Moving to Saudi Arabia with Kids: A Practical Guide for Parents
Relocating to Riyadh or Jeddah with children involves choosing a school, timing the move around the academic calendar, adjusting to a new weekly and daily rhythm, and settling into a new community. Here's what to plan for as a family, from the first shortlist through to the first term, including the practical logistics that are easy to overlook until you are already mid-move.
Quick answer
A practical guide to moving to Saudi Arabia with children: schooling, timing your move, settling in, and questions to ask before you relocate to Riyadh or Jeddah.
At a glance
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Sections: 13
- Questions answered: 11
- Schools listed: 5
- Read time: 13 min read
Starting the school search early
Whether you are moving to Riyadh or Jeddah for work or another reason, the school search is usually one of the first things to sort out, since it affects your choice of neighbourhood, your timeline for the move, and how quickly your children can settle into a routine. Because popular schools and popular year groups can carry waiting lists in both cities, it is generally worth starting the school search as soon as a move to Saudi Arabia becomes likely, even before your exact arrival date or neighbourhood is confirmed.
Many families begin by shortlisting curriculum type, whether British, American, IB or another option based on their child's current schooling and likely future moves, before narrowing to specific schools in the neighbourhoods they are considering. Our guides to specific curricula and to how to apply cover this process in more depth.
Choosing a school before or after you arrive
Some families secure a school place before relocating, often as part of an employer-supported relocation package, while others wait until they arrive to visit schools in person before committing. Both approaches are common, and the right one depends on your employer's support, your tolerance for uncertainty, and how competitive the schools you are considering currently are. If you commit to a school before seeing it in person, ask for a virtual tour or detailed photos and request to speak with current parents if possible.
If you plan to visit schools in person before choosing, be aware that this may mean an initial period of temporary schooling arrangements, online learning, or simply a short gap, so plan your arrival timing and initial weeks with this in mind and discuss options directly with schools you are considering.
Timing your move around the academic calendar
Most international schools in Saudi Arabia run to an academic year that begins in late summer, similar to many international school calendars globally, though exact start dates and term structures vary by school and should be confirmed directly. Moving at the start of the academic year generally makes it easier for children to settle in alongside new classmates who are also starting fresh, and can simplify admissions since more places tend to open up between academic years than mid-year.
If a mid-year move is unavoidable due to work timing, contact prospective schools directly and as early as possible, since mid-year places are less predictable and some schools handle mid-year transfers more smoothly than others depending on space and your child's specific grade level.
Helping children adjust to a new school and country
Children moving to Saudi Arabia will generally be adjusting to several things at once: a new school, a new curriculum if it differs from their previous one, a new climate, and in many cases new friendships and routines. Schools with substantial international student populations, common in both Riyadh and Jeddah, often have experience supporting newly arrived children and may offer a buddy system, orientation programme or additional pastoral support; ask prospective schools directly what they offer for new arrivals.
Giving children some involvement in choosing their school where practical, maintaining contact with friends from the previous location, and allowing time for adjustment rather than expecting an instant settling-in period can all help smooth the transition, though every child and family situation is different. Age also matters here: very young children often adjust quickly given consistent routines, while older children and particularly teenagers can find leaving an established friendship group harder, and may benefit from more deliberate efforts to stay in touch with friends from your previous location alongside building new ones locally.
Adjusting to a new weekly rhythm and daily routine
One of the more immediate adjustments for many relocating families is the shift to a Sunday-to-Thursday school week, since the national weekend falls on Friday and Saturday rather than the Saturday-Sunday pattern familiar to many other countries. This affects not just the school calendar but the rhythm of family life, weekend activities and how children keep in touch with friends or family in different time zones, so it is worth discussing with your children ahead of the move rather than leaving it as a surprise on arrival.
The school day itself, including start and finish times, can also change during the month of Ramadan, when many schools run shortened hours; because Ramadan shifts earlier each year on the Gregorian calendar, its timing relative to your arrival will differ year to year, and it is worth asking any school you are considering how it structures the school day during that period.
Practical logistics: documents, records and continuity
Before you move, gather your children's key school records, including recent report cards, transcripts, any special educational needs documentation, and immunisation records, since these are commonly requested during the admissions process at Saudi Arabian schools. If your child is moving mid-way through a specific qualification, such as IGCSEs, A-levels, AP courses or CBSE board examinations, contact prospective receiving schools directly and as early as possible to discuss continuity, since transfer difficulty varies considerably depending on the stage and specific qualification involved.
