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Deutsche Internationale Schule Riad

Saudi Arabia, Riyadh

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· Reviewed by · B2C Marketing Manager

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The school at a glance
Instructs in German
Fees SAR 31,500 - 79,000
Ages 2 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 192
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), German Curriculum
Introduction

The Deutsche Internationale Schule Riad (German International School Riyadh) is an accredited German international school in Riyadh (Al‑Bustan Village), serving children and young people aged 2 to 18 across kindergarten, primary, lower secondary and upper secondary. The school follows the German curriculum and offers an International Baccalaureate pathway in the form of a bilingual GIB/IB alongside German school‑leaving qualifications (Mittlerer Schulabschluss and Sekundarstufe II). German is the central language of instruction and the school operates a structured German as a Foreign Language (DaF) programme and German‑language subject instruction; students also study English, French and Arabic. The campus is described as a modern facility in the Al‑Bustan Village compound, and the school runs curricular after‑school activities (creative and sporting clubs, homework supervision); school documents and the enrolment form refer to schoolyard/playground use and participation in swimming events. The programme is framed to maintain compatibility with German educational standards for transfer to schools and universities in Germany and abroad.

7750, Riyadh 13332, Saudi Arabia

The Essentials

Deutsche Internationale Schule Riad has 192 pupils, instruction in German.

Location
DISR is located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the Al Arid district. The campus sits within the Al Bustan Village Compound, with the street address listed as Al Arid 13332, Riyadh (Unit 2 within the Al Bustan Village complex). The site is accessible from local roads and is near other international facilities in the area. []

Stages
DISR comprises three levels: Kindergarten; Grundschule (primary) with four year-group classes; Sekundarstufe (secondary) covering grades 5–10. The school also offers the German International Baccalaureate (GIB) in the secondary phase. []

Type
The school is co-educational and operates as a day school (no boarding facilities). []

Pupil Nationality Mix
Public data on pupil nationalities and local/international ratios are not published. DISR presents itself as a German international school with multilingual education and an international student body, with instruction in English and German and additional language offerings (French, Arabic). []

Additional learning support
The Sekundarstufe uses cooperative-open learning arrangements to address individual needs. The school provides DaF (Deutsch als Fremdsprache) and DFU (Deutschsprachiger Fachunterricht) support, with multilingual language provisions (English, German, French, Arabic). []

Country affiliation
Affiliated with Germany as a German Auslandsschule (German School Abroad). []

Religious affiliation
No formal religious affiliation is listed for the school. []

School day structure
Grundschule days typically run from about 08:30 to 14:15, with German-language instruction, breaks, a lunch period, and a final dismissal. Kindergarten days include morning activities, meals, rest periods, and dismissal around 14:10. The GIB Sekundarstufe follows a structured timetable with extended blocks of instruction. []

Bus service
DISR does not operate a school bus service. []
Diving Deeper

Food Options
Lunch is provided as part of the school day. Kindergarten lunch is served in the groups' rooms from 12:00 to 12:30, and in Grundschule and Sekundarstufe from 12:00 to 12:45. There is an on-site canteen (Mensa).

Governance and Ownership
The school operates as a German Auslandsschule (German School Abroad) in Saudi Arabia and is presented as an Excellent German Auslandsschule.
Fees

Annual tuition at Deutsche Internationale Schule Riad ranges from SAR 31,500 to SAR 79,000 for 2026/27.

Overview

Admission and registration fees
- One‑off registration (admission) fee: SAR 5,000. This fee is due within 14 days of receipt of the invoice and is not credited against tuition. It is not refundable if a child is rejected following an aptitude test; if the school cannot allocate a place within six months of registration the registration fee will be refunded minus a SAR 500 processing fee.

Deposit
- One‑off refundable deposit: SAR 5,000 per child, payable at confirmation of admission. The deposit is non‑interest bearing; outstanding amounts owed to the school at deregistration will be deducted and the remainder refunded within 180 days after the end of the semester in which the child was deregistered.

Annual re‑registration advance
- To reserve a seat for the following school year an advance payment of SAR 2,000 per enrolled child is due on 15 March of the current school year. This advance is set off against the school or kindergarten fees for the following year and is not refundable if the child does not attend the following year. Failure to pay the advance on time results in automatic deregistration at the end of the current school year.

Tuition fees (annual and per semester; amounts in SAR, exclusive of 15% VAT)
- Kindergarten 2–3 years (U3): Annual SAR 35,280 — Semester SAR 17,640.
- Kindergarten 3–5 years: Annual SAR 31,500 — Semester SAR 15,750.
- Pre‑school (5–6 years): Annual SAR 36,960 — Semester SAR 18,480.
- Primary school (Grades 1–4): Annual SAR 55,440 — Semester SAR 27,720.
- Secondary school (Grades 5–10): Annual SAR 61,580 — Semester SAR 30,790.
- International Baccalaureate, Mixed Languages (GIB) Grades 11–12: Annual SAR 79,000 — Semester SAR 39,500.

