January 2027 Intake in Saudi Arabia: Online School From 5 January

By Alfred Ouko, Founder · October 2026 · 8 min read

Families in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Al Khobar often look for a new option in the middle of the school year, after a relocation or when a school place falls through. Smartious Term 2 starts on Monday 5 January 2027, and families who apply by December can have their child assessed, placed and ready for the first live lesson. Saudi Arabia shares our time zone, so lessons run on the same clock as your home. This guide covers the timetable, the curricula, fees in riyals and the equivalency questions to think about before you enrol.

Why January works in Saudi Arabia

Expat families often arrive in the Kingdom part way through the year, and international school places in the main cities can be hard to find at short notice. Other families want a structured option while they wait for a place, or after a period in which a school has not suited their child. Starting at the beginning of our Term 2 means your child begins with a class on its first day, rather than arriving mid-unit.

Same clock as Riyadh

Saudi Arabia is on Arabia Standard Time, three hours ahead of GMT, which is the same as Nairobi. A lesson at 9am for our teachers is 9am for your child. Saudi Arabia’s weekend is Friday and Saturday, so we plan timetables for Saudi families around the Sunday to Thursday week where needed, and we send the full timetable before you accept a place.

What a school day looks like

A typical day for a secondary student starts with registration and a first live lesson in the morning, followed by subject lessons with breaks, much like a school day but without the commute across the city. Teachers set and mark homework on the learning platform, and students can message them with questions. Younger children have shorter lessons and need an adult nearby. Parents receive written reports and can meet teachers online to discuss progress. Because there is no school run, many families in Riyadh and Jeddah use the afternoons for sport, swimming, Quran or Arabic classes, or clubs, which keeps a child learning at home active and connected with friends. We encourage every family to plan at least two regular activities outside the home each week.

Curricula and exams

Most of our families in Saudi Arabia follow the British route: Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary, then IGCSE and AS and A Level, with Pearson Edexcel options. We also teach IB and American programmes. Students sit Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel exams as private candidates at authorised centres such as the British Council in Saudi Arabia. Centres publish their own registration dates and fees for each series, so check them early.

Fees in riyals

Fees start from USD 423 a month for Primary, payable termly, and vary by curriculum and level. The riyal is pegged at SAR 3.75 to the dollar, so USD 423 is about SAR 1,586 a month (approximate, October 2026). One-to-one tuition is USD 15 an hour, about SAR 56. Exam entry fees are paid separately to the exam centre. Fees are non-refundable once the assessment is done, the timetable has been created and lessons have started.

Equivalency: check before you enrol

If your child may study at a Saudi university or return to a school in the Kingdom, find out early what the Ministry of Education will need. Universities commonly ask for Ministry equivalency of non-Saudi certificates, and many also ask for national tests run by the Education and Training Evaluation Commission. Smartious does not claim approval or licensing from the Saudi Ministry of Education. Check the current rules on moe.gov.sa and with the university or school concerned. Our guide to Saudi MOE equivalency for IGCSE and A Level explains what to ask.

Placement and onboarding

Message admissions on WhatsApp at +254 745 021 212. We arrange an online placement assessment, review reports from any previous school, recommend a class and send the timetable and termly invoice. Keep every report and transfer document from Saudi schools, since a future school or the Ministry may ask to see them. Your child gets a login and onboarding before 5 January.

Checklist before 5 January

Apply by December. Prepare reports and identity documents. Set up a laptop with a webcam and headset, a reliable connection and a quiet place to learn. If your child is in an exam year, ask us about British Council registration as you apply. If Arabic or Islamic studies matter for your child’s future plans in the Kingdom, raise it with us and with the school or university concerned, because requirements can differ for Saudi and non-Saudi students.

January is a good time to start. Apply by December, and your child can begin on 5 January 2027 on the same clock as your home. Message admissions on WhatsApp at +254 745 021 212 or email hello@smartioushomeschool.com.

Frequently asked questions

What time are lessons in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia shares East Africa Time, so lessons are at the same local time as for our teachers in Nairobi.

How much are fees in riyals?

From USD 423 a month for Primary, payable termly, about SAR 1,586 at the pegged SAR 3.75 rate (October 2026). Fees vary by curriculum and level.

Is Smartious approved by the Saudi Ministry of Education?

No. Smartious does not claim Ministry approval. Check equivalency rules on moe.gov.sa and with the university or school concerned.

When should we apply?

By December, for a 5 January 2027 start.

Next steps

What parents say

Rated 4.9 out of 5 on Google from 130+ reviews. Read our Google reviews

“Smartious Homeschooling delivers genuinely effective one-on-one instruction. The teachers are patient, consistent, and skilled at identifying and addressing each learner's specific academic gaps. Since enrolling, our child has become more confident, enjoys lessons, and is now performing above grade level. For families in Nairobi seeking a dependable, academically rigorous homeschooling programme with personalised support, Smartious is a standout choice.” — Allan H., Google review