2 Million Students Return to Schools in 4 Regions

Nearly two million students across the education departments of Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, and Taif are set to return to their classrooms on Sunday, 30 August 2026 (17 Rabi I 1448 AH), marking their start of the new 1448 AH academic year.

the return covers around 464,000 students in the Makkah region and about 270,000 in Taif. The Madinah region welcomes back roughly 500,000 students across 2,631 schools, with more than 38,000 teachers taking part. In Jeddah, about 700,000 students return across approximately 2,862 government, private, international, and foreign schools.

This return comes a week after most other regions of the Kingdom began classes on Sunday, 23 August 2026 (10 Rabi I 1448 AH). The staggered start is part of a phased reopening under a new four-year academic calendar for public schools, which sets separate schedules for the four major directorates — Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, and Taif — and the rest of the country.

A full in-person day from the start

The first day is a complete in-person school day for all levels of public education, covering primary, intermediate, and secondary stages. Education directorates have reported that preparations for classrooms, facilities, and staff are complete to ensure a smooth beginning from day one.

For families in these four areas, the later start date is worth noting when planning routines, transport, and morning schedules. With the largest share of students in Jeddah, the return also means busier roads and traffic during school hours across the affected cities.

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