4.5 Million Students Return to Saudi Public Schools

More than 4.5 million male and female students returned to public schools across Saudi Arabia on Sunday, 23 August 2026, marking the start of the new academic year for the country's general education system.

The return covered all three levels of general education — primary, intermediate and secondary — in public schools across every region and governorate. Four education departments followed a delayed schedule, with students in Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah and Taif resuming classes one week later on 30 August 2026.

Staff prepared for the return in stages. Administrative teams and educational supervisors returned several days ahead of students, while teachers came back one week before the student start date to complete arrangements for the new year.

The academic year is being run under a four-year calendar framework, with public education operating on a two-semester system and a unified timeframe covering the years 2025/2026 through 2028/2029. For the current cycle, the end-of-year vacation is set to begin on 25 June 2026, with students returning for the following year on 23 August 2026.

Why it matters

Public schooling in Saudi Arabia remains tuition-free for citizens in government schools, and no new mandatory national tuition fees for public schools have been announced in 2026. Families can manage registration and follow up on student progress through official Ministry of Education digital platforms, with identity verification and many education e-services linked to national digital identity and government service systems.

The calendar for the coming cycle also sets a National Day holiday and a fall break, giving families a clear picture of the school year ahead as students settle back into classrooms.

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