How many IB schools in Jeddah
Jeddah currently has 6 schools authorised by the International Baccalaureate Organization. Of those, 4 carry through to the full Diploma Programme at sixth form: the American International School of Jeddah (AISJ), Jeddah Knowledge International School (JKIS), British International School of Jeddah (BISJ) and Continental School Jeddah. The remaining two schools run only the Primary Years Programme or Middle Years Programme, with secondary cohorts transitioning to IGCSE or the American High School Diploma. Jeddah Knowledge was the first IB authorisation in the western region of Saudi Arabia.
This is a small but well-resourced ecosystem. Riyadh has 9 IB schools, Dubai has 32, and Doha has 11. Jeddah sits closer to Bahrain (5) or Muscat (4) in scale. The implication for families is that the choice set is narrow, the schools all know each other, and competition for places at the Diploma sixth form runs particularly hot because three of the four Diploma schools cap their Year 12 cohort at around 60 students.
The IB community in Jeddah is increasingly Saudi-led. Following 2017 reforms that removed restrictions on Saudi national enrolment in international schools, Saudi students now make up between 25 and 60 per cent of cohorts at every Jeddah IB school. JKIS runs a 45 per cent Saudi cohort with the remainder drawn from Egyptian, Lebanese, Pakistani, American and British families. AISJ retains the strongest American and Western expat representation, with Saudi nationals at around 30 per cent of the secondary cohort.
Fees and the Saudi curriculum overlay
IB tuition in Jeddah groups into three rough tiers. The mid-tier IB providers, running from SAR 45,000 to SAR 60,000 a year, cover Continental School and Manarat. The premium British and American tier, SAR 75,000 to SAR 95,000, covers BISJ and JKIS. The top tier is the American International School of Jeddah at SAR 100,000 to SAR 110,000 for the Diploma Programme. All schools quote tuition in Saudi riyals with capital fees and capital development levies on top, typically SAR 8,000 to SAR 20,000 at first enrolment.
The Saudi Ministry of Education requires international schools to deliver Arabic Language, Saudi Studies (covering history, geography and civics) and Islamic Studies for all Saudi nationals, and Arabic Language for non-Saudi Arab nationals. This shapes the IB Diploma timetable at Jeddah schools, where Arabic A or B and Islamic Studies sit alongside the standard IB six-subject group structure. Our Jeddah fees guide walks through the all-in cost picture in detail. The fees comparison tool shows IB tuition across cities side by side.
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Illustrative example schools
The five schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each has IB authorisation, a track record of Diploma results, and a clear identity in the Jeddah market.
American International School of Jeddah in Al Faisaliah is the largest and most established Western international school in the western region, with a full PYP, MYP and IB Diploma continuum alongside an American High School Diploma pathway. May 2025 Diploma average of 34 points across 58 candidates, with strong US and Canadian university placement.
Jeddah Knowledge International School in Al Rawdah was the first IB authorisation in the western region of Saudi Arabia and remains the largest IB Diploma cohort in Jeddah. Strong UK and US dual placement, with Cambridge IGCSE delivered alongside the IB MYP at Years 10 and 11.
British International School of Jeddah on the Obhur coastal road runs the IB Diploma alongside Cambridge A Level at sixth form, giving Year 11 leavers a choice of pathway. Strong Russell Group placement.
Continental School Jeddah in Al Hamra delivers the IB Diploma in a smaller cohort setting, with strong individual support and a noticeable European parent demographic. Reasonable fees by Jeddah standards.
Manarat Al Riyadh International in Al Salamah is a Saudi-owned IB World School running the PYP and MYP with feeder transition into IGCSE and A Level at sixth form. Strong Arabic-medium provision alongside the IB English-medium pathway.
Where IB families live
IB families in Jeddah cluster around three areas. Obhur and the northern coastal strip for proximity to BISJ and AISJ, with most Western expat compound housing along the Corniche and at Cinnamon Compound, Coral Beach and the Movenpick residential cluster. Al Rawdah and Al Hamra in central Jeddah 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 Andalus for families using Continental School and Manarat with closer access to King Abdulaziz International Airport for frequently-travelling parents.
The IB community in Jeddah attracts internationally mobile families on shorter assignments who value curriculum portability, Saudi families with explicit university ambitions abroad, and an established Egyptian-Lebanese expatriate cluster that has lived in Jeddah for two or three generations. Jeddah commuting is far easier than Lagos or Cairo, with most school runs taking 20 to 35 minutes in normal conditions. Our Jeddah neighbourhoods guide walks through the residential geography in more detail.
Admissions calendar
The Jeddah school year runs August to June, matching the Saudi national calendar rather than the British September-July rhythm. Applications for the August 2026 academic year opened at most Jeddah IB schools between September and November 2025. AISJ and JKIS typically close their main intakes for the Diploma Programme by mid-January, with assessment days through February and offers in March. BISJ and Continental run rolling admissions through to May where capacity exists.
Mid-year transfers from August to January are usually possible at all four Diploma providers, although Diploma Programme transfers after October of the first year are difficult because subject choices and internal assessments are already underway. For families relocating in January, the typical strategy is to enrol the child in Year 11 IGCSE for the remainder of the academic year, then start the Diploma fresh in August. 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. Allow 4 to 8 weeks for paperwork in addition to the school's own admissions assessment.
Frequently asked questions
How many IB schools are there in Jeddah?
Jeddah has 6 schools authorised by the International Baccalaureate Organization as of 2026. Of those, 4 run the full IB Diploma at sixth form, with the remainder offering only the Primary Years Programme or Middle Years Programme. Jeddah Knowledge International School was the first authorised IB school in the western region of Saudi Arabia.
How much do IB schools in Jeddah cost?
IB Diploma tuition in Jeddah ranges from SAR 45,000 a year at the mid-tier IB schools through to SAR 110,000 at the American International School of Jeddah. Most premium IB providers in Jeddah sit between SAR 75,000 and SAR 95,000 a year for sixth form. Transport, lunch, exam fees and uniforms typically add a further 15 to 20 per cent on top of headline tuition.
What is the average IB Diploma score in Jeddah?
The American International School of Jeddah and Jeddah Knowledge International School consistently report Diploma averages of 33 to 35 points, above the global IB average of 30.3. May 2025 results from JKIS included 11 students scoring 40 or above out of 45, with the year's top student achieving 44 points and a place at Imperial College London.
Can Saudi nationals attend international IB schools in Jeddah?
Yes. Reforms over the past decade have removed the previous restrictions on Saudi national enrolment in international schools. As of 2026, Saudi students make up between 25 and 60 per cent of enrolment at most Jeddah IB schools, with Jeddah Knowledge International School and the American International School of Jeddah both running 40 to 50 per cent Saudi cohorts.
Where in Jeddah do IB families tend to live?
IB families in Jeddah cluster around three areas: Obhur and the northern coastal strip for proximity to BISJ, AISJ and several premium villa compounds; Al Rawdah and Al Hamra for proximity to JKIS, the central business district and Saudi senior-professional family base; and Al Salamah and Al Andalus for families using Continental School and Manarat with closer access to King Abdulaziz International Airport.
