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École Française Internationale de Riyad

Saudi Arabia, Riyadh

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The school at a glance
Instructs in French
Fees SAR 35,000 - 43,500
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 1744
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum French Curriculum
Typical class size 23
Introduction

École Française Internationale de Riyad (EFIR) is a French-curriculum day school in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, serving children from maternelle through lycée (ages 3 to 18). The school is homologated by the French education authorities and conventioned with the AEFE, and it follows the French national programme. French is the language of instruction; the school also provides systematic teaching of Arabic and English and offers German or Spanish at secondary level. Facilities described on the school site include a BCD (library) for younger pupils, a CDI (documentation and information centre) for collège and lycée, canteen services, designated playgrounds and sports areas, an infirmary and digital learning resources in classrooms. The school's 2022–2025 projet d'établissement emphasises mastery of the French language and reading, and documents on the site indicate EFIR's adoption of AEFE language initiatives such as the PARLE and EMILE pathways to broaden multilingual exposure.

Al Qira, An Nada, Riyadh 13317, Saudi Arabia

The Essentials

École Française Internationale de Riyad has 1,744 pupils, typical class sizes of 23, instruction in French.

Location
EFIR Riyadh is located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the An Nada area in the north‑east part of the city. The school serves a multinational community and is accessible by road within the city's expat area. The mailing address is P.O. Box 87811, 11652 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Public guidance places the campus in An Nada/Al Qira vicinity.

Stages
EFIR offers four levels: Maternelle (kindergarten), Elementary, College (middle school), and Lycée (high school). The English site presents programs from early years (PS/MS/GS) through Primary, College, and High School, while the French structure lists Maternelle, Elementaire, College, and Lycée with class details.

Type
EFIR is a co‑educational, AEFE‑affiliated international school that operates as a day school. It is part of the French AEFE network and serves both local and international families.

Pupil Nationality Mix
EFIR hosts students of many nationalities and states that it welcomes pupils of all nationalities. Third‑party sources commonly report around 39 nationalities represented, with French listed as the most common. No official local‑to‑international ratio is published.

Additional learning support
The school provides inclusion and language support: in Maternelle, each teacher is supported by a childminder; the pedagogy includes a “more teachers than classes” model for learners in difficulty; there are language specialists (ten in total: four in English, six in Arabic) to support multilingual learners.

Country affiliation
Affiliated with France through the AEFE (Agency for French Education Abroad) and the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.

Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation is not listed publicly; the school presents itself as AEFE‑affiliated French international education without a stated religious program.

School day structure
The school runs Sunday to Thursday, with a typical day from 7:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. on campus days.

Bus service
EFIR has a Bus Access Protocol for campus transportation. Buses must obtain the required stickers and driver badges, and a supervising adult must accompany the bus in the school's car park. The posted school day is 7:45 a.m.–3:15 p.m., during which bus access is available under protocol.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
Uniform policy: The school enforces a dress code; clothing must be appropriate for the activity and location. Prohibited items include tank tops, dresses with straps, shorts, and mini-skirts; boxer shorts must not extend beyond the pants and the blouse or polo must cover the waistband. The adoption of a school uniform is being studied in consultation with the entire educational community, and the Saudi authorities encourage uniform adoption.

Food Options
Food options: The school runs a cafeteria on site, providing meals for students. A 3rd-year student project describes an automated catering system used to distribute meals, illustrating active student involvement in dining operations. Menu details and dietary accommodations are not explicitly specified on the site.

Governance and Ownership
Governance and ownership: EFIR Riyad is governed by a non-profit parents' association (Comité de gestion) that elects the school's management and is based at the campus. The committee handles financial matters and overall governance, and operates under the supervision of the French ambassador to Riyadh as the representative of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. The school is part of the AEFE network.
Fees

Annual tuition at École Française Internationale de Riyad ranges from SAR 35,000 to SAR 43,500 for 2026/27.

Application & registration fees
- Frais de dossier (nouveaux élèves) : SAR 1,150 (SAR 1,000 pour les nationaux saoudiens).
- Droit de première inscription (DPI, dû une seule fois à l'admission) : SAR 2,300 (SAR 2,000 pour les nationaux saoudiens). Le DPI est non remboursable.
- Droit annuel d'inscription (DAI, dû chaque année) : montant selon nationalité et niveau (voir ci‑dessous pour montants par niveau). Le DAI est non remboursable.

