Cognita, one of the world’s leading global schools groups, has signed a significant Memorandum of Understanding with ROSHN Group, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s flagship multi asset class real estate developer and a Public Investment Fund company. The agreement aims to develop world class educational facilities that will support the Kingdom’s accelerating transformation agenda and meet the growing demand for high quality schooling across the nation. The MoU was officially signed during Cityscape Global 2025, held in Riyadh, reflecting the strategic importance of this partnership for the future of Saudi Arabia’s education sector.
A Strategic Collaboration to Support the Kingdom’s Vision
The signing of this MoU underscores ROSHN Group’s commitment to expanding its portfolio into key social and economic development verticals. As Saudi Arabia continues to diversify its economy and enhance the quality of life across its integrated communities, the collaboration with Cognita marks an important milestone in embedding internationally recognised educational excellence into its long term development strategy.
Under the terms of the MoU, Cognita Middle East and ROSHN Group will work together to deliver Build to Suit Private Schools within ROSHN’s communities. These schools will be purpose built to global standards and operated by Cognita Middle East. The partnership aims to create innovative educational environments designed to elevate learning outcomes, attract international school brands and support the Kingdom’s ambition to offer exceptional education to families across all regions.
Commitment to Educational Excellence
The partnership brings together ROSHN Group’s vision of creating thriving, sustainable communities and Cognita’s global expertise in delivering high quality education. By combining deep regional understanding with decades of educational leadership, the two organisations intend to introduce new models of schooling that reflect modern pedagogy, promote wellbeing and prepare students for a rapidly evolving world.
David Baldwin, CEO, Cognita Middle East, said:
“We are delighted to collaborate with ROSHN Group on this exciting project. Our commitment to quality, innovation, and community development make this an ideal partnership. Together, we aim to broaden access to high-quality education and deliver an outstanding educational experience that empowers students to reach their full potential and prepares them to thrive in a rapidly changing world.”
Cognita’s Global Strength and Regional Expertise
Cognita operates one of the most extensive international school networks in the world, with more than one hundred schools across twenty one countries. The group supports one hundred thousand students and more than twenty one thousand staff, making it a trusted provider of globally benchmarked education.
In the Middle East, Cognita has an established reputation for excellence, operating fourteen schools across the region. Its portfolio includes renowned institutions such as Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai, the Repton Family of Schools and Kings College Riyadh. The group is known for its strong focus on academic achievement, student wellbeing, innovation in teaching and learning and world class facilities.
The addition of new schools within ROSHN’s communities reinforces the group’s long term commitment to the Kingdom and supports Saudi Arabia’s efforts to attract international investment in its education sector.
Supporting National Goals and Future Growth
Saudi Arabia’s population is young and growing, and the demand for premium, globally aligned education continues to increase. The Cognita ROSHN MoU is therefore expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the educational landscape in newly developed districts and emerging urban centres across the Kingdom. The new schools will integrate seamlessly into ROSHN’s master planned communities and are expected to enrich the social fabric by offering families access to future ready, high calibre learning environments.
As ROSHN continues to deliver large scale developments across Saudi Arabia, the presence of leading international schools will help drive community wellbeing, attract global talent and support the Kingdom’s broader socio economic ambitions.
Next Steps
Further details about the development timelines, campus design features and school locations will be announced in due course. Both organisations are expected to continue developing their collaborative framework as they prepare to introduce new educational offerings tailored specifically for Saudi families and international residents.
This landmark MoU marks the beginning of a significant collaboration that will contribute to strengthening the education sector and supporting the Kingdom’s vision for a dynamic, innovative and knowledge driven future.
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