Saudi Arabia Tightens Regulatory Framework for Private Schools with New Infrastructure Standards and On-Campus Housing Option

Saudi Arabia has introduced new municipal standards for private schools, tightening infrastructure, planning, and safety requirements while expanding regulatory oversight. The reforms, which also permit on-campus student housing, signal a push to raise education quality and attract greater private investment in line with Vision 2030 goals.

Saudi Arabia has unveiled a comprehensive set of new municipal requirements for private educational institutions, marking a significant shift in the regulatory landscape for schools, nurseries, kindergartens, and education complexes operating in the Kingdom. The updated standards, issued by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, aim to enhance safety, urban planning integration, and the overall quality of the learning environment while aligning private sector growth with broader national development goals.

Under the revised framework, the regulations apply to educational facilities on land designated for educational use, government-leased land, and land allocated for commercial purposes, expanding the scope of oversight compared with previous guidelines.

See also: Saudi Arabia Tightens Iqama, Visa, and Residency Ahead of 2026

Key infrastructure and planning guidelines

The new requirements set detailed conditions related to site planning, architectural standards, and land use. Notable provisions include:

• Street access and location: Educational buildings must be situated on two streets, with at least one having a minimum width of 25 meters, ensuring appropriate access and traffic flow.
• Building size and design: The number of building floors must comply with approved building code limits, and mandatory setbacks must be observed.
• Minimum space per student: To promote a conducive educational environment, the regulations require a minimum land area per student, starting at four square meters for kindergarten and increasing to five square meters for larger educational complexes.
• Nursery flexibility: Nurseries may be located on a single street with a minimum width of 15 meters if housed in standalone buildings, offering some flexibility for early childhood education providers.

These requirements create a uniform baseline for private education infrastructure and are publicly available via the Ministry’s official resources.

Introduction of on-campus student housing

A major highlight of the new regulatory regime is the approval for on-campus residential facilities within licensed private school campuses. Saudi authorities now permit the construction of internal housing buildings for students, provided they are separate from academic buildings — a first for the Kingdom’s private education sector.

This move is expected to benefit international schools and larger education complexes that serve expatriate families or students from distant regions, offering more flexibility in school siting and operation. Such residential options could also position Saudi private schools to better compete regionally for international enrolments.

Strategic signal to investors and operators

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Analysts view the regulatory update as a signal of Saudi Arabia’s continued commitment to elevating education quality and attracting private investment into the sector. By standardizing planning requirements and introducing modern facilities like on-campus housing, the Kingdom is enhancing the appeal of private educational infrastructure for both domestic and foreign investors.

Experts note that such updates could dovetail with broader economic diversification and Vision 2030 priorities, which emphasize education, skills development, and improved competitiveness.

The regulatory overhaul also comes amid a regional context where private education plays a growing role in meeting demand from expatriate families and local populations seeking international curricula — a trend reflected in earlier sector expansions.

Implications and next steps

For school operators, the updated standards will require careful planning and compliance to meet the physical and safety criteria laid out by authorities. While not directly addressing staffing and academic quality regulations — which remain under the auspices of the Ministry of Education — the new rules underscore the importance of institutional readiness and long-term facility planning.

Industry observers expect that further guidance and implementation timelines will be issued to help private education providers adapt to these requirements. In the meantime, investors and school developers are likely to reassess site development strategies, expansion plans, and capital investment portfolios to align with the latest municipal framework.

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