4.5 Million Students Begin New School Year in Saudi Arabia

More than 4.5 million male and female students in public schools across Saudi Arabia are returning to classrooms as the 2026–2027 academic year begins. For most regions, students head back on Sunday, 23 August 2026, marking the official start of studies at the primary, intermediate, and secondary levels.

Four education departments follow a different schedule this year. In Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, and Taif, teachers return on 23 August 2026, while students in these directorates begin classes one week later, on Sunday, 30 August 2026. This staggered return is a notable feature of the new academic calendar adopted for the coming years.

A Revised Calendar and Updated Law

The new year is being rolled out under a revised school calendar and an updated Public Education Law, which includes flexible teacher working hours and expanded capacity measures. Preparations span all 13 administrative education regions, with Riyadh hosting the largest share of students and schools nationwide.

Public schools operate as state-funded institutions, so no nationwide tuition fees apply for general education. The typical school day still begins around 7:00 a.m. and finishes in the early afternoon, with regional directorates issuing exact bell schedules to individual schools.

School principals and administrative staff resumed work earlier in August to finalize class lists and timetables. Enrollment, transfers, and class assignments continue to be handled mainly through the Ministry of Education's online portals and local education directorates. At this stage, no new digital requirements have been announced specifically for students returning to public-school classrooms.

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