Additional language / optional course fees
- German as a Foreign Language (DaF) program: Annual SAR 3,500 — Semester SAR 1,750. Second child: Annual SAR 2,600 — Semester SAR 1,300. Third child: Annual SAR 1,750 — Semester SAR 875. Language test: SAR 200.

Other fees and discounts
- Book deposit (kindergarten): SAR 100 (one‑off, refundable under the same rules as the deposit).
- Reminder fee (from second reminder onwards): SAR 500 per reminder.
- Sibling discounts (school fees only; do not apply to kindergarten fees): second (second‑eldest) child discount SAR 750; third (third‑eldest) child discount SAR 1,000.
- Fees for additional courses or extracurricular activities are charged separately and are due before the service is provided. Fees for optional courses that are not obtained are not refundable.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Two payment options are offered:
- Annual payment: full annual fee due 15 August.
- Semester payments: first semester payment due 15 August; second semester payment due 15 January.
- School and kindergarten fees are always invoiced in advance and are non‑refundable in the event of deregistration during an ongoing school year, except where specific trial‑period rules apply (see U3 trial provision). Registration during a school year triggers fees for the entire week from first day of attendance and those fees become due within two weeks of registration.
- If the payment deadline is exceeded by more than two weeks the school reserves the right to recalculate EUR amounts on the invoice. A first reminder is issued two weeks after the due date; a second reminder (two weeks after the first reminder) carries a SAR 500 reminder fee. Persistent arrears may lead to exclusion from school services and withholding of reports/certificates; unpaid arrears at the end of the school year will result in deregistration and re‑enrolment fees already paid will not be refunded.

Refund information
- School and kindergarten fees paid in advance are non‑refundable in the event of deregistration during the current school year.
- The one‑off admission/registration fee is not refundable except where the school cannot allocate a place within six months of registration; in that case the registration fee is refunded minus a SAR 500 processing fee.
- The one‑off deposit (SAR 5,000) and the book deposit are refundable, subject to deduction of outstanding amounts, and refunded within 180 days after the end of the semester in which the child was deregistered.
- U3 trial provision: U3 registrations are subject to a six‑week trial; if the school deregisters a U3 child during this trial period, kindergarten fees paid beyond the trial period will be refunded pro rata.

Boarding and uniforms
- The fee schedule does not list any boarding provision or boarding fees. No boarding fees are included in the schedule of fees.
- The published fee schedule does not itemize a uniform charge; uniform costs are not listed in the schedule of fees.

Payment methods and bank details
- Accepted payment methods listed: bank transfer in SAR to the school account in Saudi Arabia, bank transfer in EUR to the school account in Germany, or cash payments at the school accounts department during office hours (08:30–15:00 Sunday–Thursday).
- SAR account (KSA): Account name: SAIS German Branch; Account no.: 0101 111 948 001; Bank: The Saudi Investment Bank – HQ Branch, Riyadh; IBAN: SA20 6500 0000 1011 1194 8001; BIC: SIBCSARI.
- EUR account (Germany): Account name: German School Riyadh; Account no.: 582562500; BLZ: 500 400 00; Bank: Commerzbank Frankfurt am Main; IBAN: DE30 5004 0000 0582 5625 00; BIC: COBADEFFXXXX.

Tax note
- All fees in the published schedule are stated exclusive of 15% VAT.

Consequences of non‑payment
- The school will issue reminders for overdue payments and may charge the SAR 500 reminder fee from the second reminder. Continued non‑payment may result in exclusion from services, withholding of reports/certificates, and deregistration if arrears remain at the end of the school year. Re‑enrolment fees already paid will not be refunded in such cases.
Academics

Deutsche Internationale Schule Riad teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), German Curriculum for students aged 2 to 18.

