On this page
Who lives in Al Mohammadiyah
Al Mohammadiyah is a district in the north of Jeddah, lying inland from the Corniche along Prince Sultan Street, and it reads as a settled residential area rather than a commercial or old-town district. It draws a mix of Saudi professional families and a steady international community, many of them diplomatic and corporate households who choose north Jeddah for its compounds, schools and proximity to the coast. The appeal is a calmer, family focused base with gated security and the Red Sea waterfront within easy reach. The resident community is well served by compounds, malls and clinics, and the district benefits from Jeddah's more relaxed lifestyle compared with the capital. To see how Al Mohammadiyah fits the wider city, start with our international schools in Jeddah directory.
Schools in and near Al Mohammadiyah
Al Mohammadiyah is home to the British International School of Jeddah, a long established co-educational school in the district that follows the English National Curriculum through IGCSE and offers the IB Diploma, accredited within the British Schools in the Middle East group. The wider northern and coastal city adds the rest of Jeddah's expat options: the American International School of Jeddah offers a US programme with Advanced Placement, Jeddah Knowledge International School runs the IB continuum, and the German International School Jeddah serves German speaking families. Demand for popular year groups is high, so apply early.
For the full list with curricula, stages and admissions windows, use the Jeddah schools directory, and read our guides to the coastal expat districts at living in Al Shati and living in Al Hamra. Families weighing the British route can read our British curriculum guide, while our Jeddah primary school fees guide sets out the bands, the school finder quiz shortlists options against your priorities, and parent Jeddah school reviews add first hand perspective.
Commute and catchment
Saudi Arabia does not run residential catchments for international schools, so admission is by application rather than by address and an Al Mohammadiyah home does not reserve a place at any school, though living near the British International School makes the daily run far easier. The district sits well for the northern school cluster and the Corniche, connected by Prince Sultan Street, the coastal road and the city's main arteries. The school run in Jeddah almost always means driving or a school bus, and many families use a driver, especially given the summer heat. Plan journeys around the morning peak on the main roads, and factor school bus routes into your choice of compound.
Housing and cost of living
Housing in Al Mohammadiyah spans gated compounds with villas, shared pools and play areas, alongside apartment blocks along the main streets. The cost profile is mid to upper for Jeddah: compound villas command a premium for the security, amenities and northern location near schools and the coast, while apartments offer a more accessible entry point. When you add international school fees and a car or driver to compound rent, Al Mohammadiyah lands as a comfortable mid to premium choice. Model the full picture, rent, schooling and transport, with our relocation cost calculator, and read the wider Jeddah relocation guide for visas, healthcare and setting up. Treat any specific rent figure you see as indicative, the market moves, so verify current asking rents before you budget.
Family life
Daily family life in Al Mohammadiyah is built around the compounds, the Corniche and the malls of north Jeddah. Compounds provide the social heart for many expat families, with pools, play areas, community events and a settled international scene, while the Red Sea waterfront and the Corniche give space for weekends and outdoor life. Jeddah's relaxed, coastal lifestyle, with swimming, dining and outdoor culture, is a large part of why families choose this part of the city over more conservative inland options. Healthcare is good, with private hospitals and clinics across the north. The trade off is that the district is residential rather than a nightlife or heritage hub, which suits families who want calm, space and schools close by.
Budget your move to Al Mohammadiyah
Model Al Mohammadiyah compound or apartment rent, school fees and transport together before you commit to the area.
Open the relocation cost calculatorLiving in Al Mohammadiyah, Jeddah: FAQ
Al Mohammadiyah is home to the British International School of Jeddah, which runs the English National Curriculum through IGCSE and the IB Diploma, and the district sits close to north Jeddah's wider school cluster. The American International School of Jeddah, Jeddah Knowledge International School and the German International School Jeddah all serve families across the northern and coastal districts. See the Jeddah schools directory for curricula and admissions detail.
Al Mohammadiyah suits families who want a north Jeddah base close to the Corniche, international schools and compound living. It is a residential district north of the centre with gated compounds, apartments and easy access to the coastal road, which is why many diplomatic and corporate families settle in this part of the city.
Yes, in practice. Jeddah is built around driving, school runs and daily errands usually mean a car or a driver, and the summer heat makes walking impractical for much of the year. Public transport is limited, so most expat families budget for a car or a driver as part of the move.
Al Mohammadiyah sits in the mid to upper range of the Jeddah family market. Compound villas and apartments command a premium for the location, security and amenities, and international school fees are a separate large cost. Model rent, fees and transport together with the relocation cost calculator before you commit.
Family life in Al Mohammadiyah centres on the compounds, the Corniche and the malls of north Jeddah. Compounds provide pools, play areas and a settled international community, the Red Sea coast and waterfront are close for weekends, and private healthcare is good. Jeddah's relaxed, outdoor lifestyle is a large part of the appeal for families in this part of the city.