Tuition fees by year group (academic year 2025–2026) — amounts shown in Saudi riyals (SAR)
Note: for each category la ligne donne le montant des frais de scolarité annuels, le DAI, le détail par trimestre (1er / 2ème / 3ème) puis le total (Frais de scolarité annuels + DAI).

- Français (TTC)
- Maternelle petite section (PS) : Frais annuels SAR 30,000; DAI SAR 5,000; Trimestres : SAR 12,000 / 9,000 / 9,000; Total SAR 35,000.
- Maternelle (MS–GS) : Frais annuels SAR 34,500; DAI SAR 5,000; Trimestres : SAR 13,800 / 10,350 / 10,350; Total SAR 39,500.
- Élémentaire (CP–CM2) : Frais annuels SAR 34,500; DAI SAR 5,000; Trimestres : SAR 13,800 / 10,350 / 10,350; Total SAR 39,500.
- Collège (6ème–3ème) : Frais annuels SAR 34,500; DAI SAR 5,000; Trimestres : SAR 13,800 / 10,350 / 10,350; Total SAR 39,500.
- Lycée (Seconde–1ère–Terminale) : Frais annuels SAR 38,500; DAI SAR 5,000; Trimestres : SAR 15,400 / 11,550 / 11,550; Total SAR 43,500.

- Nationaux (KSA) — hors TVA (H.T)
- Maternelle PS : Frais annuels SAR 34,783; DAI SAR 4,350; Trimestres : SAR 13,913.20 / 10,434.90 / 10,434.90; Total SAR 39,133.
- Maternelle MS–GS : Frais annuels SAR 35,650; DAI SAR 4,350; Trimestres : SAR 14,260 / 10,695 / 10,695; Total SAR 40,000.
- Élémentaire (CP–CM2) : Frais annuels SAR 35,650; DAI SAR 4,350; Trimestres : SAR 14,260 / 10,695 / 10,695; Total SAR 40,000.
- Collège (6ème–3ème) : Frais annuels SAR 35,650; DAI SAR 4,350; Trimestres : SAR 14,260 / 10,695 / 10,695; Total SAR 40,000.
- Lycée (Seconde–1ère–Terminale) : Frais annuels SAR 40,000; DAI SAR 4,350; Trimestres : SAR 16,000 / 12,000 / 12,000; Total SAR 44,350.

- Autres nationalités (TTC)
- Maternelle PS : Frais annuels SAR 40,000; DAI SAR 5,000; Trimestres : SAR 16,000 / 12,000 / 12,000; Total SAR 45,000.
- Maternelle MS–GS : Frais annuels SAR 41,000; DAI SAR 5,000; Trimestres : SAR 16,400 / 12,300 / 12,300; Total SAR 46,000.
- Élémentaire (CP–CM2) : Frais annuels SAR 41,000; DAI SAR 5,000; Trimestres : SAR 16,400 / 12,300 / 12,300; Total SAR 46,000.
- Collège (6ème–3ème) : Frais annuels SAR 41,000; DAI SAR 5,000; Trimestres : SAR 16,400 / 12,300 / 12,300; Total SAR 46,000.
- Lycée (Seconde–1ère–Terminale) : Frais annuels SAR 46,000; DAI SAR 5,000; Trimestres : SAR 18,400 / 13,800 / 13,800; Total SAR 51,000.

Billing schedule and payment terms (academic year 2025–2026)
- Trimestres et échéances de paiement : 1er trimestre 01‑09‑2025 au 31‑12‑2025 (échéance de paiement 20‑08‑2025); 2ème trimestre 01‑01‑2026 au 31‑03‑2026 (échéance 01‑01‑2026); 3ème trimestre 01‑04‑2026 au 30‑06‑2026 (échéance 01‑04‑2026). Les factures sont mises à disposition via l'espace parent. Les frais sont payables en trois fois, au début de chaque trimestre.
- Conséquences du non‑paiement : l'établissement se réserve le droit de ne pas enregistrer la réinscription et d'interdire la participation aux activités si les échéances ne sont pas respectées.
- Modalités d'admission en cours d'année : le DPI reste dû et non remboursable; le DAI est exigible selon le trimestre d'arrivée (1er trim. = totalité, 2ème = 2/3, 3ème = 1/3); les frais de scolarité du trimestre d'arrivée sont calculés au prorata selon le mois d'arrivée (règle de division indiquée dans le règlement financier).

