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Al Sahafa International School

Saudi Arabia, Riyadh

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees SAR 32,000 - 39,000
Ages 3 - 18 years
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), American Curriculum
Introduction

Al Sahafa International School is a private international day school in the Al Mursalat area of Riyadh (RHMA 3320 As Saffaniyah, 6685 Al Mursalat Dist., Riyadh 12461) serving children from age 3 up to 18. The school offers an American curriculum alongside International Baccalaureate programmes (PYP, MYP and DP) and is authorised to teach the IB Middle Years Programme; it states plans to extend its IB provision. Instruction is bilingual in English and Arabic, with Arabic-language events and a stated bilingual approach on the school website. The school reports provision for secondary college-preparation (SAT alignment and AP registration) and runs co‑curricular activities including Model United Nations, science fairs and spelling competitions. Published information and third‑party listings describe on‑site learning resources such as science and computer laboratories, a library, sports facilities and a theatre/auditorium, and the school operates student transport services. Contact and admissions details are published on the school website.

Al Mursalat, Riyadh 12461, Saudi Arabia

The Essentials

Al Sahafa International School has instruction in English.

Location
The school is located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, at RHMA 3320 As Saffaniyah, 6685 Al Mursalat District, Riyadh 12461. It sits in the Al Mursalat District, an urban neighbourhood in central Riyadh. The campus is accessible from the Riyadh area via local roads.

Stages
The school serves Kindergarten (3–5 years) and other year groups. Entrance tests in Mathematics and English are used for placement for non-Kindergarten levels. The school is authorized to offer the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) and plans to introduce the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Diploma Programme (DP) starting in 2025.

Type
Private, day-only, single-sex (female) school.

Pupil Nationality Mix
Admissions information indicates both local transferees and international transferees, but there is no published breakdown of nationalities or the local/international ratio.

Additional learning support
There is no publicly published SEN policy or clearly stated SEN provisions on public pages.

Country affiliation
The school is located in Saudi Arabia and is an International Baccalaureate World School in Saudi Arabia.

Religious affiliation
No religious affiliation is listed in public materials.

School day structure
The 2025–2026 calendar lists the first day of school as August 24, 2025, and the last day as June 25, 2026. The start of the school day is 7:30 AM, and regular days run Sunday through Thursday. Office hours are 7:30 AM–2:30 PM.

Bus service
Public pages do not publish details about a school bus service; transport arrangements, if any, should be confirmed directly with the school.
Diving Deeper

Governance and Ownership
The school has a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) with listed members. The principal is Mrs. Ola Mourad.
Fees

Annual tuition at Al Sahafa International School ranges from SAR 32,000 to SAR 39,000 for 2026/27.

Application / Registration fees

- No separate, fixed application fee amount is published. A non-refundable portion of the tuition fees for new students is due at the time of registration/acceptance.

Tuition fees by year group (Annual and three-installment breakdown)

- Pre‑School: SAR 32,000 — 1st instalment SAR 12,000; 2nd instalment SAR 12,000; 3rd instalment SAR 8,000.
- KG1: SAR 32,000 — 1st SAR 12,000; 2nd SAR 12,000; 3rd SAR 8,000.
- KG2: SAR 32,000 — 1st SAR 12,000; 2nd SAR 12,000; 3rd SAR 8,000.
- Grade 1: SAR 33,000 — 1st SAR 12,000; 2nd SAR 12,000; 3rd SAR 9,000.
- Grade 2: SAR 33,000 — 1st SAR 12,000; 2nd SAR 12,000; 3rd SAR 9,000.
- Grade 3: SAR 34,000 — 1st SAR 12,500; 2nd SAR 12,500; 3rd SAR 9,000.
- Grade 4: SAR 34,000 — 1st SAR 12,500; 2nd SAR 12,500; 3rd SAR 9,000.
- Grade 5: SAR 34,000 — 1st SAR 12,500; 2nd SAR 12,500; 3rd SAR 9,000.
- MYP1 (Grade 6): SAR 36,000 — 1st SAR 13,500; 2nd SAR 13,500; 3rd SAR 9,000.
- MYP2 (Grade 7): SAR 36,000 — 1st SAR 13,500; 2nd SAR 13,500; 3rd SAR 9,000.
- MYP3 (Grade 8): SAR 36,000 — 1st SAR 13,500; 2nd SAR 13,500; 3rd SAR 9,000.
- MYP4 (Grade 9): SAR 38,000 — 1st SAR 14,000; 2nd SAR 14,000; 3rd SAR 10,000.
- Grade 10: SAR 38,000 — 1st SAR 14,000; 2nd SAR 14,000; 3rd SAR 10,000.
- Grade 11: SAR 39,000 — 1st SAR 14,500; 2nd SAR 14,500; 3rd SAR 10,000.
- Grade 12: SAR 39,000 — 1st SAR 14,500; 2nd SAR 14,500; 3rd SAR 10,000.