Curriculum
DISR provides a continuous German international curriculum from kindergarten through Sekundarstufe I up to grade 10. Grundschule comprises four year groups and follows the Thüringen state German curriculum, with instruction in German. Sekundarstufe I covers grades 5–10 and is organized in common classes with kooperativ-offenen Lernarrangements (cooperative-open learning). Since 2025/26, DISR is an IB World School offering the Diploma Programme, with English and German as languages of instruction. The school awards a grade-10 school leaving certificate as its standard upper secondary Abschluss. The Diploma Programme provides an internationally recognized upper-secondary qualification alongside the German track.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Deutsche Internationale Schule Riad (DISR) promotes social and emotional learning (SEL) by cultivating a school culture designed to be a place of wellbeing, safety, and respectful interaction in Sekundarstufe I. The Sekundarstufe is organized in cooperative-open learning arrangements that allow staff to tailor support to students' abilities and needs. In Grundschule, the school runs Faustlos, a social-emotional program that develops empathy, impulse control, and strategies for managing anger and frustration; students attend weekly. After-school activities (Nachmittagsangebote) provide a broad, German-language program that supports social engagement in a low-pressure environment and includes homework support. The language concept and multilingual approach are integrated to support social inclusion and positive interactions across diverse language backgrounds.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school does not publicly disclose information regarding Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision, including whether it operates a specialist SEN department or what kinds of SEN it can support. Existing publicly available content focuses on language support (DaF/DFU) and multilingual education rather than explicitly on SEN services. The timetable and program descriptions show English and German as languages of instruction, and DaF/DFU is used to support students with language needs; there is no explicit listing of SEN staff or facilities.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
English is a language of instruction at DISR, alongside German, as shown by the IB information that lists English and German as languages of instruction. In practice, English appears in the Grundschule timetable (Englisch), indicating ongoing English language study as part of the curriculum. The school also notes a multilingual language concept that includes English, French, and Arabic among the languages taught. Therefore, EAL-related support is primarily provided through general multilingual and DaF/DFU programs rather than a distinct, separate EAL service.

Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is supported as part of SEL and the school ethos: the Sekundarstufe describes DISR as a place of wellbeing, safety, and respectful treatment. The Grundschule includes Faustlos to develop social-emotional competencies such as empathy and impulse control. The after-school program further supports social engagement in a relaxed environment, contributing to students' wellbeing.

Safeguarding
The school does not publicly disclose information regarding safeguarding and child protection policies.
Parent Experience

History
DISR was founded in the mid-1970s and has grown into a German international school in Riyadh. The school traces a 50-year history, reflecting its establishment in the mid-1970s. It is housed in Al-Bustan Village in Riyadh and welcomes the community there. DISR is a German Auslandsschule, rooted in German values and traditions while serving a cosmopolitan community. The curriculum path runs from kindergarten through Sekundarstufe I and II, and since 2025 the school has offered the Mixed Language International Baccalaureate (GIB) in Sekundarstufe II.

Community
DISR's ethos is framed by the guiding motto Demokratisch, Innovativ, Sensibel, Respektvoll, and the school presents itself as a community where parents, staff, and students collaborate to foster intercultural understanding and lifelong learning. The school provides a broad German-language after-school program (AGs) for kindergarten through secondary levels, with activities ranging from theatre to sport, and a supervised homework component; the program is conducted entirely in German. English, French, and Arabic are also part of the language offerings, supporting a multilingual, multicultural community. Parents are encouraged to engage as part of the school community, and there is a parent-facing group known as the DISR Fan Club that invites sign-ups to participate in school life. The DISR calendar and events include occasional family-oriented activities such as a Deutsch-Französischer Tag (German-French Day) and other cultural celebrations.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
DISR does not publish a formal Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) page on its public site. Parent involvement is organized through the DISR Fan Club, a parent-community group that invites members to sign up and provides a contact email and address for coordination (info@disr.edu.sa; Al Arid, Riyadh). The school notes in its materials that it values partnership with parents as part of its mission and culture. After-school activities are coordinated by AG coordinators and carry a fee, with details shared with families. In addition to formal programs, families participate in cultural and national celebrations that involve the school community and reinforce a sense of shared school life.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
DISR Riyadh sits on the Al Arid/Al Bustan Village compound and benefits from a generous outdoor learning environment. A Recreation Centre on the compound supports weekly sport and movement activities for students across the campus. The Kindergarten includes a weekly library, and lunch is served in group rooms. A Deutsch als Fremdsprache (DaF) space supports language development. Music is part of the primary curriculum, reflecting integrated creative programming.

Sports Facilities
A Recreation Centre on the campus supports weekly sport and movement activities, including provisions for kindergarten students. The school also benefits from a generous outdoor play area as part of its on-campus spaces for outdoor learning and recreation.

