Online School Fees in Saudi Arabia (2026/27): A Guide in SAR

By Alfred Ouko, Founder · October 2026 · 9 min read

Families in Saudi Arabia looking at online school usually want three answers: what it costs in riyals, what is included, and whether the qualification will count later in the Kingdom. This guide covers the first two in detail and points you to the right place for the third. It sets out Smartious fees in SAR for 2026/27, the other costs families should plan for, and a fair way to compare providers. We do not quote other providers’ prices, because we cannot verify them.

Smartious fees in SAR

Smartious 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). As an illustration, three months at that fee is about USD 1,269, roughly SAR 4,759 for a term; the exact term invoice depends on the term, curriculum and level, and admissions confirms it in writing. IGCSE and A Level fees are higher than the Primary starting fee. Fees are non-refundable once the assessment is done, the timetable has been created and lessons have started.

One-to-one tuition

One-to-one tuition is USD 15 an hour, about SAR 56. Families use it alongside a school or a parent-led homeschool, often for IGCSE and A Level mathematics, sciences and English. Two hours a week over a twelve week term is 24 hours, about USD 360, roughly SAR 1,350.

What the fee covers

The Smartious fee covers live lessons with qualified subject teachers on a weekly timetable, homework and marking, assessments and written reports, and guidance on exam entries. Lessons run on the same clock as Riyadh, because Saudi Arabia shares East Africa Time. Exam entry fees are not included, and neither are equipment and internet.

A worked example

Take a family in Jeddah with a child starting Year 10, the first IGCSE year. Their budget has four lines. The termly fee for the IGCSE level, confirmed by admissions after the assessment, multiplied by three terms. Equipment, which most families already have, plus a headset. Internet, which is usually already in place. And exam entries in the year the child sits each subject, paid per subject to the exam centre. Against that, they remove school transport, uniforms and some activity costs. The useful thing about this exercise is that it shows the real annual figure in riyals, which is the number to compare with any school, rather than a monthly headline. Admissions can help you fill in the first line for your child’s level before you commit.

Exam fees and other costs

Students sit Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel exams as private candidates at authorised centres such as the British Council in Saudi Arabia. Entry fees are charged per subject by the centre, with higher fees for late entries, so register on time. Budget for a laptop, webcam and headset, reliable internet, books, and activities and sport. If your child will apply to a Saudi university, plan for Ministry of Education equivalency and any national tests run by the Education and Training Evaluation Commission, which have their own requirements and possibly fees.

How to compare fairly

Ask every provider how many live hours a week the fee includes, the class size, whether teachers are qualified in their subjects, what time lessons are in Saudi time, how the timetable fits the Sunday to Thursday week, whether fees are monthly or termly and in which currency, whether exam fees are included, and what the refund rule is. Ask too what each provider can say about recognition in the Kingdom. Smartious does not claim approval or licensing from the Saudi Ministry of Education.

Comparing with an international school

A fair comparison with an international school in Riyadh, Jeddah or the Eastern Province includes tuition, registration and re-enrolment fees, transport, uniforms and trips, and the time spent on the school run. It also includes what a campus offers that an online school does not, and how easily your child could move back into a school later. For many families online school is the right choice for a period, such as after a relocation or while waiting for a place, and cost is only one part of the decision.

Paying from Saudi Arabia

Smartious invoices termly in US dollars. With the riyal pegged, the SAR amount is stable. Families pay through our payment provider by card or bank transfer. Talk to admissions before the assessment if you have more than one child or particular needs.

Online school in Saudi Arabia is easier to plan than many families expect: a pegged currency, the same clock as Nairobi and a single termly fee. Check equivalency early, compare like with like, and ask for a written quote. Message admissions on WhatsApp at +254 745 021 212 or email hello@smartioushomeschool.com.

Frequently asked questions

How much is online school in Saudi Arabia?

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

How much is a tutor per hour in SAR?

Smartious one-to-one tuition is USD 15 an hour, about SAR 56.

Are exam fees included?

No. Entry fees are paid per subject to the exam centre, such as the British Council.

Will the qualification count in Saudi Arabia?

That depends on Ministry of Education equivalency and the university or school concerned. Check moe.gov.sa and ask the institution directly.

Next steps

What parents say

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

“I have peace of mind as a Smartious Homeschool parent. No more traffic and early morning rush to school. Smartious are the most organized homeschool providers.” — Google reviewer, Google review