King Faisal School was established in 1991 by the King Faisal Foundation as a not for profit institution, and it holds a notable place in the city as the first school in Saudi Arabia to offer all three International Baccalaureate programmes. It sits among the leading Riyadh international schools and is one of the established names on the city's Riyadh IB schools hub, distinguished by an IB continuum, a charitable foundation behind it and a campus near the Diplomatic Quarter.
This profile sets out the programme, the fee position, the admissions route and the community around the school. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so what follows is an editorial reference rather than a prospectus. King Faisal School is one of the campuses we cover in our guide to the IB schools in Riyadh, where families compare the city's IB World Schools side by side.
King Faisal School at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | International Baccalaureate continuum: PYP, MYP and Diploma Programme; an accredited American High School Diploma option in the final two years |
|---|---|
| Stage range | Pre primary to Grade 12, roughly ages 4 to 18 |
| Founded | 1991, by the King Faisal Foundation, as a not for profit school |
| Accreditation | International Baccalaureate authorised for all three programmes; American Diploma accredited by Cognia; recognised by the Saudi Ministry of Education |
| Fee band | Not published by the school; upper tier for Riyadh (see Riyadh fees guide) |
| Campus area | Al Safarat, near the Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh |
Curriculum and academics
King Faisal School runs the full International Baccalaureate continuum, the Primary Years Programme from the early years to Grade 5, the Middle Years Programme across the middle grades and the Diploma Programme in the final two years, taught in English with Arabic and Islamic studies woven through. Families who want the structured, inquiry led progression of the IB curriculum will find the complete pathway here, which is rare in the city given the school was the first in the Kingdom to be authorised for all three programmes.
In the final two years students may take an accredited American High School Diploma alongside or instead of the IB Diploma, which gives a second route recognised by universities, particularly in the United States. The school reports strong Diploma outcomes, and as a foundation backed not for profit it reinvests in its programme rather than distributing surplus. Ask the admissions team for the most recent Diploma results, the average points score and the university destinations, which the school shares with prospective families.
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King Faisal School fees
King Faisal School does not make its tuition public, so treat any third party figure with caution and confirm the current schedule with the school directly. On the evidence of its full IB authorisation, its long track record and its campus near the Diplomatic Quarter, it sits in the upper tier of the Riyadh market for academic credentials, though as a not for profit foundation school its pricing should be checked against the commercial campuses. Its position is mapped in our Riyadh school fees guide, which sets out the tiers across the city in Saudi riyals.
Plan for the costs that sit above headline tuition. International schools in Riyadh typically charge a registration or assessment fee on application, a deposit to hold a place, and separate charges for transport, uniform and examination entry in the Diploma years. Budget for annual fee inflation as well, since the city guide tracks rises of several per cent a year, and ask whether any foundation supported places or sibling arrangements apply.
Admissions and intake
The academic year begins in August and King Faisal School admits subject to availability and to an entrance assessment, with the early years and the start of the Middle Years the natural entry points. Assessment checks English and, depending on the grade, Arabic and mathematics, alongside prior school reports, and as a selective school it can be competitive at the most sought after entry years.
Places are limited, so register early once a move to Riyadh is confirmed. Applications are made through the school and require recent reports, passport documentation and, for transfers, a leaving record from the previous school. Confirm the exact assessment and the documents required for your child's grade with the admissions team before you apply.
Location and who goes there
The campus is in the Al Safarat area near the Diplomatic Quarter of Riyadh, close to the embassies and to the residential districts and compounds where many internationally mobile families live. As a day school the daily commute matters, so weigh the location against your likely neighbourhood and your employer's location before committing.
Pupils come from a mix of Saudi and expatriate households drawn to the IB continuum and the school's standing. For the wider picture of how the IB, American and British schools sit across the city, including fee tiers and neighbourhoods, see the Riyadh schools hub.
King Faisal School reviews
No verified parent reviews of King Faisal School have been submitted to GlobalSchoolGuide yet. We hold back from publishing a star rating until we have enough verified first hand accounts to represent the school fairly, and we never fabricate ratings. If your family attends or has attended King Faisal School, please consider sharing your experience through our school reviews page to help other relocating families.
Frequently asked questions
How much are King Faisal School fees?
King Faisal School does not publish its tuition openly, so confirm the current schedule with the school. As a not for profit IB World School with a long established Diploma programme it sits in the upper tier of the Riyadh market, and families should budget separately for registration, a deposit, transport and Diploma examination entry.
Is King Faisal School a good school?
King Faisal School was the first school in Saudi Arabia to offer all three International Baccalaureate programmes and is accredited by the IB and by Cognia for its American Diploma route. Whether it suits your family depends on whether the IB continuum and a selective day school fit your child. Confirm current Diploma results and university destinations directly with the school.
What curriculum does King Faisal School follow?
King Faisal School runs the full International Baccalaureate continuum, the Primary Years Programme, the Middle Years Programme and the Diploma Programme, taught in English with Arabic and Islamic studies. Students in the final two years may also take an accredited American High School Diploma.
When do King Faisal School applications open?
The school year starts in August and King Faisal School admits subject to availability and assessment, with the early years and the start of the Middle Years the natural entry points. Apply early once a move is confirmed because places at a selective school are limited.
Where is King Faisal School located?
King Faisal School is in the Al Safarat area near the Diplomatic Quarter of Riyadh, close to the embassies and the residential districts where many international families live.
