Delegates attending the International and Private Schools Education Forum at Friends House in London were told that the British curriculum is definitely appreciated in Saudi Arabia, and by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, or RCRC.

“Riyadh, and the wider Kingdom, is an exciting opportunity – the question we kept getting asked five years back is, is it really optimal to set up a British curriculum school in Riyadh?

“Interestingly, the precedent shows that in the last few years, [those schools] have had a very strong start,” said Chinmay Jhaveri, partner at international school data specialists L.E.K. Consulting.

Jhaveri went on to explain that there is an increased appreciation in the curriculum, both from Saudis and expatriate families.

But according to Sean Davey, director of Reigate Grammar School International, there are opportunities elsewhere in the country – Sharjah being chief, where the group is opening a new British international school.

“We’re really excited about that, it’s a beautiful location,” Davey noted. Speaking on a different panel, Anita Gleave, a mainstay of the international schools sector and CEO of Chatsworth, implored delegates not to forget about such places across the Saudi landscape.

“KSA is not Riyadh alone – there are beautiful unexplored parts of the Kingdom. RCRC have got their house in order, and spent a lot of money attracting and recruiting [British schools], but we should lose sight of just how huge it is,” she said.

She described the speed of change and of evolution in Saudi Arabia as “staggering”, and said that multiple schools are planning on opening in September in the Kingdom – not just in Riyadh.

Ivor McGettigan, a partner from lawyers Al-Tamimi & Co – which are often needed to navigate the ins and outs of setting up a K-12 establishment in the country – said that local partners often will try and ask for an “exclusive arrangement” for the whole Kingdom.

“I would encourage international schools not to agree to that. If it’s a Riyadh conglomerate or family [on the other end of the deal], they will have influence and open doors in Riyadh.

“But nine times out of ten, they will have zero impact [elsewhere]. In Jeddah for example, it’ll be a different family; that is quite regional in that sense,” he said, warning that one family won’t open doors in all the major cities.

KSA is not Riyadh alone – there are beautiful unexplored parts of the Kingdom

Anita Gleave, Chatsworth

Throughout Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, something that often comes across the desks of those running international schools is concerns surrounding LGBTQ+ rights.

On a panel with various representatives of the Clyde & Co law firm, another prominent entity operating to help broker international school deals in the Middle East, past incidents and general conduct around the issue was discussed.

“From a criminality point of view, same sex marriage in the Gulf Cooperation Council is not recognised at this time,” explained Emma Higham, Doha partner at Clyde & Co, saying that the firm had advised clients on policy amendments in the past.

In a lot of schools, she said, any depictions of same sex couples in any scenario are redacted in exercise books – and once, a headmaster from a school Clyde & Co was working with landed in hot water.

“We had to go to the police with him because the books had not been appropriately redacted – and he had to sign an apology letter, and say that all books would be redacted.

“When you’re dealing with curriculum that’s cross-border like that, it’s definitely something to think about,” Higham added.  

Singapore has also made it clear they do recognise LGBT people, but they “won’t be changing policies at this point in time to address LGBT communities”, said Singapore representative Thomas Choo.

“It’s probably one of a couple of big differences in that part of the world.

“I would add, though, that strangely enough, Thailand is probably the most liberal Southeast Asian country right now – because they actually passed a law allowing same sex marriage a couple of weeks back; they’re the third in Asia to do that after Nepal and Taiwan,” Choo explained.

“Things are changing, but it will take little bit more time,” he added.