(Annual tuition and instalment amounts are published in the school's 2025–2026 tuition schedule.)

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Tuition is presented in three instalments (1st, 2nd, 3rd) with the amounts shown above for each grade. The first term's fees must be paid in full at registration. VAT at 15% will be added to all fees. E‑book fees are charged separately and are not included in the tuition instalments.

Boarding fees

- No boarding programme or boarding fees are published in the school's fee schedule. Transport is offered as a separate, optional service (see Bus Transportation Fees below).

Other costs and optional fees

- Bus transportation (annual): Two‑way SAR 7,000; One‑way SAR 5,500.
- Books: Books are included in the tuition for lower grades; published guidance shows books included for most grade levels and specifically notes that books are not included for Grade 11 and Grade 12. Confirmed inclusion/exclusion is shown in the published fee sheet.
- Uniform: Tuition fees cover the school uniform for all grade levels (uniform cost is included in the tuition).
- E‑books and other digital learning resources: E‑book fees are not included in the tuition.
- Any registration/acceptance charge collected at enrolment is non‑refundable and is treated as part of the tuition for new students at the time of registration.

Refund information

- Fees are non‑refundable if a student withdraws during the school year. A non‑refundable portion of tuition is required from new students at registration/acceptance. Fees of all types cannot be credited to another student.

Sibling discount

- Published sibling discount policy: the second child (first sibling) receives a 5% discount; the third child (second sibling) and onward receive a 10% discount on tuition.

Fee payment options (methods accepted)

- Bank transfer / wire transfer to the school's accounts (bank names and account numbers are published in the payment instructions). The fee schedule lists a Saudi National Bank (SNB) account number and an Albilad account number; the admissions page also provides an Albilad IBAN for transfers.
- Electronic payment (Mada only).
- Cash payment at school.

Important notes and payment reminders

- VAT (15%) will be added to all published fees. Tuition covers the school uniform. The first term's fees must be paid in full at registration. A non‑refundable registration/acceptance amount is taken from tuition for new students. Fees are not transferable between students.
Academics

Al Sahafa International School teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), American Curriculum for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
The school currently offers the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) as its core curriculum; authorization was granted on 2 June 2025, with English and Arabic as languages of instruction. The MYP comprises eight subject groups—Language and Literature, Language Acquisition, Individuals and Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, Arts, Physical and Health Education, and Design—taught over a five-year cycle with a minimum of 50 hours of teaching per group per year, and students complete the MYP Personal Project in the final year. The programme emphasizes Approaches to Learning (ATL), global contexts, and interdisciplinary units, and culminates in the IB MYP certificate upon successful assessment. For upper secondary, the high school framework is Common Core-aligned with AP elective courses, and the school operates as a College Board SAT testing center (Center #52537), with AP exams administered since 2022. Admissions begin with Kindergarten (3–5 years) having no academic requirements, while entry to other grades requires entrance tests in Math and English to determine placement.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school does not publicly disclose information about Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programs on its official site. The mission and vision describe a safe, inclusive culture and personal development, but no specific SEL initiatives are named. The Principal's Message emphasizes holistic education and personal growth without detailing SEL activities or staff. IB Middle Years Programme candidacy suggests a broad, holistic approach to learning, not necessarily SEL structures. No dedicated SEL staff or programs are listed on the accessible pages.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school does not publicly disclose information about Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision. There is no detail on which kinds of SEN the school can support or whether it is a specialist SEN institution. Admission policy outlines general entry requirements but does not mention SEN eligibility or accommodations. No SEN coordinators, support staff, or inclusion practices are named on the accessible pages. Information about individualized support or referral procedures is not publicly disclosed.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school does not publicly disclose specific EAL provisions or programs. The International Baccalaureate information shows language of instruction as English and Arabic. The About page states the school provides resources and information in both Arabic and English, indicating bilingual materials. No explicit EAL staffing or targeted language support programs are named on the accessible pages. For families seeking EAL details, no further publicly available guidance is provided on the site.

Mental Wellbeing
The school does not publicly disclose information about Mental Wellbeing provisions. The site describes a safe, inclusive culture and personal development but does not specify mental health services. IB candidacy suggests a holistic approach but does not provide details about mental health staff or programs. No dedicated mental health counselors or wellbeing initiatives are named on the accessible pages. Additional information about mental wellbeing programs is not publicly disclosed.

Safeguarding
The school does not publicly disclose safeguarding or child protection policies on the accessible pages. There is no explicit safeguarding policy described in the Admission Policy or Home Page. References to IB programs or bilingual education do not provide safeguarding details. No safeguarding staff roles or training requirements are listed on the publicly available pages. If safeguarding information exists, it is not publicly disclosed on the site.
Parent Experience

History
The school was established in 2023 in Riyadh as a bilingual international school offering instruction in English and Arabic. It is a private international school led by Principal Ola Mourad. The school earned authorization to offer the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme in June 2025, with English and Arabic as the languages of instruction. In the present, the Principal's Message indicates plans to expand to the Primary Years Programme and Diploma Programme and to relocate to a new campus in the coming years. A longer historical narrative appears in the Principal's Message, which mentions beginnings in 2011.

