At a glance
Manarat Jeddah International School is one of the schools run by the Maarif Education group, a long established Saudi operator that launched its international schools in 1978. The Jeddah school is split into two parts, a Saudi national section and an international section, and it is the international section that matters most to relocating families. That section follows an American curriculum leading to a high school diploma, with a British route through IGCSE and A Level offered as an alternative from Grade 9. The school sits on Prince Mutaib bin Abdulaziz Road in the Al-Rehab district of Jeddah and holds accreditation from Cognia, the international school accreditor used widely across the United States. Maarif describes itself as among the first Saudi school systems to gain that international accreditation. For the wider market and how the city's schools compare, start with our guide to international schools in Jeddah.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | American curriculum, high school diploma, Advanced Placement and SAT; British route via IGCSE and A Level from Grade 9 |
| Stages | Kindergarten through Grade 12 |
| Founded | Part of Maarif International Schools, launched 1978; Jeddah campus date not published |
| Accreditation | Cognia; Saudi Ministry of Education |
| Fee band | Lower to mid (see the Jeddah city hub) |
| Campus area | Al-Rehab, Jeddah |
Curriculum and academics
The international section of Manarat Jeddah follows an American curriculum, which gives families moving from a US system a familiar progression of grades and a high school diploma at the end, supported by Advanced Placement courses and SAT preparation for older students. What sets the school apart from a single track American school is the choice it offers from Grade 9, where students can stay on the American route or move to a British route through IGCSE and then A Level, so a family weighing both systems can keep the decision open longer than most schools allow. Accreditation by Cognia, one of the largest school accreditors in the United States, is the external benchmark on teaching and governance, and the school operates under the oversight of the Saudi Ministry of Education as well. Like other Saudi international schools, Manarat keeps a strong Arabic and Islamic studies thread through the programme, which suits Saudi and Muslim expatriate families who want the American academic route without losing that grounding. We describe the programme in the terms the school and the Maarif group use and do not publish examination figures we cannot verify, so ask the school directly for recent Advanced Placement and A Level results and university destinations.
Manarat Jeddah International School fees
Manarat Jeddah International School fees sit in the lower to mid band for Jeddah, well below the long established Western expatriate schools and among the more accessible Cognia accredited American options in the city. Annual tuition rises by grade, with the high school the most expensive stage, and the school states that published tuition covers textbooks, materials, services and student activities, with fees subject to VAT under Saudi rules. 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 and optional transport. To weigh it against the premium American schools side by side, use our school comparison tool.
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Admissions
Admission runs across the academic year, with the main intake at the August start of the year and places offered into other grades where space exists. Families relocating to Jeddah should apply ahead of the year they need a place, as established schools fill popular grades early and the international section is in steady demand. Assessment is age appropriate, with readiness checks for the youngest children and curriculum based testing in English and mathematics for older applicants, alongside school reports and references from the previous school. Because the school teaches Arabic and Islamic studies and runs a Saudi national section alongside the international one, the admissions team may discuss your child's Arabic background when placing older students, so it is worth raising your child's language history early. The school sets out the documents it asks for, including residency and transfer papers, during the application, and as a Maarif group school it processes admissions through the group's central systems.
Location and who goes there
Manarat Jeddah sits on Prince Mutaib bin Abdulaziz Road in the Al-Rehab district, a central and residential part of Jeddah with good access across the city rather than the northern compounds where the Western expatriate schools cluster. The international section draws Saudi families who want the American or British route, Muslim expatriate families from across the region and South Asia who value the Arabic and Islamic studies thread, and some Western families looking for a more accessible American option. The right school in Jeddah usually comes down to the curriculum you want, the fee band you can sustain and the commute, so it is worth visiting in person and comparing shortlisted schools before you decide. For the wider picture of where families settle and how the schools compare, return to the Jeddah city hub, or see our roundup of the best American schools in Jeddah.
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 Manarat Jeddah 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 Manarat Jeddah International School fees?
Manarat Jeddah International School fees sit in the lower to mid band for Jeddah international schools, well below the long established Western expatriate schools. Tuition rises by grade, with the high school the most expensive stage, and the school states that published tuition includes textbooks, materials and student activities. Budget separately for registration and optional transport, and ask the school for the current schedule, as rates are revised each year and subject to VAT.
Is Manarat Jeddah International School a good school?
Manarat Jeddah is part of the Maarif Education group and its international section holds Cognia accreditation, the international school accreditor used across the United States. It offers an American curriculum with a British pathway option from Grade 9. Whether it suits your child depends on the budget you can sustain, the curriculum route you want and proximity to the Al-Rehab district.
What curriculum does Manarat Jeddah International School follow?
The international section follows an American curriculum leading to a high school diploma, with Advanced Placement and SAT preparation. From Grade 9 students can choose between the American route and a British route through IGCSE and A Level. The group also runs a separate Saudi national section.
When do Manarat Jeddah International School applications open?
The main intake follows the academic year, with the bulk of places filled ahead of the August start and mid year entry where space exists. Apply early for popular grades, as established Jeddah schools fill quickly.
Where is Manarat Jeddah International School located?
The school is on Prince Mutaib bin Abdulaziz Road in the Al-Rehab district of Jeddah, a central residential area with good access across the city.
