20 Changes in Saudi's New Education Law — What Expat Families Should Know

Saudi Arabia has enacted a new General Education Law (نظام التعليم العام). It was approved by Royal Decree, following Cabinet Decision 103 of 7 July 2026, and published in the official gazette Umm Al-Qura on 24 July 2026. The law has 68 articles. It takes effect 180 days after publication, around 20 January 2027. Social-media summaries (for example @News_Ejazah) described it as “20 changes”. Below are 20 key points, checked against the published text, that matter to students, parents and schools, including expat families with children in Saudi schools.

Source: Full text of the law, Umm Al-Qura

Latest Updates — August 17, 2026 Press Conference

At the government press conference on August 17, 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan announced several new measures for the 2026–27 academic year (1448H), reported by Okaz, Arab News and other outlets:

• Teachers leave at the end of the school day. From this academic year, male and female teachers leave according to the approved daily schedule of each school, instead of a single fixed 7-hour attendance window. This may affect afternoon pickup logistics for parents.
• 37,000+ promotions next month. The Ministry will promote more than 28,000 teaching staff and 9,000 administrative staff in September 2026.
• Teaching only within specialisation. The minister said no teacher may teach a subject outside their specialisation.
• Two-semester system is in force. Saudi general-education schools moved from a three-semester to a two-semester calendar (Cabinet-approved for the 2025–26 year and onward).
• Annual increment no longer tied to the professional license. The Ministry decoupled the yearly salary increment from obtaining the professional (career) license. The license is still required to practise teaching, but it no longer blocks the annual raise.

Note: Some social-media summaries also mentioned “Media Talent Schools in Madinah”. We did not find this in the official press-conference coverage we reviewed, so we have not included it.

The 20 key points

Compulsory and free education

1. Compulsory education from age 6 to 15 is now written into law (Article 4)
2. Free education in government schools, which the law describes as a right for everyone (Article 3)
3. Action against keeping children out of school. The Ministry, with other authorities, can take legal action against anyone who deprives a child of compulsory education or causes them to drop out (Article 4)

Language and curriculum

4. Arabic is the base language of general education. Teaching in an additional language is allowed under rules set by the council (Article 5)
5. At least one foreign language. Learning at least one foreign language is one of the law’s goals (Article 2)
6. Islamic values and national identity are among the law’s stated goals (Article 2)
7. National curriculum framework. The Ministry, ETEC and the National Curriculum Center prepare the national curriculum framework. Free textbooks are provided to schools that use the government curriculum (Articles 27 and 29)

Tracks and pathways

8. Education tracks. The Ministry sets tracks within general education, with rules for moving between them (Article 17)
9. Vocational and specialised tracks linked to labour-market needs, with rules for moving to technical and vocational programmes run by other bodies (Articles 17–18)
10. Specialised government schools or classes can be set up for areas such as Qur’an, mathematics, science, technology, programming, arts and humanities (Article 13)

Student support

11. Gifted students. Programmes to identify and support them, plus rules for fast-tracking high achievers to a higher stage (Articles 22–23)
12. Inclusion of students with disabilities in schools, with suitable teaching and assessment, plus specialised centres for those who cannot be included (Articles 20–21)
13. Early detection programmes for developmental and behavioural disorders (Article 19)
14. Student guidance and rights. The Ministry runs student guidance. Students’ rights include a safe environment, primary health care at school and receiving their pass certificate “without restriction or condition” (Articles 38 and 41)

Governance, teachers and schools

15. A new General Education Affairs Council, chaired by the Minister of Education. It sets policies, admission ages, the school calendar (for Cabinet approval) and rules for private and virtual schools (Articles 7–8)
16. Teacher rules. The council approves conditions for contracting teachers and rules for qualifying them to teach outside their specialisation. Gross misconduct can lead to dismissal and a ban from teaching (Articles 8, 46 and 59)
17. Licensed virtual (online) schools under council regulations. Education stays in person, with technology used as part of it (Articles 8 and 24)
18. Assessment and accreditation. Schools apply the national and international tests run by ETEC, and private schools must be accredited by ETEC or an international body it recognises (Article 30)

Private and international schools (most relevant to expat families)

19. Private and international schools. International programmes in private schools need Ministry approval, private schools must teach the national identity subjects, and foreign investment in private education is encouraged (Articles 28, 31 and 36)
20. Fees, transfers and penalties. The Ministry sets criteria for private schools to change fees, which the council approves. It also sets rules for transferring students between schools inside and outside the Kingdom. Private schools that break the rules face penalties from a warning up to fines of SAR 5,000–50,000 or licence cancellation (Articles 13, 35 and 60)

What this means for expat families

Children in Saudi government schools

• Attendance is compulsory from age 6 to 15, so make sure your child attends regularly
• Vocational and specialised tracks may offer alternatives if your child prefers practical skills over academic study
• Gifted programmes are covered by the law. Ask your school about screening

Children in Indian schools (CBSE/ICSE)

• Indian schools are private schools running an approved international programme. They keep their board syllabus but must meet the private-school rules (accreditation, national identity subjects)
• Transfers between schools inside and outside Saudi Arabia will follow Ministry rules. This matters for students moving back to India

School fee management

• Private schools can change fees only within the criteria the Ministry sets and the council approves
• To keep track of school expenses, you could use a digital account such as SNB Neo (referral link)

Implementation timeline

• Published: 24 July 2026 (Umm Al-Qura)
• In force: 180 days after publication, around 20 January 2027
• Details to follow: many specifics (admission ages, private-school, virtual-school and fee rules) will come in regulations from the Ministry and the new council

Related guides

• Saudi General Education System — Expat Impact
• Schools Reopening — Expat Family Guide
• Indian Schools Admission Guide
• List of Indian Schools in Saudi Arabia

References

1. General Education Law, full text — Umm Al-Qura, 24 July 2026
2. Saudi Ministry of Education — moe.gov.sa
3. Saudi Gazette — New education law explained
4. Minister of Education press conference, Riyadh, 17 Aug 2026 — Okaz report; Arab News report
5. Saudi Press Agency — decoupling annual increment from professional license (18 Nov 2024) — spa.gov.sa/N2209273
6. Saudi Cabinet approves two-semester system for general education (2025) — moe.gov.sa news

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