At a glance
The Saudi German International School Jeddah is the everyday search name for the German International School Jeddah, known in German as the Deutsche Internationale Schule Jeddah and abbreviated DISJ. It was founded in 1975 under the sponsorship of the German government and is one of two German schools in Saudi Arabia, the other being in Riyadh. As a recognised German school abroad, a Deutsche Auslandsschule, it teaches in German and follows the structure of the German state system, with Arabic mother tongue classes alongside. The school is organised into a kindergarten for children aged three to five, an elementary section covering Grades 1 to 4, a secondary section from Grades 5 to 10, and an International Baccalaureate section for the final two years. It sits in the Ar Rabwah area of Jeddah. For the wider market and how the city's schools compare, start with our guide to international schools in Jeddah or the dedicated IB schools in Jeddah hub.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | German curriculum to Grade 10 (Mittlerer Schulabschluss); International Baccalaureate Diploma in Grades 11 and 12 |
| Stages | Kindergarten (age 3) through Grade 12 |
| Founded | 1975, under German government sponsorship |
| Accreditation | Recognised German school abroad (Deutsche Auslandsschule); IB World School for the Diploma Programme |
| Fee band | Lower to mid (see the Jeddah city hub) |
| Campus area | Ar Rabwah, Jeddah |
Curriculum and academics
Teaching at DISJ is in German, and the academic spine is the German state curriculum, with the elementary years built on the syllabus of the Thueringen state in every subject except the Arabic mother tongue classes. That makes the school a natural fit for families moving from Germany, Austria or Switzerland who want their children to keep pace with the home system rather than start again in English. Children who arrive without strong German are supported with German as a foreign language lessons, so the school is not closed to non German speakers, but parents should be realistic that the working language is German throughout. The German programme runs to the end of Grade 10 and the Mittlerer Schulabschluss, the intermediate school certificate. For the final two years the school switches to the mixed language International Baccalaureate Diploma, the route most international families recognise, which has been treated as equivalent to the German Abitur since 1986 and opens university doors in Germany, the United Kingdom, North America and beyond. We describe the programme in the terms the school uses and do not publish examination figures we cannot verify, so ask the school directly for recent IB Diploma results and university destinations.
Saudi German International School Jeddah fees
Saudi German International School Jeddah fees sit in the lower to mid band for Jeddah, below the long established British and American expatriate schools in the north of the city. The school publishes a tuition schedule that rises by stage, lowest in kindergarten and highest in the two IB years, and the IB Diploma carries a separate examination fee on top of tuition. Fees are subject to VAT under Saudi rules. We do not print a single headline figure here because the school revises rates 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 registration and optional transport. To weigh the cost against other Jeddah options, use our school fee calculator.
Weighing up IB schools in Jeddah?
Estimate the all in cost with the fee calculator, or let the school finder shortlist three Jeddah schools matched to your child and budget.
Admissions
Admission runs across the academic year, with the main intake at the start of the year and places offered into other stages where space exists. Because the working language is German, the admissions process gives real weight to language readiness, and the team will assess where a child sits and whether the German as a foreign language support can bridge the gap, particularly for older applicants joining the secondary or IB years. Families relocating to Jeddah should apply ahead of the year they need a place, as the German school is the obvious choice for German speaking families in the city and popular stages fill early. Expect age appropriate assessment, school reports and references from the previous school, and the standard Saudi residency and transfer papers requested during the application. It is worth raising your child's German and Arabic background early so the school can advise on placement before you commit.
Location and who goes there
DISJ sits in the Ar Rabwah district, a central residential part of Jeddah with good access across the city rather than the northern compounds where several of the British and American schools cluster. The school draws the German speaking expatriate community in Jeddah, families from Austria and Switzerland, Saudi families who value a European route and an internationally recognised IB exit, and some international families who want a smaller school with a distinct character. The right school in Jeddah usually comes down to the language and 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 IB 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 the Saudi German International School Jeddah, 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 Saudi German International School Jeddah fees?
Saudi German International School Jeddah fees sit in the lower to mid band for Jeddah international schools, with a published schedule that rises by stage from kindergarten through to the IB years at the top. The IB Diploma carries a separate examination fee, and tuition is subject to VAT under Saudi rules. The school issues the current schedule to applicants, so ask for it directly and budget separately for registration and optional transport.
Is Saudi German International School Jeddah a good school?
The school is a recognised German school abroad supported by the German government and an International Baccalaureate World School for the Diploma Programme. Whether it suits your child depends on German language ability, since instruction is in German, the curriculum route you want and proximity to the Ar Rabwah district. Families without German can ask about the German as a foreign language support the school provides.
What curriculum does Saudi German International School Jeddah follow?
The school follows a German curriculum from kindergarten to Grade 10, with the elementary years based on the Thueringen state syllabus, leading to the Mittlerer Schulabschluss at the end of Grade 10. In Grades 11 and 12 it offers the mixed language International Baccalaureate Diploma, which has been recognised as equivalent to the German Abitur since 1986.
When do Saudi German International School Jeddah applications open?
The main intake follows the academic year, with most places filled ahead of the start of the year and mid year entry where space exists. Families relocating to Jeddah should apply early, as established schools fill popular stages quickly, and the German language requirement means assessment of language readiness is part of the process.
Where is Saudi German International School Jeddah located?
The school is in the Ar Rabwah district of Jeddah, a central residential area with good access across the city.