Academic Facilities
Library access is documented in the Kindergarten, with weekly library sessions. The school provides a Deutsch als Fremdsprache (DaF) room for targeted language support. Music is part of the Grundschule timetable. Biology and Chemistry are part of the Sekundarstufe curriculum.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Afternoon activities (AGs) are offered after the school day in German, voluntary and paid. The program includes theatre, cooking, arts, various sports and movement offerings, and homework support.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The Grundschule follows an independent German curriculum aligned with the Thuringia state framework, and the instruction language is German. The curriculum uses a mix of individual work, group work, project-based learning, and teacher-led phases to develop cognitive, social, and methodological competencies. The Sekundarstufe I comprises Grades 5 to 10 and employs cooperative-open learning arrangements to tailor instruction to students' abilities and needs. The school offers the GIB Diploma Programme in the Sekundarstufe II with German B (Higher Level), English A (Higher Level), Biology (Higher Level), Mathematics (Standard Level), History (Standard Level), and Spanish ab initio (Standard Level); TOK and CAS accompany the program, and an extended essay is part of the GIB. The GIB program is delivered in English and German.

Arts & Creative
Afternoon activities (AGs) are offered for kindergarten through secondary students; they are voluntary, conducted in German, and cover theatre, cooking, arts, and a variety of sports and movement activities. In the kindergarten, daily life includes English in the kindergarten, music, and library-time, among other creative and hands-on activities. Vorschulprogramm “Wackelzähne” supports early creativity and development with structured play and guided learning. These activities provide opportunities for creative expression and collaborative projects beyond the standard curriculum.

Cultural & Language
Deutsch als Fremdsprache (DaF) is offered in small groups to support multilingual learners and is integrated from kindergarten through Sekundarstufe; DaF lessons focus on language application under the European reference framework. Deutschsprachiger Fachunterricht (DFU) provides German-language subject instruction for students whose first language is not German. The school teaches additional languages including English, French, and Arabic, and Mehrsprachigkeit is valued as a resource to support multilingual development and integration into the German education system.

Social & Hobbies
After-school activities (AGs) are available after kindergarten and during the later years, are voluntary, and cover theatre, cooking, arts, and a range of sports; the program operates without grade pressure and includes homework support with professional coordination. In Grundschule, Faustlos is a weekly social-emotional program that develops empathy, impulse control, and handling anger through guided activities. The kindergarten emphasizes play as a core learning method, with activities such as music, English exposure, and weekly library visits to foster social interaction and collaboration.

Community & Service
The GIB School includes Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS), guiding students toward a creative, active, and socially engaged lifestyle and involving them in community projects; an extended essay is a characteristic component of the GIB. In the 9th grade, there is a two-week internship as part of Berufs- und Studienorientierung (career orientation) to provide work experience and expose students to the job market. A patence or mentorship system supports transitions between early grades and the upper school, pairing older students with younger classmates to foster guidance and leadership.

Leadership & Professional
Career and study orientation is provided in the Sekundarstufe to help students understand the German education and study systems and to practice applications and interviews. In the 9th grade, a two-week internship offers practical work experience and career exploration. A mentorship system supports leadership development and peer guidance during upper primary transitions, reinforcing professional and social skills for later academic and career pathways.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Afternoon AGs provide structured, pressure-free exploration after the formal school day, contributing to student wellbeing and social development. Sport and movement are integral to school life, with additional physical activities available at the recreation center on the compound. The kindergarten day includes a balanced schedule integrating outdoor play, music, language exposure, and library time to support holistic development.
Languages

Language Provision
German is the language of instruction in Grundschule; Deutschsprachiger Fachunterricht (DFU) is used in Grundschule. Deutsch als Fremdsprache (DaF) is offered with two annual assessments; DaF participation is mandatory unless re-screened and there is paid DaF instruction. English is taught from Kindergarten and appears as a subject in Grundschule. In Sekundarstufe, French is taught; The GIB track uses German B and English A (Higher Level) with Spanish ab initio, and some subjects are taught in German.

Bilingual Teaching
DISR uses German as the language of instruction in Kindergarten and Grundschule; English is taught starting in the Kindergarten and continues as a subject in Grundschule. Deutsch als Fremdsprache (DaF) is provided for multilingual learners, with two language assessments per year; DaF participation is mandatory unless a re-screening determines otherwise, and additional DaF instruction is paid. The GIB School offers a bilingual International Baccalaureate track with German B and English A (Higher Level). Spanish ab initio is included, and some subjects are taught in German within the GIB track.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Arrange a school visit in Riyadh. The visit is conducted as a guided tour with the leadership of the Kindergarten, Grundschule, or Sekundarstufe, to help families understand the DISR structure and offerings. The school address is 7750, Al Arid 13332, Riyadh. 2. Receive a personalized admissions consultation. The school emphasizes personal contact with parents and provides an individualized consultation during the visit to outline the admissions process. The admissions team and the secretariat assist with questions related to the admissions process. 3. Review fee information as part of the admissions process. Fee regulations are provided in German and English (Gebührenregelung Deutsch and Gebührenregelung English) and can be discussed with the admissions team. Contact details remain the same for any fee questions.
School Events
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