At a glance
Al Sahwa Schools opened in 1993 and has grown into one of the larger international communities in the Omani capital, with a student body drawn from more than thirty nationalities. It is owned in connection with the Royal Office and the Royal Oman Police, a heritage that shapes its bilingual, values led character. Most notably it is a fully authorised IB World School offering all three International Baccalaureate programmes, which places it alongside the longest established IB providers in the city. You can set it in the wider market through our guide to international schools in Muscat.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and programmes | IB Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes; Oman General Education Diploma in the final years |
| Stages | Kindergarten to Grade 12 |
| Languages | Bilingual, English and Arabic |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Status | Authorised IB World School (MYP and DP authorised 2020 to 2021) |
| Campus | Shatti Al Qurum, Muscat |
Curriculum and academics
Al Sahwa runs the International Baccalaureate continuum end to end. The Primary Years Programme covers kindergarten through Grade 5 and builds an inquiry led foundation across subjects. The Middle Years Programme then carries Grades 6 to 10, asking students to connect their learning to real contexts. In the final two years the school combines the Oman General Education Diploma with the IB Diploma Programme, so leavers can hold both a nationally recognised qualification and an international one valued by universities worldwide. Authorisation for the Middle Years and Diploma Programmes was confirmed across 2020 and 2021, completing the school's path to full IB World School status.
What sets Al Sahwa apart from several of its peers is that it is genuinely bilingual. English and Arabic sit side by side through the school rather than Arabic being confined to a single timetabled lesson, and the curriculum is rooted in Omani culture and values. For families who want their children to leave Muscat fluent in Arabic as well as fully prepared for an English medium university, that balance is the central draw. Families weighing the IB against other routes can read our overview of the International Baccalaureate and compare the city's providers in our roundup of the best IB schools in Muscat.
Al Sahwa Schools fees
Al Sahwa is widely placed in the value to mid part of the Muscat market rather than at the premium end occupied by the largest American and British campuses. Third party school listings indicate annual tuition rising from the low thousands of Omani rials in the early years to the mid thousands at diploma level, but these figures are indicative only and the school revises its schedule each year. Treat any quoted band as a starting point and request the current fee sheet directly from admissions. Sense check whatever you are quoted against our guide to international school fees in Muscat, which sets out how the city's value, mid and premium tiers compare.
Beyond tuition, budget for a registration or assessment charge, a refundable deposit and optional extras such as transport, uniform, books and examination entry in the diploma years. These line items are normal across Muscat but still lift the first year total, so weigh the full package, not the headline tuition, when you compare schools.
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Admissions
Admission runs across the academic year, which begins around the start of September. The process is age appropriate, drawing on previous school reports and, for older applicants, a placement check in English, Arabic and mathematics so the school can confirm a child will cope with bilingual study. Families are asked for prior academic records and the usual identity and residence documents at application. Because Al Sahwa is well known and its diploma cohort is capped, popular year groups fill ahead of the new academic year, so apply as soon as a relocation to Muscat is confirmed and ask admissions about current availability in your child's grade.
Location and who goes there
The school sits in Shatti Al Qurum, a coastal residential district that is one of the most popular parts of Muscat with both international and Omani families. It is within easy reach of the diplomatic quarter, the beach and the main commercial areas of the capital, and well connected to the residential pockets where many expatriate families settle. Al Sahwa's cohort reflects that mix: a large Omani base alongside families from more than thirty nationalities, which makes it a more locally grounded community than some of the city's fully expatriate campuses. For the broader picture of where families live and how the school market is structured, return to the Muscat city hub.
Reviews
No verified reviews yet. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish parent reviews only once they are verified. If your child attends or has attended Al Sahwa Schools, you can submit a review to help other relocating families. We never display a star rating without real, checked reviews behind it.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Al Sahwa Schools fees?
Al Sahwa sits in the value to mid part of the Muscat market. Third party listings place annual tuition broadly in the low to mid thousands of Omani rials, rising with year group, but the school revises fees yearly and issues the current schedule on request, so treat any figure as indicative and confirm directly. Budget separately for registration, a deposit and optional transport and examination costs.
Is Al Sahwa Schools an IB World School?
Yes. Al Sahwa is authorised to offer all three International Baccalaureate programmes, the Primary Years Programme, the Middle Years Programme and the Diploma Programme, with authorisation for the MYP and DP confirmed in 2020 and 2021. It is bilingual in English and Arabic.
What curriculum does Al Sahwa Schools follow?
Al Sahwa follows the International Baccalaureate framework across primary and middle years, and in the final two years combines the Oman General Education Diploma with the IB Diploma Programme. Teaching is bilingual, in English and Arabic, rooted in Omani values.
When do Al Sahwa Schools applications open?
Admission runs across the academic year, which begins around the start of September. Popular year groups fill ahead of the new year, so families relocating to Muscat should apply as soon as a move is confirmed and request current availability from admissions.
Where is Al Sahwa Schools located?
The school is in Shatti Al Qurum, a coastal residential district of Muscat popular with international and Omani families, within reach of the diplomatic quarter and the main commercial areas of the capital.
