Walk through the west coast of Saudi Arabia today, and you’ll see the early outlines of something extraordinary. Turquoise waters meet untouched sand, and just behind the shoreline, two of the Kingdom’s most ambitious destinations are taking shape—AMAALA and The Red Sea. Built around wellness, sustainability, and luxury, these giga-projects are also laying the foundations for something just as lasting: community.
At the center of that vision is education. International schools in AMAALA and Red Sea are being developed not as afterthoughts but as key pieces of the master plan. These schools are meant to serve families who will live and work in the area, and they reflect Saudi Arabia’s focus on building self-sustaining destinations where life, work, and learning come together naturally.
A Commitment to World-Class Education
Red Sea Global (RSG), the developer behind both The Red Sea and AMAALA, is working with SEK Education Group to bring high-quality international schools to the region. SEK has been educating students for more than 130 years and already runs schools in Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Riyadh.
This partnership reflects more than just a need for schools. It shows a long-term vision to create complete communities. Just like NEOM, these schools are part of the early planning stages, placed alongside homes, wellness centers, and other daily necessities.
International schools in AMAALA and Red Sea will prioritize enrollment for families of those working in hospitality, management, and development roles.
Inside Daraah International School (AMAALA)
AMAALA is being designed as the world’s most comprehensive health and wellness destination. At the heart of its staff village sits Daraah International School, a modern campus designed to serve the children of employees and future residents.
Location and Design
Set within a calm, coastal staff village, the school offers a quiet space for learning, only a short distance from AMAALA’s luxury hotels. It’s a car-free environment, with walking paths linking staff housing to the school. This setup encourages a safe, connected way of life.
The buildings follow sustainable design standards and include:
- A dedicated science lab
- A creative MAKER space
- A “Black Box” room for arts and performance
- Sports facilities, including a swimming pool
The result is a school that feels open and thoughtful, built for creativity and movement.
Curriculum and Philosophy
Daraah will follow the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework, starting with the Primary and Middle Years Programmes. Younger children will also have access to Montessori learning methods. The school will be fully accredited by respected global institutions like:
- International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO)
- NEASC
- CIS
- ECIS
Classes will be co-ed, multilingual, and culturally diverse—designed for students growing up in a globally minded space like AMAALA.
Opening Timeline and Enrollment
The school will open in September 2025 for the 2025–26 academic year. It will welcome students from four months to fourteen years old in its first phase (nursery to Grade 8), with around 120 students at the start. Full capacity is projected at 600 once the school expands to Grade 12.
Teacher Life and Community Integration
Teachers at Daraah will live within a 15-minute walk of campus, with access to a close-knit community that includes shops, sports facilities, health centers, and restaurants. The school provides full support to staff with:
- Tax-free salaries
- Annual flights for staff and dependents
- Free furnished housing
- Tuition discounts for staff children
- International health coverage
This setup encourages long-term commitment from educators and supports a healthy work-life balance in a remote but well-equipped setting.
Turtle Bay International School (The Red Sea)
A little further down the coast, Turtle Bay International School is being developed within the heart of the Red Sea project’s staff village. With five hotels already operational and the Red Sea International Airport open, the community here is growing fast.
A School Built Alongside a Destination
Just like Daraah, Turtle Bay will serve children of Red Sea Global employees and those working across the development. Its purpose is simple: to ensure that as the destination grows, the people building and running it can bring their families along with them.
The school will launch in September 2025 with the same enrollment model—nursery through Grade 8 at first, expanding to Grade 12 over time. Classes will be mixed-gender and follow the IB curriculum. Accreditation will mirror that of Daraah, ensuring consistency across both schools.
Campus Life and Learning Opportunities
Students at Turtle Bay will have access to the same world-class facilities and teaching standards. They’ll also benefit from a natural classroom unlike any other with beaches, marine life, and conservation zones right outside the school walls. Learning will often extend beyond textbooks into nature, helping students build a connection with the environment around them.
Seamless Admissions and Management
Admissions for both schools are being managed by SEK’s existing Riyadh team. This ensures consistent communication, quality control, and a smooth experience for new families. It also shows how international schools in AMAALA and Red Sea are being planned with a strong focus on structure and reliability.
Why These Schools Matter to Saudi Arabia’s Vision
The development of education facilities in AMAALA and Red Sea Global is closely tied to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. These giga-projects are meant to transform the economy, diversify job opportunities, and promote new ways of living. For that to succeed, education has to evolve too.
By bringing SEK into the picture and investing in full-service schools from the start, Red Sea Global is laying down roots that support families, not just short-term tourism or seasonal staff. The schools help establish these destinations as permanent, livable communities that welcome both locals and expats.
A Curriculum for the Future
The decision to follow the IB system isn’t accidental. It’s a curriculum that encourages critical thinking, personal growth, and global awareness. These are the qualities that match the energy of AMAALA and The Red Sea—forward-looking, open-minded, and globally connected.
What Makes These Schools Unique
Few students get to learn in places like this. These are world-class schools in Saudi giga projects, surrounded by marine ecosystems and built in sustainable villages. The educational experience is shaped by:
- Purpose-built facilities designed with wellness in mind
- A diverse student body and international teaching staff
- Opportunities to learn about sustainability, conservation, and innovation from real-world projects nearby
What to Expect in the Coming Years
As both AMAALA and The Red Sea expand, their schools will likely grow too. New families will arrive. Older students will join. New facilities may be added. Over time, these schools will become key anchors in Saudi Arabia’s growing coastal communities.
New international schools opening in AMAALA and Red Sea are part of something bigger. They are proof that the Kingdom’s giga-projects aren’t just about luxury travel but about building complete, long-term, human-centered environments.
Communities Designed with Thought and People
The International schools in AMAALA and Red Sea are designed to grow with the communities around them. They offer more than just a curriculum. They create a space for children to learn, for parents to feel rooted, and for educators to build meaningful careers in one of the most innovative regions in the world.
As the 2025–26 academic year approaches, both Daraah and Turtle Bay will open their doors for the first time. These openings mark a major step forward for education and for the way we imagine life on Saudi Arabia’s coast. In these schools, the vision of tomorrow is already being taught today.
FAQs
Are there any schools in AMAALA and The Red Sea development areas?
Yes, Daraah International School in AMAALA and Turtle Bay International School in The Red Sea are the first planned international schools in these regions. Both are set to open in September 2025 and will offer globally accredited education for families living and working within the developments.
What curriculum will be offered at these schools?
Both international schools in AMAALA and Red Sea will follow the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, including the Primary Years and Middle Years Programmes, with plans to extend through Grade 12.
Who can enroll in these schools?
Priority enrollment will be given to children of employees working within the AMAALA and Red Sea developments. The schools are designed to serve families living and working in these regions.
Are international schools in AMAALA and Red Sea suitable for expat families?
Yes, both schools offer multilingual, co-educational, and multicultural learning environments, making them ideal for international and expat families relocating to Saudi Arabia’s west coast.
What are the facilities like at Daraah and Turtle Bay schools?
Facilities include purpose-built classrooms, science labs, creative arts spaces, swimming pools, and access to natural surroundings that support experiential learning in sustainability and marine conservation.