Our guide to how to apply to an international school in Saudi Arabia sets out the documentation and general admissions process in more detail and is a useful companion to this broader relocation guide.
Not sure which schools fit your family?
Choosing an international school depends on your child's age, curriculum preference, location and budget. Tell us what you're looking for and we'll help you identify schools worth considering.
Health, immunisation and wellbeing considerations
Health checks and immunisation records are commonly requested as part of school enrolment in Saudi Arabia, and requirements can vary between schools and can also interact with broader health and residency processes that are set by the relevant authorities rather than by any individual school. Because these requirements can change and depend on your family's specific circumstances, this guide does not attempt to state current health or immunisation rules as fact; confirm current requirements directly with your prospective school and with a qualified healthcare provider well ahead of your move.
Beyond paperwork, it is worth thinking about your children's wider wellbeing during the move itself, including how they will access familiar routines such as sport, hobbies or medical and dental care in the early months, since establishing these can sometimes take longer than expected in a new city.
Housing, neighbourhoods and school choice
In both Riyadh and Jeddah, many families choose their housing location partly based on proximity to their preferred school, since commuting distance and daily traffic can be a significant practical factor, particularly for younger children. Some schools are located within or near residential compounds that house a significant proportion of their student body, which can simplify daily logistics and social life, while other schools draw students from a wider area across the city with dedicated school transport.
Ask prospective schools directly whether they operate a bus service and which neighbourhoods it covers, since this can meaningfully expand or limit your practical housing options if you are not planning to live immediately near the school.
Budgeting for school-related costs
Beyond tuition, moving to Saudi Arabia with children generally involves registration fees, a deposit, and a range of additional costs such as uniforms, textbooks, technology devices, transport and extracurricular activities, all of which vary by school and should be requested directly as part of your school comparison. If your employer is providing education allowance or direct school fee support as part of a relocation package, clarify exactly what is covered and whether it applies to all the additional costs above or tuition alone.
Our guide to school fees in Saudi Arabia covers the general fee landscape and typical additional cost categories in more depth.
Settling siblings of different ages into different stages of school
Families with more than one child often find that each child adjusts to a move at a different pace and in different ways depending on their age and the stage of schooling they are entering. A younger child starting in an early years or primary setting may settle within weeks as routines and friendships form quickly, while an older sibling moving into a senior secondary year partway through a qualification such as IGCSEs or the IB Diploma may face a more involved transition, both academically and socially.
Where possible, it can help to involve older children more directly in researching and visiting schools, given they are often more aware of what they are leaving behind, while younger children generally benefit most from consistency in daily routine once they arrive. If your children will attend different schools, or different campuses within the same school group, factor the resulting logistics, such as separate drop-off times or bus routes, into your housing and commuting decisions from the outset.
Building a support network as a new family
Many newly arrived families in Riyadh and Jeddah find that the school itself becomes an important early source of social connection, through parent associations, school events and other families with children in similar year groups. Residential compounds, where relevant, and broader expatriate community groups can also be valuable sources of practical advice on everything from paediatricians to after-school activities.
It is worth asking prospective schools directly about their parent community and any orientation events for new families, since a strong school community can make a significant difference to how quickly your family feels settled in a new country.
Planning the first term rather than just the first day
It is easy to focus preparation entirely on the first day of school and underprepare for the weeks that follow, when the initial excitement of a new environment can give way to homesickness, tiredness from a new climate and routine, or frustration with unfamiliar academic expectations. Building in some flexibility around the first term, whether that means lighter weekend plans, patience with a child who seems more tired than usual, or simply checking in regularly with teachers about how the settling-in period is going, tends to be more useful than expecting an instant, smooth transition.
Most schools with experience of international families will proactively flag any early concerns, but it is also worth asking directly, a few weeks in, how your child seems to be settling academically and socially, rather than waiting for a scheduled parents' evening, particularly if your child moved mid-year or is new to the school's specific curriculum.
