Daraah International School has opened at AMAALA in Saudi Arabia, giving families living and working at the Red Sea destination access to international education close to home.
The school is operated by SEK Education Group in partnership with Red Sea Global (RSG). It opened in September 2026 as part of the wider development of AMAALA as a destination where people can live and work alongside its tourism and hospitality offering.
For families, Daraah International School is more than a new school opening. It is part of an effort to build a community with education, housing and other services available for people working at the destination.
The school provides education from nursery through the Middle Years Programme, serving children from early years to age 16. It follows the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme and Middle Years Programme, according to Red Sea Global’s latest announcement.
Daraah International School Brings IB Education To AMAALA
The school has been designed around an international education model, with SEK’s educational approach combined with the needs of its Saudi setting.
Its learning model includes active learning, technology and collaborative learning environments. The school is also placing particular emphasis on sustainability, wellbeing, innovation and marine sciences.
For students, the marine sciences focus has a clear connection to where the school is located.
AMAALA sits on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, so the natural environment around the destination provides a distinctive setting for learning about marine ecosystems, sustainability and environmental responsibility.
The school also plans to give students opportunities to explore artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship and the creative arts.
This mix could give students opportunities to connect classroom learning with the environment and industries around them.
A School Designed Around Life At AMAALA
Daraah International School is located within the employee residential community at AMAALA.
That makes its role slightly different from a school serving an established city neighbourhood. It is being developed as part of the infrastructure needed to support families living at the destination.
“Education is an essential part of building a thriving community. Daraah brings together SEK’s international experience and educational innovation with AMAALA’s ambition to create an exceptional environment in which families can live, learn and grow. Our aim is to help every student develop their talents and prepare for the future, while connecting them to the opportunities of SEK’s wider international network. We are proud to deepen our partnership with Red Sea Global and contribute through education to the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030.”
The opening ceremony took place on September 2, with representatives from SEK Education Group and Red Sea Global attending. The event also included Majid Al-Kuair, Director General of Education in the Tabuk Region.
For families moving to or working at AMAALA, having a school within the destination could make settling into the community easier.
What Students Will Find On Campus
The school has been designed to support academic learning alongside sport, creativity and student wellbeing.
Its facilities include science and technology laboratories, indoor and outdoor sports facilities, performing arts and music spaces, collaborative learning areas, a library and media centre. Dedicated areas for wellbeing and student support are also part of the campus.
This gives students access to a wider range of activities beyond the classroom.
For younger children, the school’s nursery provision creates an education pathway that can begin in the early years and continue through the Middle Years Programme.
That continuity may also be useful for families working at AMAALA who want their children to remain within the same education community as they progress through different stages.
Sustainability And Marine Sciences Take Centre Stage
One of the most distinctive elements of Daraah International School is its connection with AMAALA’s environmental ambitions.
The school will place sustainability and marine sciences alongside artificial intelligence, wellness, entrepreneurship and the creative arts.
For students, this creates opportunities to explore subjects that connect directly with the location around them.
Learning about marine science, for example, can move beyond textbooks when students are living beside the Red Sea. Sustainability can also become part of everyday learning rather than remaining a topic studied only in individual lessons.
The approach reflects AMAALA’s wider focus on wellness and regenerative tourism, while giving the school a clear educational identity.
What The School Means For Saudi Arabia’s Growing Destinations
Daraah International School is the second school developed by Red Sea Global and SEK Education Group for families living at its destinations.
Turtle Bay International School opened at The Red Sea in 2025. Both schools were developed to support employees and their families by providing education within the communities being created around the destinations.
The model highlights an important consideration for Saudi Arabia’s large-scale developments.
As new destinations attract international businesses, hospitality operators and other employers, schools become part of the infrastructure needed to make those places suitable for families.
“Destinations are more than bricks and mortar they are the people who bring them to life. Daraah International School is part of building a community where people can live, raise their families and build lasting connections. As AMAALA grows, we are building the services and infrastructure that make it a place people are proud to call home.”
For families, that means education is being considered alongside housing, healthcare, leisure and other services as these new communities develop.
SEK Continues To Expand Its Saudi Education Network
The opening also strengthens SEK Education Group’s presence in Saudi Arabia.
SEK already operates SEK International School Riyadh and Turtle Bay International School, while Daraah adds another school to its Saudi network. The group also operates international schools in Spain, Ireland, France and Qatar.
For educators and school leaders, the expansion provides another example of how international education groups are adapting their models to Saudi Arabia’s changing education landscape.
For parents, the more immediate question will be how the school develops its curriculum, student support and wider learning opportunities as AMAALA grows.
Daraah International School therefore represents more than another school opening. It is part of the wider effort to build a community where families can live, work and educate their children within the same destination.
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Further Reading
- Back-To-School Stress, How Parents Can Help Children Adjust To The School Routine
- Strong Foundations, Building Early Years Provision That Works in Practice