At a glance
Al Waha International School opened in 1992 to meet the needs of Jeddah's growing expatriate community and began life as the Jeddah Montessori School before broadening into a full British curriculum school. It now teaches from the early years through to Grade 12, taught in English alongside the Arabic and Islamic Studies that schools in Saudi Arabia provide. As a Cambridge International Associate School accredited by Cognia, it offers a recognised British pathway at a fee level that undercuts the city's premium names. You can place it within the wider market of international schools in Jeddah through our city hub.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | British curriculum (National Curriculum of England and Wales); Cambridge IGCSE and A Level |
| Stages | Early years through Grade 12 |
| Founded | 1992 (formerly the Jeddah Montessori School) |
| Accreditation | Cognia; Cambridge International Associate School |
| Fee band | Value to mid (see the Jeddah city hub) |
| Campus area | Al Rehab, Jeddah |
Curriculum and academics
Al Waha follows the British curriculum, adapted from the National Curriculum of England and Wales, so the progression of subjects and year groups will be familiar to families moving from a British school anywhere in the world. The senior pupils in Grades 9 to 12 prepare for the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education at IGCSE and then the Advanced Level examinations, the two qualifications that British universities and many institutions across the Gulf and beyond recognise. As a Cambridge International Associate School the school runs those examinations under Cambridge oversight, and its Cognia accreditation reflects a periodic external review of how it is run. As a Saudi private school it also teaches Arabic and Islamic Studies in line with national requirements. We describe the programme in the terms the school itself uses and do not publish examination figures we cannot verify, so ask the school directly for recent IGCSE and A Level results and university destinations.
Al Waha International School fees
Al Waha International School fees sit in the value to mid band for Jeddah, which is typical for an established British curriculum school rather than a premium international school that recruits most of its staff overseas. Annual tuition rises by year group, with the senior years that lead to A Level the most expensive stage. We do not print a single headline figure here because the school revises fees each year and issues the current schedule to applicants, and you can place the band in context through the Jeddah city hub. Beyond tuition, budget for a registration fee, books and materials and optional transport. To model a full year across tuition and the extras, use our school fee calculator and adjust the inputs to your child's year group.
Work out the real annual cost
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Admissions
Admission runs across the academic year, which in Saudi Arabia typically starts in August or September, with the main intake at the start of the year and places offered into other year groups where space exists. Families relocating to Jeddah should apply ahead of the year they need a place, as popular year groups in established schools fill early. Assessment is age appropriate, with readiness checks for the youngest children and curriculum based testing in English and mathematics for older applicants, alongside reports from the previous school. The school sets out the documents it asks for, including residency and transfer papers, during the application, which matters for families moving into the Kingdom on a new visa.
Location and who goes there
The school sits in the Al Rehab district of Jeddah, a residential part of the city that places it within reach of families across several central neighbourhoods. As a British curriculum school at an accessible fee level, it draws a broad expatriate mix, including families from across the Arab world, South Asia and the wider Commonwealth who want the British pathway without the premium price tag. The right school in Jeddah usually comes down to the curriculum you want, the fee band you can sustain across several years and the commute, so it is worth visiting in person and comparing shortlisted schools side by side. For the wider picture of where families settle across the city and how the schools compare, return to the Jeddah 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 Waha International School, 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 Waha International School fees?
Al Waha International School fees sit in the value to mid band for Jeddah, which is typical for an established British curriculum school rather than a premium school staffed largely with overseas hires. Tuition rises by year group, with the senior years that lead to A Level the most expensive. Budget separately for registration, books and optional transport. The school issues current rates to applicants.
Is Al Waha International School a good school?
Al Waha International School is a long established Jeddah school, founded in 1992 and once known as the Jeddah Montessori School. It teaches the British curriculum to IGCSE and A Level and is a Cambridge International Associate School accredited by Cognia. Whether it suits your child depends on budget, the British pathway you want and proximity to Al Rehab.
What curriculum does Al Waha International School follow?
It follows the British curriculum, adapted from the National Curriculum of England and Wales, with senior pupils sitting Cambridge IGCSE and A Level examinations, taught in English alongside the Arabic and Islamic Studies required in Saudi Arabia.
When do Al Waha International School applications open?
Admission runs across the academic year, which in Saudi Arabia typically starts in August or September. Apply ahead of the year you need a place, as popular year groups fill early.
Where is Al Waha International School located?
The school is in the Al Rehab district of Jeddah, a residential area of the city.