Special educational needs and continuity of support
If your child has an existing learning support plan, a formal diagnosis, or has previously received additional support at school, it is worth raising this directly with prospective schools in Riyadh or Jeddah as early as possible in your planning, since provision for additional needs varies considerably between schools and is not something you want to discover is unavailable only after you have relocated. Ask specifically what a school can offer, whether any additional cost applies, and whether it will want to see recent professional reports or assessments before confirming a place.
Families relocating from a country with strong statutory support frameworks for children with additional needs should be aware that equivalent formal structures may not exist in the same form in Saudi Arabia, which means a school's own internal capability and willingness to support your child matters more directly than it might in some other relocation destinations. Where possible, gather recent reports, assessments and any existing education plan well before your move, since these documents are often the fastest way for a prospective school to understand your child's needs and give you an honest, specific answer.
It is also worth thinking about continuity of any external support your child currently receives, such as speech therapy, occupational therapy or tutoring, and asking prospective schools or your relocation contact what equivalent services exist locally, since availability and quality can vary and arranging this in advance tends to be easier than searching for it after arrival with a child already settling into a new routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start looking for a school before moving to Saudi Arabia?
As early as possible once a move becomes likely, since popular schools and year groups can carry waiting lists in both Riyadh and Jeddah. Starting the search early, even before your exact arrival date or neighbourhood is confirmed, gives you more options and more time to compare schools directly.
Should I choose a school before arriving or wait to visit in person?
Both approaches are common. Choosing before arrival, often with employer support, reduces uncertainty but relies on virtual tours and information from the school. Waiting to visit in person allows a firsthand look but may mean a short gap or temporary arrangement before your child starts. The right choice depends on your circumstances and how competitive your target schools currently are.
Is it better to move at the start of the academic year?
Generally yes, since most schools have more places available at the start of the academic year and children settle in alongside classmates who are also new. A mid-year move is sometimes unavoidable due to work timing, in which case contact prospective schools directly and early, since mid-year admissions vary in how smoothly they are handled.
What documents do I need to enrol my child in a school in Saudi Arabia?
Commonly requested documents include the birth certificate, passport copy, recent school reports or transcripts, a transfer certificate from the previous school, and immunisation records. Requirements vary by school, so confirm the specific list directly with each school you are applying to.
How do I help my child adjust to a new school in Saudi Arabia?
Ask prospective schools what support they offer for new arrivals, such as a buddy system or orientation programme, since many schools with large international populations have experience with this. Involving your child in the school choice where practical, maintaining contact with old friends, and allowing time for adjustment can also help.
Does housing location matter for school choice in Riyadh or Jeddah?
Yes, commuting distance is a significant practical factor for many families, and some schools are closely tied to specific residential compounds while others draw from a wider area with dedicated transport. Ask prospective schools directly whether they run a bus service and which neighbourhoods it covers before finalising your housing decision.
What costs beyond tuition should I budget for when moving with kids?
Beyond tuition, expect registration fees, a deposit, and additional costs such as uniforms, textbooks, technology devices, transport and extracurricular activities, all of which vary by school. Request a full cost breakdown directly from each school, and clarify with your employer exactly what any relocation education allowance covers.
Can my child continue the same curriculum they were studying before moving to Saudi Arabia?
In many cases yes, since British, American, IB and CBSE curriculum schools are all available in Riyadh and Jeddah, but continuity depends on finding a school offering the same specific pathway and stage. Contact prospective schools directly and early, especially if your child is partway through a specific qualification, to discuss transfer feasibility.
Will my children need to adjust to a different school week in Saudi Arabia?
Yes, most schools run Sunday to Thursday in line with the national weekend of Friday and Saturday, which is a genuine adjustment for families used to a Saturday-Sunday weekend. It is worth discussing this change with your children ahead of the move rather than leaving it as a surprise on arrival.
What health or immunisation requirements apply when enrolling a child in Saudi Arabia?
Requirements can vary between schools and depend on broader health and residency processes set by the relevant authorities, so this guide does not state current rules as fact. Confirm current requirements directly with your prospective school and a qualified healthcare provider well ahead of your move.
Will my children settle in at the same pace if they are different ages?
Not necessarily. Younger children often settle quickly once a routine is established, while older children and teenagers can face a more involved social and academic transition, particularly if moving mid-way through a qualification. Give each child individual attention during the settling-in period rather than assuming a uniform pace across siblings.
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