Issuance of the New General Education Law in Saudi Arabia
Details of the new General Education Law in Saudi Arabia, issued by Royal Decree, which includes the regulation of virtual schools and digital education, rights of students and teachers, empowering private sector partnerships, and provisions for students with disabilities and gifted students.
Riyadh, Safar 10, 1448 AH / July 24, 2026 AD
The full text of the "General Education Law", issued by Royal Decree, has been published in the official gazette "Umm Al-Qura", representing a qualitative and historic milestone in the governance and regulation of education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It will officially take effect 180 days after its publication date.
The law aims to regulate general education affairs—from early childhood and nursery up to the 12th grade—to elevate performance efficiency and the educational environment, while keeping pace with future requirements and emerging technologies.
Key Details and Main Provisions of the Law:
1. Establishment of the "General Education Affairs Council"
Structure: A council chaired by the Minister of Education will be established, comprising vice ministers from Economy, Human Resources, Finance, Culture, Sports, Investment, and Health, alongside the President of the Education and Training Evaluation Commission, plus 4 experts (including two representatives from the private and non-profit sectors).
Mandates: The council is responsible for approving policies and strategies, determining the enrollment age and compulsory years, approving regulations for private and virtual institutions, and adopting the academic calendar.
2. Regulating "E-Learning" and Virtual Institutions
Digital Education as a Core Element: The law defines e-learning as leveraging information and communication technologies to raise the efficiency and quality of the educational process, considering technology an integral part of in-person learning.
Licensing Virtual Schools: Articles 1 and 8 mandate establishing and approving special regulations for licensing "Virtual Educational Institutions" (platforms and digital schools) to deliver their educational services.
3. Supporting Investment and Empowering the Private Sector (Including Foreign Investors)
Diverse Educational Models: The law permits issuing licenses for private educational institutions that provide educational models differing in content or management approach from traditional methods.
Outsourcing and Support: The law allows the Ministry to offer financial and in-kind support to private schools, as well as outsourcing the operation of public schools or investing their lands and buildings through the private sector, non-profit sector, and foreign investors.
Tuition Fees: Private institutions are permitted to set and adjust their fees according to criteria established by the Ministry and approved by the Council.
4. Student Rights and the School Environment
Compulsory and Free Education: Education is a right for all and free of charge in public schools, with compulsory education extending from ages 6 to 15.
Student Rights: The law guarantees students a psychologically, physically, and intellectually safe environment, protection from harm, access to primary healthcare, immunity from non-compliant individual teacher discretion, and the provision of technological and innovative resources.
Teacher Rights and Responsibilities: The Ministry is committed to providing a suitable work environment and professional/technical training programs for educational staff, while emphasizing the teacher’s role as a role model committed to the code of professional ethics.
5. Care for Special Groups and Gifted Students
Inclusion and Assistive Tech: The Ministry is required to integrate students with disabilities and provide "Assistive and Adaptive Technologies" to facilitate their learning, alongside creating digital programs and centers for those who cannot be integrated.
Gifted Students and Academic Acceleration: Developing dedicated programs to identify gifted students and adopting controls for the academic acceleration of high-achieving students to higher grade levels.
Early Detection: Coordinating to establish programs for the early detection of developmental and behavioral disorders to address them educationally and medically.
6. Support Services and School Transportation
School Transportation: Article 55 confirms support for providing free school transportation services to public school students according to specific controls.
Health, Nutrition, and Security: Drafting guidelines for school health and nutrition in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Food and Drug Authority, while providing security and guarding services for educational facilities.
The "Mdares.AI" Platform Vision:
These historic decisions open vast horizons for digital transformation and improving the quality of the educational environment in the Kingdom.
The "Mdares.AI" platform confirms its full readiness to provide technical solutions and smart systems that align with the aspirations of the new law, supporting schools and parents in keeping pace with the latest standards in digital education.