multinational School Dhahran
An IB World School offering the Diploma Programme with an internationally diverse student body and a reputation for strong pastoral care. It suits families who want the IB route and expect to move on to Europe or Asia rather than the United States.
Gulf International School
Located in Al Khobar, GIS follows a British curriculum to IGCSE and A Levels with a substantial Saudi and Arab intake alongside expatriates. It is convenient for families living in central Al Khobar and along the corniche, and fees sit below the Dhahran schools.
Bayan Gardens School
An American curriculum school in Al Khobar with a modern campus, a US high school diploma and a bilingual Arabic-English approach in the early years. It is a good fit for families who want their children to develop real Arabic while following an American programme.
What international schools in Al Khobar cost in 2026
Fees are quoted in Saudi riyals and are lower than in Riyadh or Jeddah for comparable schools. As a rough guide for 2026, expect roughly SAR 25,000 to 40,000 a year for primary at mid-range British and American schools, SAR 40,000 to 65,000 for secondary, and SAR 65,000 to 90,000 for the IGCSE, A Level, AP and IB Diploma years at the leading schools. South Asian curriculum schools sit well below this, often under SAR 15,000. Remember to add 15% VAT for non-Saudi families.
- Application or assessment fee: roughly SAR 500 to 2,000, non-refundable.
- Registration or admission fee: roughly SAR 3,000 to 10,000, usually non-refundable.
- Deposit: roughly SAR 5,000 to 15,000, refundable on departure with notice.
- Uniforms: roughly SAR 1,000 to 2,000 per child per year.
- School bus: roughly SAR 6,000 to 12,000 a year depending on distance, and essential for compound families.
- Exam fees: IGCSE, A Level, AP and IB registrations billed separately in the exam years.
- Books, technology and trips: ask for last year's actual figures.
Practical advice for families choosing a school in Al Khobar
Choose the compound and the school together. Many compounds have relationships with particular schools and run dedicated buses. Ask your employer's housing team which schools your compound's children attend and how long the bus takes, then visit those schools first.
Ask about Arabic and Islamic studies hours. Saudi regulations require Arabic for all students and Islamic studies for Muslim students, and the hours vary by school. If your family wants real Arabic, look for schools with a native-speaker track; if you are on a short posting, make sure these subjects do not crowd out the core curriculum your child will need next.
Plan the exit as carefully as the entry. Eastern Province postings are often two to four years. A British school with IGCSE at Year 11 transfers cleanly to the UK and Europe; the American schools suit the US and Canada; the IB Diploma travels almost anywhere. Ask how the school handles mid-year departures and what documentation it provides.
Compare Eastern Province schools side by side
Every school mentioned here has a verified profile on International School Advisor with fees, curricula, reviews and contact details. Use the ranking of the best schools in Saudi Arabia to see how the Al Khobar and Dhahran schools compare with Riyadh and Jeddah before you book visits.
More guides to schools in Al Khobar
Frequently asked questions
How many international schools are there in Al Khobar and Dhahran?
The Eastern Province metropolitan area of Al Khobar, Dhahran and Dammam has around fifteen international schools following British, American or IB curricula, plus a large group of Indian, Pakistani, Filipino and Bangladeshi curriculum schools. The Aramco camp in Dhahran has its own schools for employees. All are licensed by the Ministry of Education and most now admit Saudi as well as expatriate students.
Do expat families pay VAT on school fees in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Private school tuition in Saudi Arabia is subject to 15% VAT. The government bears the VAT for Saudi citizens, but expatriate families pay it, so a quoted fee of SAR 60,000 becomes an invoice of SAR 69,000. Always ask whether a fee sheet is inclusive or exclusive of VAT and include the tax line when negotiating an education allowance with your employer.
When should I apply to an international school in Al Khobar?
Apply as soon as your posting is confirmed, ideally six to twelve months before the late August start. The academic year runs from late August to June, and popular entry points such as Foundation, Year 7 and the start of A Level or IB fill between January and April. Most schools accept mid-year applications when a place exists and run assessments on a rolling basis.