Boarding
- Hébergement en internat : non applicable — l'établissement n'opère pas de service d'internat / pension (les services décrits et les horaires correspondent à un établissement en journée).

Other costs and regular extras
- Forfait garderie (par trimestre) : Primaire : SAR 230 (Français/Autres) / SAR 200 (Saoudiens). Collège + Lycée : SAR 345 (Français/Autres) / SAR 300 (Saoudiens). Forfait selon fréquence : de 1 à 3 jours/semaine SAR 575 (Français/Autres) / SAR 500 (Saoudiens); au‑delà de 3 jours/semaine SAR 862.50 (Français/Autres) / SAR 750 (Saoudiens).
- Droits d'inscription aux examens (facturés au 3e trimestre) : Diplôme national du brevet (3ème) : SAR 287.50 (Français/Autres) / SAR 250 (Saoudiens). E.A. (1ère) : SAR 575 / SAR 500 (Français/Autres / Saoudiens). Baccalauréat (Terminale) : SAR 1,495 / SAR 1,300 (Français/Autres / Saoudiens).
- Activités périscolaires et voyages pédagogiques : tarifs appliqués selon la période et l'activité ; ces frais sont facturés séparément.

Sibling discount
- Réduction : pour les familles ayant 3 enfants ou plus scolarisés à l'EFIR, au‑delà du 2e enfant le 3e (et +) bénéficie d'une réduction de 25 % sur les frais de scolarité (le 3e enfant paie 75 % du tarif normal). Aucune réduction n'est appliquée sur le DPI ni sur le DAI.

Refunds and cancellation rules
- Frais non remboursables : frais de dossier, droit de première inscription (DPI) et droit annuel d'inscription (DAI) sont non remboursables.
- Départ en cours d'année : au cours du 1er mois d'un trimestre, le mois en cours est dû; les mois suivants du trimestre peuvent être remboursés sur justificatif (demande écrite + exit final ou preuve de scolarisation dans un autre établissement du réseau en Arabie Saoudite hors Riyad). Au‑delà d'un mois complet d'absence, tout le trimestre est dû.

Fee payment options
- Paiement en riyals saoudiens uniquement : chèque certifié libellé à l'ordre de « SAIS – French Section » (en anglais ou arabe) ou virement sur les coordonnées bancaires indiquées sur le talon de la facture. Le virement bancaire est le mode recommandé. Les détails bancaires figurent sur la facture. Les factures sont accessibles via l'espace parent (portail Skolengo / Odoo).
Academics

École Française Internationale de Riyad teaches French Curriculum for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
EFIR Riyadh follows the French national curriculum within the AEFE network, offering 15 homologated levels from Petite Section through Terminale, with no CNED pathway. Instruction is predominantly in French, with a multilingual approach: in early years PS and MS provide bilingual reception in Arabic and French with dedicated Arabic support; from CP to CM2, English and Arabic are taught as foreign languages (roughly 90 minutes of English and 120 minutes of Arabic per week). The school is organized into Maternelle (PS–GS), Elementary (CP–CM2), Collège (Sixième–Troisième) and Lycée (Seconde–Terminale). Qualifications offered include the Diplôme National du Brevet at the end of Collège and the Baccalauréat at the end of Lycée. In 2024, 110 Brevet candidates achieved 109 winners (99% success) and 75 Baccalauréat candidates achieved 74 winners (99% success).

Student Teacher Ratio
The pedagogical structure emphasizes inclusive support, including a 'more teachers than classes' approach in early years and language specialists; PS–MS feature bilingual Arabic/French reception, while CP–CM2 receive dedicated English and Arabic instruction.

