Saudi Launches New General Education System — What Indian Expat Families Should Know

Saudi Arabia has officially approved a new General Education Law (نظام التعليم العام), the first full law covering schooling from nursery to Grade 12. It was approved by Royal Decree, following Cabinet Decision 103 of 22/1/1448H (7 July 2026), and published in the official gazette Umm Al-Qura on 24 July 2026. It takes effect 180 days after publication, around 20 January 2027. If you’re an Indian expat family with children in Saudi schools, here’s what the law actually says.

What is the new General Education Law?

The Saudi Center for Government Communication (@CGCSaudi) announced it as “a new journey in education in the Kingdom”. The law has 68 articles. The points most relevant to families are:

• Compulsory education from age 6 to 15, and education is free in government schools
• Arabic is the base language of general education. Teaching in an additional language is allowed under rules set by a new council
• A new General Education Affairs Council, chaired by the Minister of Education. It sets admission ages, rules for private and international schools, the school calendar (for Cabinet approval) and rules for gifted students and students with disabilities
• Tracks, including vocational or specialised tracks linked to labour-market needs, with rules for moving between tracks
• Inclusion of students with disabilities and programmes for gifted students, including rules for fast-tracking high achievers
• Licensed virtual (online) schools, under regulations the council will approve. Education stays in person, with technology used as part of it
• Private schools, including foreign-owned and international schools, must be accredited by the Education and Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC) or an international body it recognises, and must teach the national identity subjects approved by the National Curriculum Center

Sources: Full text, Umm Al-Qura; Cabinet decision; Saudi Gazette explainer; @CGCSaudi announcement on X

What this means for Indian expat children

If your child is in a Saudi government school

• Attendance is compulsory from age 6 to 15. The ministry can take legal action against anyone who keeps a child out of school during these years
• Admission ages and the school calendar will be set under the new council
• Students have rights written into the law, including a safe learning environment, primary health care at school and receiving their pass certificate after completing the year “without restriction or condition”

If your child is in an Indian school (CBSE/ICSE)

• Indian curriculum schools are private schools and follow their own board syllabus, approved as an international programme by the Ministry
• Under the law, private schools must hold accreditation (from ETEC or an international body it recognises) and teach the national identity subjects
• The Ministry will set criteria for private schools to change their fees, which the council approves. Schools can then set and adjust fees within those criteria
• Stay in touch with your school administration for any changes

If your child is about to enroll

• Check with the school about admission rules for the coming year
• The council will set the admission age for general education
• The Ministry will set rules for transferring students between schools inside and outside Saudi Arabia

What Indian parents should do

1. Contact your school

Ask specifically:

• Will the new law change anything for my child’s grade or curriculum?
• Is the school’s accreditation in place?
• Are there changes to admission ages or the school calendar?
• Are fees changing under the new criteria?

2. Monitor official announcements

Follow:

• @CGCSaudi (Center for Government Communication)
• @MOE_SaudiArabia (Ministry of Education)
• Your school’s official communication channels

3. Prepare for potential changes

• Most detailed rules (regulations) will be issued later by the Ministry and the new council
• The law takes effect around 20 January 2027
• School fees: private schools must follow the fee-change criteria once they are approved

4. Consider alternatives

If the changes significantly affect your child’s education:

• Indian schools (CBSE/ICSE) keep their own curriculum, within the private-school rules
• International schools follow their approved international programmes
• Licensed virtual schools are allowed under the law, once the council issues their regulations

How to open a bank account for school fees

If you need to manage school fee payments, you could consider SNB Neo (referral link), a digital banking app from Saudi National Bank, to keep track of education expenses.

Related guides

• List of Indian Schools in Saudi Arabia
• Indian Schools Admission Guide
• Saudi School Admission Guide for Indians
• Biometric Registration for Children

References

1. General Education Law, full text — Umm Al-Qura, 24 July 2026
2. Saudi Gazette — New education law explained (25 July 2026)
3. Saudi Ministry of Education — moe.gov.sa

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Education policies may change. Always verify with your school and the Ministry of Education before making decisions.