Relocating a 15+ Year-Old to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia? Here’s What to Expect

Aamynah Nagji and Leticia G. de la Rasilla, both highly regarded education consultants and school placement specialists, discuss the unique challenges faced by families relocating to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with teenagers, and how schooling options and social integration play a critical role in their transition.

Families moving to Riyadh with children aged 15 and older often face additional hurdles in both academics and social integration. As international education options continue to expand in the region, high school placement remains one of the most complex aspects of relocation.

One of the primary challenges is securing a spot in an international school. Many of the newer schools in Riyadh are growing organically, meaning they currently cater primarily to younger students, with established programs extending only through Year 6 or Year 7. As a result, finding an available high school placement—particularly in a truly international setting—can be difficult.

Even if a space is available, families may need to adjust to differences in school structure and culture. Unlike in many Western education systems, co-educational schools are not always an option. Many schools in Riyadh follow a gender-segregated model, which may be unfamiliar to students coming from mixed-gender learning environments. This transition can be particularly challenging for teenagers who have grown up in co-ed settings and are now adjusting to a different social and academic atmosphere.

Beyond academics, social integration is another major factor for teenagers adapting to life in Riyadh. While international schools and expatriate communities often provide a sense of familiarity, the broader social landscape comes with different norms. Public spaces, including malls and restaurants, may have cultural expectations regarding interactions between genders, which can be a significant adjustment for students accustomed to more open social dynamics.

For families navigating a high school relocation to Riyadh, understanding these challenges in advance—and exploring all available schooling options—can make a meaningful difference in ensuring a smooth transition for their teenagers.

Based in Dubai, Aamynah Nagji is a veteran independent education consultant, specializing in supporting families relocating to the Middle East, and also serves as a Global Team Lead (GTL).

Aamynah holds a B.A. in Economics and Statistics from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, India, and received her certification as a Chartered Financial Analyst from AIMR, USA. She is also a Certified Leader and Life Coach who speaks fluent Hindi and Urdu.

Leticia hardly needs any introduction—Bennett's Client Services representative and a Global Team Lead, overseeing and supporting Bennett’s Europe-based consultants. She also plans education outreach for our corporate and RMC clients, leading webinar discussions on relevant education topics and providing updates on high-demand locations, nonpareil.

Over the years, Bennett International Education Consultancyhas worked with hundreds of corporations across the globe, many of them Fortune 500 companies, providing domestic and international school advisement & placement services - preschool through university - to the dependents of relocating employees. In addition to education placement, our team provides customized consulting for corporations with a range of education issues: education policy writing & benchmarking, tuition studies, group move advisement & planning, and remote education solutions.