How many British schools in Jeddah
Jeddah has around 9 schools delivering a recognised British curriculum in 2026, defined as schools with Cambridge International or Pearson Edexcel accreditation running through to A Level or AS Level. The British International School of Jeddah (BISJ) is the largest single Cambridge International centre in the city, with around 90 sixth formers across Years 12 and 13. Other significant British curriculum providers include Jeddah Knowledge International School, Al Hussan International, Kingdom Schools International and Al Waha International.
The sector is shaped by the dual market structure that exists across Saudi Arabia. International section schools, like BISJ and AISJ, follow English National Curriculum pacing without significant Saudi overlay for non-Saudi students. National section schools, like Kingdom and Al Hussan, run a parallel Saudi Ministry curriculum integrated with the British curriculum for Saudi students. Both pathways lead to Cambridge IGCSE at Year 11 and A Level at Year 13, but the day-to-day experience differs significantly.
Sixth form cohort sizes are modest but growing. BISJ's sixth form intake has risen by around 25 per cent over the last five years as more Saudi families opt for the British pathway to UK universities. A Level subject choice can therefore be slightly constrained at smaller schools where minority subjects (Further Mathematics, Politics, Music) may not run in a given year, but BISJ and JKIS reliably support eight or nine students per subject across the full Cambridge A Level catalogue.
Fees and the Saudi overlay
British curriculum tuition in Jeddah groups into three rough tiers. The mid-tier Saudi-owned British schools, running from SAR 40,000 to SAR 55,000 a year for IGCSE and A Level, cover Kingdom Schools International, Al Hussan and Al Waha. The premium tier, SAR 60,000 to SAR 85,000, covers JKIS and the upper years at established Saudi-British dual-curriculum schools. The top tier is the British International School of Jeddah at SAR 80,000 to SAR 95,000 a year for sixth form, with the strongest Russell Group placement and the most established UK university counselling team in the city.
The Saudi Ministry of Education requires international British schools to deliver Arabic Language, Saudi Studies and Islamic Studies for all Saudi nationals, plus Arabic Language for other Arab nationals. The Saudi overlay typically takes 4 to 6 lessons a week in lower secondary, dropping to 2 to 3 lessons in IGCSE and A Level. Non-Arab non-Muslim students are typically exempt from Islamic Studies and have a free study period instead. Our Jeddah fees guide walks through the all-in cost picture. The fees comparison tool sets Jeddah British fees against Dubai and Riyadh.
Picking the right British school in Jeddah?
Take our 5 minute school finder quiz. We shortlist three schools based on your child's year group, your budget, your home area and your university destination plans.
Illustrative example schools
The five schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each delivers Cambridge IGCSE or Pearson Edexcel A Level with consistent results and clear university placement.
British International School of Jeddah on the Obhur coastal road is the largest and most established British international school in the western region. Cambridge International accreditation, A Level A and A* rates of 38 per cent in May 2025, and strong Russell Group placement.
Jeddah Knowledge International School in Al Rawdah delivers Cambridge IGCSE alongside the IB MYP, with parallel Cambridge A Level and IB Diploma pathways at sixth form. Strong UK and US dual placement.
Al Hussan International School operates at Al Hamra and North Obhur with Cambridge International accreditation running from Primary through to A Level. Particularly popular with Saudi senior-professional families and a growing British expatriate cohort.
Kingdom Schools International in Al Salamah is the Jeddah arm of the well-established Riyadh-based Kingdom Schools group, delivering Cambridge IGCSE and AS Level alongside a stronger Saudi national curriculum overlay than the Western international schools.
Al Waha International School in Al Faisaliah delivers Cambridge International from Year 1 through Year 13 with smaller cohorts than BISJ. Reasonable fees by Jeddah standards and a long-standing Egyptian and Lebanese expatriate parent base.
