Al Faris International School, Riyadh
Key Stats
Annual Fees: US$11K - US$13K
Curriculum: IB · American
Age Range: 3-18
Students: ~2,400
Location: Al Tawun, Riyadh
Updated April 2026
In Brief
Al Faris is the right call for families who specifically want a long-established full IB continuum school in Riyadh at a mid-range price point - but go in knowing that parent feedback is mixed and the 2025-26 campus move has introduced some transitional challenges.
Al Faris is one of the few schools in Riyadh with a genuine 20-plus year history of IB: PYP authorised since 2017, MYP authorised since 2017, DP authorised since 2016 and Cognia-accredited for its American Diploma track. The school moved to a new campus in Al Tawun for the 2025-26 academic year, relocating from its original location on Abi Saad Ibn Muhammad Street. With around 2,400 students from Pre-K to Grade 12, it is substantially larger than most IB schools in Riyadh. The head since at least 2024 is Mrs Sahar Al Marzouki.
The academic programme is multilingual - English, Arabic, and French are all taught. The IB DP class of 2018 achieved an average of 35 points (well above the global mean), though this is the most recent published figure. The school uses Common Core State Standards and NGSS alongside IB frameworks, and students can qualify for both an IB Diploma and an American Diploma at graduation. Entry requires a competitive entrance exam in English, maths, and science - which self-selects a reasonably strong student cohort.
Parent feedback is polarised. One family described the school as genuinely inquiry-led with high teaching quality; two others were sharply critical: one cited the 2025-26 campus transition as chaotic - no labs, no playground, no internet for the first month of school - and described administration as inaccessible. A third called the IB implementation superficial. The school is unlikely to be a destination choice for Western families seeking a traditional international school experience; it sits closer to the locally-rooted Saudi international school model.
What parents value
- –Full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP) plus an accredited American Diploma - the dual-qualification option at Grade 11-12 gives graduates flexible university pathways to both US and IB-recognising institutions.
- –Fees are among the most competitive for a full-continuum IB school in Riyadh: SAR 42,000-50,000 versus SAR 82,000-plus at SEK and SAR 61,000-75,000 at Advanced Learning Schools.
- –Established in 2004, the school has a genuine track record spanning more than two decades. The IB DP class of 2018 achieved a 35-point average - a strong result if consistent across subsequent cohorts.
Points of consideration
- –The 2025-26 campus move to the new Al Tawun site introduced significant teething problems reported by multiple families - incomplete facilities and poor parent communication in the first weeks of term. Worth visiting and asking specifically about the current state of the new campus before enrolling.
- –Parent feedback is polarised and the most recent IB results publicly available are from 2018. Ask the school directly for cohort results from the last three years.
- –The entrance exam (English, maths, science) may be a barrier for students who are not strong English-language learners. No EAL support is mentioned on the school website.
Annual Fees
| Year Group | Age | USDTotal Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| KG1-KG3 | 3 | NaN |
| Grades 1-5 | 6 | NaN |
| Grades 6-9 | 11 | NaN |
| Grades 10-12 | 15 | NaN |
Fees converted from SAR. For the most up to date and accurate figures please double check with the school.
Additional Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Registration Fee | NaN |
Academic Results
| IB Diploma Average | 35 pts (Class of 2018) |
Key results: IB Diploma Average 35 pts (Class of 2018).
Extra Curriculars
Contact the school for details on co-curricular activities and facilities. Ask what a normal week looks like outside lessons for your child's age group and interests.
Inspections & Accreditations
Inspection
No published inspection details are currently available.
Accreditations
Accreditation details are not publicly listed.
Memberships
Membership details are not publicly listed.
Student Body
Riyadh's international schools serve a diverse community of families on corporate assignments and long-term residents. Contact the school for current enrolment details and nationality breakdown.
Leadership
School leadership
Contact the school for current leadership details.