Community
The school uses English and Arabic as languages of instruction. The events calendar includes Student Council Elections, Foundation Day, Model United Nations (MUN), Science Fair, World Arabic Language Day, Saudi National Day, Math Day, Crazy Hair Day, New Year Resolution Day, and Sports Day. The school emphasizes community involvement through events and a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) that supports school activities and fosters parent–school communication.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
PTA Members include Mrs. Hanadi Abou Assi, Mrs. Ola Sobhi, Mrs. Rima Ibrahim, Mrs. Rim Altawil, and Mr. Maher Mansour. Email contacts are provided for each member (e.g., hanadi.bassi@gmail.com, olalab@hotmail.com, rimaphr@gmail.com, Rim.tawil@hotmail.com, Manmaher@gmail.com). The PTA's stated purposes are to strengthen the school community, contribute to events and initiatives, and serve as a bridge between the school and parents to foster collaboration and enhance communication. The PTA page lists multiple member emails, indicating active channels for parent involvement. The PTA is described as a vital body that helps support events and initiatives and facilitates collaboration between families and the school.
Facilities

Academic Facilities
The school is officially authorized to offer the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP). The MYP provides a broad and balanced education that encourages inquiry, critical thinking, and meaningful connections between learning and the world. The school is an official SAT Testing Center (Center #52537). Since 2022, the school administers College Board AP exams and includes AP courses in its electives program.

Extra Curricular Facilities
The school provides a range of extracurriculars, including Week Without Walls, theatre activities, in-house publications, and athletics. Students participate in leadership and events such as Student Council Elections and MUN. Annual celebrations include Foundation Day, Arabic Language Day, Saudi National Day, and Sports Day. Science Fair, Math Day, and other themed activities foster hands-on learning and collaboration.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Al Sahafa International School supports intellectual growth through experiential programs and competitions. Week Without Walls extends learning beyond the classroom with outdoor challenges, teamwork, and cultural experiences. Theater Activities and in-house Publications provide opportunities to engage in drama productions, scriptwriting, and publication of student work, including a biennial book sale. The school hosts science- and math-related events such as a Science Fair and Math Day, and runs a Model United Nations conference to develop research, analysis, and debate skills.

Arts & Creative
Arts and creative activities include Theater Activities, where students participate in school plays, drama competitions, and production workshops. In-house Publications support creative writing, with regularly published school magazines and a biennial book sale. The activities emphasize performing arts and writing as part of student life.

Cultural & Language
Cultural and language activities include Arabic Language Day, celebrated as World Arabic Language Day with interactive activities, photo sessions, and gifts. The school also runs a Model United Nations conference, providing international affairs exposure and opportunities for leadership and collaboration. The MUN event in February 2025 demonstrates student-led planning and participation.

Social & Hobbies
Social life at Al Sahafa International School is fostered through a Student Council, with elections that give students a voice in school life. The school participates in Athletics, and Sports Day provides a dedicated day for competitive and cooperative activities. Additional events such as Crazy Hair Day and Math Day foster student engagement and peer connections.

Leadership & Professional
Leadership development is supported by the Student Council and by hosting the Model United Nations conference, which showcases student leadership and organizational skills. The Student Council Elections demonstrate opportunities for student governance and initiative. MUN also provides practice in teamwork, research, and public speaking, contributing to personal and professional growth.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Wellbeing is supported through athletics and sports, including participation in inter-school, district, state, and national level competitions. Sports Day is a dedicated event that promotes physical activity, teamwork, and school spirit. Week Without Walls contributes to wellbeing by combining outdoor activities with cultural experiences and collaboration.
Languages

Language Provision
The school provides information and resources in both Arabic and English. Inquiries and communications can be conducted in either language. Materials related to programs and events are available in both Arabic and English.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Inquiries request information about admissions and next steps. The school responds with guidance on how to proceed with enrollment.

2. For Kindergarten (3 to 5 years), there are no academic requirements for acceptance. Applicants at this level are interviewed. They must be toilet-trained and able to speak and follow simple instructions. Admission decisions for this level are based on readiness and the interview.

3. For all other grade levels, prospective students take entrance tests in Math and English to determine if they have attained the minimum standard for each subject. The school then makes final placement decisions. The school can resort to various strategies at its disposal to help bring a student to the required level.

4. Required documents for enrollment of new students include an application form, two passport-size photos, an original school report for the last three years, and a statement from the transferring school listing the last exams taken. These documents support the enrollment decision and placement.

5. The school is located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Address: RHMA 3320 As Saffaniyah, 6685 Al Mursalat Dist., Riyadh 12461. Phone: (011) 2866631, (011) 2866632.
School Events
The school has not added events
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