Where British families live
British curriculum families in Jeddah cluster around three areas. Obhur and the northern coastal corniche for proximity to BISJ and the British expat compound housing on Cinnamon Compound, Coral Beach Compound and the Movenpick residential cluster. Al Rawdah and Al Hamra for proximity to JKIS, the central business district and Saudi senior-professional family bases, with newer villa compounds along Tahlia Street. Al Salamah and Al Faisaliah for families using Kingdom Schools and Al Waha with closer access to King Abdulaziz International Airport.
The British community in Jeddah is significantly smaller than in Dubai or even Riyadh, with most British expatriates working in oil and gas downstream, healthcare, engineering consultancy or education. The community has stabilised in size over the last decade following the Saudi nationalisation drive in private sector employment. Saudi Arabia attracts internationally mobile families on long-term assignments rather than the 2 to 3 year postings common in the UAE, which is reflected in slightly longer average tenure at Jeddah British schools. Our Jeddah neighbourhoods guide walks through residential options in detail.
Admissions and IGCSE entry points
The Jeddah school year runs August to June, matching the Saudi national calendar. Applications for the August 2026 academic year opened at most Jeddah British schools between September and November 2025. Year 7 and Year 12 are the most competitive entry points: Year 7 because it covers the transition from primary, and Year 12 because it is the start of sixth form. BISJ and JKIS typically close their main intakes by January, with assessment days through February and offers in March.
Mid-year transfers are usually possible up to Year 10. Year 11 transfers are difficult because IGCSE coursework is well underway by January and assessment standards differ between Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel exam boards. Year 13 transfers are essentially never accepted. The Saudi Ministry of Education requires a transfer certificate (Tasdiq) and the child's previous school records authenticated at the Saudi embassy in the home country, with allow 4 to 8 weeks for paperwork on top of the school admissions process itself.
Frequently asked questions
How many British curriculum schools are there in Jeddah?
Jeddah has around 9 schools delivering a recognised British curriculum in 2026, defined as schools with Cambridge International or Pearson Edexcel accreditation running through to A Level or AS Level. Of those, 4 carry through to a full sixth form, with the remainder transitioning Year 11 graduates either to AISJ for the American High School Diploma or out of Jeddah to UK boarding.
How much do British schools in Jeddah cost?
British curriculum tuition in Jeddah ranges from SAR 40,000 a year at mid-tier Saudi-owned schools through to SAR 95,000 at the British International School of Jeddah at A Level. Most premium British schools sit between SAR 60,000 and SAR 85,000 a year for IGCSE and A Level. Transport, lunch and uniforms typically add a further 15 to 20 per cent on top.
What A Level results do Jeddah British schools achieve?
Top Jeddah British schools achieve A and A* rates of 30 to 40 per cent across Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel A Levels. BISJ reported A and A* rates of 38 per cent in May 2025, with strong placement at Russell Group universities including UCL, KCL, Manchester and Bristol. JKIS sixth formers taking A Levels alongside IB achieved 33 per cent A and A* in 2025.
Can Saudi nationals attend British curriculum schools in Jeddah?
Yes. Saudi nationals can enrol in British curriculum schools in Jeddah since the 2017 reforms removed previous restrictions. Most Jeddah British schools now run a 40 to 60 per cent Saudi cohort, with non-Saudi enrolment drawn from British, Egyptian, Pakistani, Indian and Lebanese expatriate families. All Saudi students must take Arabic Language, Saudi Studies and Islamic Studies in addition to the British curriculum core.
Do Jeddah British schools have boarding?
No. Jeddah does not currently have a boarding-equipped British curriculum school. Families wanting boarding within the Cambridge or Pearson Edexcel pathway typically place their children at UK boarding schools, with several Jeddah-based UK boarding consultancies handling 20 to 30 placements a year. Day schooling dominates the Jeddah international education market across all curricula.
Where in Jeddah do British curriculum families tend to live?
British curriculum families in Jeddah cluster around Obhur and the northern coastal corniche for proximity to BISJ, Al Rawdah and Al Hamra for proximity to JKIS, and Al Salamah for proximity to Kingdom Schools. British expatriate families on Aramco assignments out of Jeddah typically live in compound housing on Cinnamon, Coral Beach or Movenpick, all in the northern Obhur cluster.
