SEK International School, Riyadh
Key Stats
Annual Fees: US$9K - US$22K
Curriculum: IB
Age Range: 2-17
Students: ~320
Location: Al Rabieh, Riyadh
Updated April 2026
In Brief
SEK is the best option in Riyadh for families who specifically want the IB framework from Early Years onwards - the school is small, the IB credentials are genuine, and the fees sit well below BISR and AIS-R. The trade-off is that it is still a young school with a limited track record of IB Diploma results.
SEK opened in Riyadh in September 2021 as part of the Vision 2030 education initiative - the school was specifically selected by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City. It operates the IB Primary Years Programme and Middle Years Programme, with Diploma Programme authorisation in progress. The Spanish SEK Education Group behind it has 130-plus years of history and 40-plus years of IB experience across its network, which gives the Riyadh campus a credible foundation even at this early stage.
The Al Rabieh campus is compact - around 320 students at last count - with class sizes averaging 18 and a maximum of 20. Both multilingual and Saudi National students are served: Islamic religion is offered for Muslim families, and the curriculum is adapted to the Saudi context while remaining internationally benchmarked. Trilingual education (English, Spanish, Arabic) distinguishes it from most other international schools in the city.
Parent reviews are mixed: one family described a child who thrived in MYP with high teaching quality and genuine inquiry-based learning; two others cited poor administration and weak academic foundations at the primary level. The school is genuinely young - the first cohort to reach Grade 12 will only do so in the coming years - so IB Diploma results at this specific campus are not yet available. Ask about staff tenure and administrative turnover at the time of your visit.
What parents value
- –Full IB continuum from age 2 is genuinely rare in Riyadh. Families planning a long stay who want consistent IB pedagogy throughout primary and secondary do not have many alternatives at this fee level.
- –Class sizes capped at 20 (average 18) are among the smallest of any established international school in Riyadh. At this scale, teachers typically know individual students well.
- –Fees are substantially lower than BISR and AIS-R at equivalent year groups - SAR 75,000-82,000 for MYP and DP versus over SAR 100,000 at the other two schools. The one-time reservation fee is SAR 8,625 rather than SAR 23,000-plus.
Points of consideration
- –The school has no published IB Diploma results from its Riyadh campus yet. The SEK network globally has strong IB averages (35.3 group average for Class of 2021), but the Riyadh school is still building its senior cohort. A family choosing SEK primarily for IB Diploma outcomes is making a bet on reputation, not local evidence.
- –Administrative consistency has been a concern in parent feedback. The school is still relatively young and has been building its management team - worth asking specific questions about leadership tenure and how complaints are handled.
- –No school bus service is provided. Al Rabieh sits roughly 15 km from the Diplomatic Quarter and 20 km from Al Hamra - families not living nearby will need to arrange their own transport.
Annual Fees
| Year Group | Age | USDTotal Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery (0-1) | 2 | NaN |
| Pre-K1 (PYP 1) | 3 | NaN |
| Pre-K2 (PYP 2) | 4 | NaN |
| KG (PYP 3) | 5 | NaN |
| Grade 1 (PYP 4) | 6 | NaN |
| Grade 2 (PYP 5) | 7 | NaN |
| Grade 3 (PYP 6) | 8 | NaN |
| Grade 4 (PYP 7) | 9 | NaN |
| Grade 5 (PYP 8) | 10 | NaN |
| Grade 6 (MYP 1) | 11 | NaN |
| Grade 7 (MYP 2) | 12 | NaN |
| Grade 8 (MYP 3) | 13 | NaN |
| Grade 9 (MYP 4) | 14 | NaN |
| Grade 10 (MYP 5) | 15 | NaN |
| Grade 11 (DP 1) | 16 | NaN |
| Grade 12 (DP 2) | 17 | NaN |
Fees converted from SAR. For the most up to date and accurate figures please double check with the school.
Additional Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Reservation Fee (non-Saudi) | NaN |
| Re-enrollment Deposit | NaN |
Academic Results
Academic results have not been made publicly available by this school.
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.