Saudi Arabia issues new regulations for private educational institutions

The Saudi Ministry of Education has approved a new regulatory framework for private educational institutions to govern their establishment, licensing, and operation. A key provision of the regulation prohibits schools from involving students in financial disputes with their guardians. Institutions are strictly forbidden from denying students access to educational resources, services, or academic results due to unpaid fees, though schools retain the right to pursue financial claims through legal channels.

To ensure transparency, the regulations mandate that institutions announce tuition fees and any subsequent adjustments on the Ministry’s platform at least 180 days before the start of the academic year. Schools must also clearly distinguish between mandatory and optional fees, ensuring parents are not forced to pay for elective activities.

The new rules establish a two-stage process for creating institutions: a qualification stage and a formal licensing stage. To obtain a license, entities must meet six core requirements, including commercial registration, municipal licenses, civil defense permits, engineering reports, and an approved curriculum. Additionally, institutions are required to obtain school accreditation from the Education and Training Evaluation Commission and implement national testing and identity-based curricula.