National-curriculum schools in Saudi Arabia

National-curriculum private schools in Saudi Arabia follow the Ministry of Education (MOE) syllabus, with Arabic as the primary language of instruction and English taught as a compulsory second language from Grade 1. The MOE curriculum covers Arabic, Islamic studies, mathematics, science, social studies, and English — with tracks in the upper secondary years divided into scientific (علمي), literary (أدبي), and general (عام) streams. Private national schools offer the same curriculum as government schools but charge fees in return for smaller class sizes, stronger enrichment, additional English hours, and often better facilities. They are the most affordable category of private schooling in Saudi Arabia, with fees typically between SAR 6,000 and SAR 25,000 per year. National-curriculum students are the primary audience for the Saudi university admission tests — Qiyas (قياس) aptitude and Tahsili (تحصيلي) achievement exams — making this curriculum the natural pathway for families planning on Saudi higher education. The curriculum is also the dominant choice in cities outside the major expat hubs, where international school options are limited.