Exam Results
Exam results show strong outcomes for both national certificates and the baccalaureate: 2024 Brevet had 110 candidates with 109 winners (99% success); 2024 Baccalauréat had 75 candidates with 74 winners (99% success).

Higher Education Progression
Graduates typically pursue higher education in France and internationally, facilitated by the EFIR affiliation with AEFE and the French education framework; Baccalauréat results indicate strong preparation for higher study.

Gifted and Talented
Inclusion and language-support structures are in place to assist diverse learners; the school leverages a multilingual staff and targeted interventions in early years to support varied abilities.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
EFIR Riyad supports Social and Emotional Learning through a health-centered team: the school nurse coordinates emergency care, health education, and wellbeing initiatives, while the school psychologist screens for learning and emotional difficulties, supports students, and coordinates with families and teachers on adolescence-related issues.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
EFIR Riyad provides inclusion support via the Health Center's observatory for students with special educational needs and a school psychologist who screens for learning difficulties (e.g., dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD) and coordinates with families and external resources; EFIR is not a specialist SEN institution, and there are no dedicated French-style specialized SEN structures abroad.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school does not publicly disclose information regarding English as an Additional Language (EAL) provision.

Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is supported by the Health Center's wellbeing initiatives (The well-being, Emotional management) and by the school psychologist's daily presence (7:30 a.m.–1 p.m.) who screens for difficulties, helps prevent academic failure, and addresses adolescent emotional issues.

Safeguarding
Safeguarding is supported through the health team's confidentiality, early detection of distress, and prevention of harassment, with the nurse and psychologist coordinating with families and teachers as part of a broader safeguarding framework.
Parent Experience

History
EFIR Riyadh is a French international school in Riyadh that operates within the AEFE network and is supported by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Higher Education, and AEFE. The school serves about 1,584 pupils across 15 levels of instruction from Petite Section to Terminale. A 2022–2025 Projet d'établissement guides its development with three priority axes: strengthening mastery of the French language and exposure to culture, promoting education for sustainable development, and ensuring student success. The governance framework includes a parent-led Comité de Gestion, the Conseil d'école, and the Conseil d'Etablissement, with minutes kept of meetings and ongoing parent–staff collaboration. A new principal assumed leadership in recent years, reflecting leadership transition within the school.

Community
EFIR's community is multinational, with around 50 nationalities represented among students. The school hosts a range of community and cultural events, including end-of-year ceremonies, bac results celebrations, and the France Excellence Major scholarship. Student activities extend beyond class with trips like the Rome trip and regional swimming championships. External partners also participate in community life, such as PSG Academy Saudi Arabia events held at EFIR.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Parents of EFIR have formed a grouping that acts as the Comité de Gestion, tasked with governing and developing the establishment and ensuring alignment with French educational standards. The Comité de Gestion emphasizes close collaboration between parents, the school leadership, and the teaching staff and aims to promote cultural, recreational, and extracurricular activities. Minutes of Comité de Gestion meetings (comptes rendus) are prepared and made available to document decisions. Parental representation on the school's governance is formalized through elections for parent representatives to the Conseil d'école for the 2024–2025 cycle. The Conseil d'école exists alongside the Conseil d'établissement, with parent participation structured under AEFE guidelines. The Espace parent area provides ongoing communications with families via the site's parent portal and related resources.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
EFIR Riyad is a French international school in Riyadh serving students from preschool through terminale, with Maternelle (PS-MS-GS), Elementaire (CP-CM2), Collège (6e-3e), and Lycée (Seconde, Première, Terminale). The campus operates Sunday to Thursday from 7:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. The school features a kindergarten courtyard, science laboratories, and classrooms equipped with digital resources and interactive whiteboards, plus a large outdoor football field. The Centre for Documentation and Information (CDI) serves middle and high school students with resources for reading and research. The school offers a cantine, health services, and safety protocols including bus access, and it provides an after-school activities program (APS) and a parent area.

Sports Facilities
The school has a large outdoor football field for physical education and inter-school activities.

Academic Facilities
The CDI (Centre for Documentation and Information) is a reading and research center for middle and high school students. Laboratories and science facilities, along with classrooms equipped with interactive whiteboards and digital resources, support science and other disciplines.

