New American School In Riyadh To Bring STEM And Character Education Together

A new American curriculum school in Riyadh is set to open in September 2027, giving families another international education option in the Kingdom. Hayah Advanced International Academy Riyadh will bring together the educational approach of Hayah International Academy, the STEM expertise of Fulton Science Academy and the regional experience of MindSpire Education.

The partnership was facilitated by ISC Research, which supports international school operators, investors and education organisations in developing partnerships and new schools. The project reflects the continued growth of international education in Saudi Arabia and the rising demand for distinctive school models.

For parents, the new school could offer a combination of academic rigour, STEAM learning and character development. Meanwhile, educators could benefit from access to international teaching approaches and professional development.

New American School Riyadh Set To Open In 2027

Hayah Advanced International Academy Riyadh is planned as a purpose-built campus in Riyadh. The school is scheduled to open its doors in September 2027. The school will build on Hayah International Academy’s established educational philosophy while introducing Fulton Science Academy’s expertise in STEM and STEAM education.

Hayah International Academy was founded in Cairo in 2003. It has developed a character-led approach that places academic achievement alongside personal development. The Riyadh campus will mark Hayah’s first international expansion. According to MindSpire Education, the school serves nearly 2,000 students at its Cairo campus and has established a reputation around character-led education.

The new Riyadh school will therefore provide families with an international option that combines established educational practices with a strong focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

Fulton Science Academy To Support STEAM Learning

Fulton Science Academy is a private, non-profit school based in Georgia, United States. Established in 2012, it has a strong focus on STEM and STEAM education. Through the partnership, Fulton will contribute its academic and teaching expertise to the Riyadh school. This includes curriculum support, teaching methodologies and educator development in STEM and STEAM fields.

This could be particularly relevant for students interested in science, mathematics, engineering and technology. It also creates opportunities for educators to engage with international approaches to STEAM teaching.

Hayah Advanced International Academy Riyadh is scheduled to open in September 2027

Kenan Sener, Executive Director of Strategic Growth and Global Affairs at Fulton Science Academy and CEO of ServePremier Education said,

“The team at ISC Research has been incredibly supportive throughout the entire process, from start to finish. This is the second partnership ISC Research has facilitated for us, following our successful collaboration in Jeju, South Korea. On both occasions, they played a pivotal role in bringing the right partners together and demonstrated professionalism, dedication, and support at every stage of the journey.”

ServePremier Education supports Fulton Science Academy’s national and international expansion based on its educational model.

Character Education Remains A Key Focus

The new American school Riyadh project will not focus solely on academic outcomes. Hayah’s character education approach will remain central to the school’s identity. The model has been developed over more than two decades and places character formation alongside academic development.

This approach is also relevant to Saudi Arabia’s wider education priorities. The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 agenda places emphasis on human capability and developing young people who can contribute to the country’s future.

For parents, this combination could provide a broader educational experience. Students will have opportunities to develop academic knowledge while also building qualities such as responsibility, confidence and community awareness. The school’s launch event in Diriyah included discussions around character development and human capability in the context of Vision 2030.

MindSpire Education Expands Its Saudi Presence

MindSpire Education is supporting the school’s development as the regional education operator.

The organisation manages a portfolio of schools and pre-schools across the MENA region and operates in Egypt through the Egypt Education Platform. For Amr Sherif, CFO of MindSpire Education, the partnership demonstrated the importance of finding organisations with complementary strengths.

“ISC Research provided exceptional support throughout the partnership process. Their deep understanding of our requirements and ability to identify the right partner were instrumental in making this collaboration a reality. Their professionalism, responsiveness, and commitment were evident at every stage.”

MindSpire Education has also identified international partnerships as part of its wider education strategy in Saudi Arabia. Its roadmap includes school development, education technology and international higher education partnerships.

What The Riyadh School Means For Families

The arrival of Hayah Advanced International Academy adds another option to Riyadh’s growing international school sector. For parents, the combination of American-style STEM and STEAM expertise with Hayah’s character-led approach may be an important differentiator.

For students, the school is expected to provide opportunities to engage with science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics through an inquiry-led approach. Educators could also gain from professional development and exposure to Fulton Science Academy’s teaching methodologies.

However, families will need to wait for further information about admissions, fees, year groups and the full curriculum before assessing whether the school is suitable for their children. Admissions information is expected to be released ahead of the school’s application window.

Saudi Arabia Continues To Attract International Schools

The new American school Riyadh development comes as Saudi Arabia continues to expand its international education offering.

Riyadh has become a major focus for new school developments as the Kingdom seeks to strengthen its education sector and support the goals of Vision 2030.

Leigh Webb, CEO of ISC Research said,

“The Gulf remains the single most active region globally for international school development, and Saudi Arabia is now at the centre of that activity. Partnerships of this kind, pairing a proven regional operator with a recognised international brand are the model we expect to see more of, and ISC Research is positioned at the point where those introductions happen.”

The partnership between Fulton Science Academy and MindSpire Education also illustrates how international school development is increasingly bringing together regional operators and established education organisations.

For Saudi families, this trend could mean greater choice across curricula, teaching models and specialist areas such as STEM and STEAM.

A New Option For Riyadh’s Education Sector

The development of Hayah Advanced International Academy Riyadh adds to the changing education landscape in the Kingdom.

Its model combines Hayah’s experience in character education with Fulton Science Academy’s STEM and STEAM expertise. MindSpire Education will provide regional operating experience, while ISC Research has supported the partnership.

Bharati Thakore, Head of School Development at ISC Research said,

“At ISC Research, we are committed to connecting schools with highly reputable and like-minded partners to build successful, long-term collaborations. Fulton Science Academy and MindSpire Education each bring distinctive strengths, academic excellence, innovation, and operational expertise. It has been a privilege to support the creation of what will be a world-class American curriculum school in Riyadh.”

The school is scheduled to open in September 2027. Its progress will be closely watched by families, educators and school leaders as Riyadh’s international education sector continues to develop.

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