Extra Curricular Facilities
The school offers after-school activities (APS). The parent area, health center, and security and bus access procedures support student life outside core classes.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
EFIR Riyadh provides education from preschool through high school. Primary covers Petite Section (PS), Moyenne Section (MS), Grande Section (GS) and CP–CM2, while Secondary comprises Seconde, Première, Terminale and High School. The school is part of the AEFE network, with partnerships involving the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, and the Agency for French Education Abroad. The school day runs Sunday to Thursday from 7:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Cultural & Language
Since the start of the 2020 school year, PS and MS study Arabic as the sole foreign language, in line with AEFE directives. From CP to CM2, students study two foreign languages: Arabic and English. PS and MS have five 30-minute periods of bilingual reception (Arabic and French) and three 40-minute Arabic language sessions. GS has five 25-minute periods of bilingual reception (Arabic and French), with one English session included; language courses total five 40-minute sessions, split between one English session and four Arabic sessions. From CP to CM2, students have 90 minutes of English per week and 120 minutes of Arabic.

Leadership & Professional
EFIR has defined governance bodies including a Management Committee, a School Council, and a Governing Board. There is an Establishment project for 2022–2025 and separate administrative and pedagogical structures guiding the establishment. The site also notes the presence of an administrative framework and a principal's leadership role.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The infirmary is open daily from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is staffed by two nurses. The health center provides services including nursing, health advice and well-being resources. The school has a cafeteria (cantine scolaire) and publishes related practices; the school day runs Sunday to Thursday from 7:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Languages

Language Provision
Languages taught include Arabic and French through bilingual Arabic–French immersion in the early grades, with Arabic and English introduced from Grande Section onward. From CE1, a second compulsory language (German, Arabic, or Spanish) is available at 2 hours 30 minutes per week. In lycée, English is mandatory, at 3 hours per week.

Bilingual Teaching
PS and MS participate in a bilingual Arabic–French program, with five 30‑minute bilingual periods per week and three 40‑minute Arabic sessions. From Grande Section, students study two foreign languages: Arabic and English. From CP to CM2, English is 90 minutes per week and Arabic 120 minutes; CP includes three English sessions of 30 minutes and three Arabic sessions of 40 minutes, and from CE1 there are two English sessions of 45 minutes and three Arabic sessions of 40 minutes. From CE1, a second compulsory language (German, Arabic, or Spanish) is offered at 2 hours 30 minutes per week.

Immersion Programs
The school implements an Arabic–French bilingual immersion program in the early years (PS–MS), aligned with AEFE directives. Arabic–French bilingual instruction is provided in PS and MS, and Arabic and English are introduced as foreign languages starting in Grande Section, with language blocks and sessions varying by grade to increase English exposure in later years.
Reputation

Awards
None listed on EFIR's site.

Accreditations
AEFE network member; AEFE partnerships with French and Saudi authorities (as listed on EFIR's site).
Admissions

Admissions
1. Prepare your admissions dossier now. Gather the Letter of engagement (iqama), the List of pièces justificatives (required documents), the Dossier médical (medical file), and the IBAN. For the 2025-2026 academic year, these items are provided as attachments labeled Letter of engagement, List of pièces justificatives, Medical dossier, and IBAN. A pre-registration link is available for current families at efir.odoo.com. 2. Submit the dossier through the efir.odoo.com portal or by contacting the admissions team. The responsible contact is Madame Ghislaine NACCOUR KALLAB, Responsable du Service des Inscriptions. 3. Inscriptions for the 2025-2026 school year are published with attachments including Letter of engagement, List of pièces justificatives, Dossier médical, and IBAN. Pre-registration links are available for current families. 4. Tuition fees are published for 2023-2024 and 2025-2026; downloadable tariff documents are provided on the Frais de scolarités page. Invoices can be accessed via Skolengo and Odoo platforms. 5. The address is P.O. Box 87811, Riyadh 11652, Saudi Arabia. 6. The school is affiliated with AEFE as a partner.

Scholarships
Bourses scolaires are offered; details are published on the Scholarships page of the school's site.
School Events
The school has not added events
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