Daraah International School has opened in AMAALA, giving families living and working at the Saudi destination access to an international education pathway from the early years through the Middle Years Programme (MYP).
SEK Education Group officially inaugurated Daraah International School (DIS) on September 2, with the school welcoming its first students in September 2026. The school has been developed in partnership with Red Sea Global (RSG) as part of the wider development of AMAALA and its growing residential community.
For families based at AMAALA, the opening means that education is becoming part of the wider community infrastructure, alongside housing, services and other facilities. The school will provide education from nursery through MYP for students aged 0 to 16.
Daraah International School Brings Education Closer To AMAALA Families
Daraah International School is located within the employee residential community at AMAALA. It has been designed to support families whose lives and work are connected to the destination.
The partnership between SEK Education Group and Red Sea Global forms part of a wider effort to create communities where employees can live with their families rather than having to rely on education facilities elsewhere.
The school was announced alongside Turtle Bay International School at The Red Sea as part of RSG’s plans to provide education for families working at its destinations. Priority enrolment has been given to children of RSG employees and people working at the destinations.
For parents, this can make a significant difference to family life, particularly in a developing destination where access to established education infrastructure may otherwise be limited.
AMAALA welcomed its first guests in 2026 and is continuing to develop its residential, hospitality and community facilities. Daraah International School therefore forms part of the destination’s wider growth rather than operating as a standalone education project.
Daraah International School Plans An International And IB-Focused Education
Daraah International School will offer an international education from nursery to MYP, covering students from early years through the age of 16.
The school is a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP), subject to authorisation.
This gives families considering an international education pathway an option that is designed around inquiry, collaboration, critical thinking and global citizenship.
SEK Education Group currently operates schools in several countries and has an established presence in Saudi Arabia, including SEK International School Riyadh and Turtle Bay International School. Its school network also includes Daraah International School, which SEK lists as opening for the 2026/27 school year.
What Will Students Learn At Daraah International School?
Daraah International School will follow SEK’s educational model, which includes its Intelligent Classroom approach.
The model combines active learning, technology and collaborative learning environments. The school also plans to place particular emphasis on areas closely connected with AMAALA’s setting and wider ambitions.
These include,
- Sustainability
- Marine sciences
- Artificial intelligence
- Wellbeing
- Entrepreneurship
- Creative arts
The approach could give students opportunities to connect classroom learning with the environment around them.
For example, marine sciences can provide a natural connection to the Red Sea, while sustainability can be explored through both classroom learning and the destination’s wider environmental goals.
The school campus includes science and technology laboratories, indoor and outdoor sports facilities, performing arts and music spaces, a library and media centre, collaborative learning areas and dedicated wellbeing and student support facilities.
Why The New School Matters For Families In AMAALA
The opening of Daraah International School is significant because access to education is an important consideration for families deciding where to live and work.
For school-age children, being able to attend an international school within the community can reduce the need for long-distance travel and help families establish a more consistent daily routine.
It also means children can learn alongside others whose families are part of the same developing community.
Meanwhile, for educators and school leaders, the school offers another example of how education is being incorporated into large-scale destination development in Saudi Arabia.
Rather than treating education as a separate service, the AMAALA model places a school within the residential community. This reflects the broader idea that successful new communities need access to learning, wellbeing and family services alongside employment and housing.
Daraah International School Strengthens SEK’s Saudi Presence
The opening also expands SEK Education Group’s growing presence in the Kingdom.
SEK already operates SEK International School Riyadh and Turtle Bay International School in Saudi Arabia. The group also operates an international school in Qatar, alongside schools in Spain, Ireland and France.
Daraah International School is therefore part of a wider international network rather than a single new campus.
For students and families, this could provide opportunities to connect with a broader international education community as the school develops.
Nieves Segovia, President of SEK Education Group, stated
“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.”
Education Becomes Part Of AMAALA’s Growing Community
The school was officially inaugurated in the presence of representatives from Red Sea Global, SEK Education Group and the Saudi Ministry of Education. A symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the opening of the new learning environment.
John Pagano, Group CEO of Red Sea Global, commented,
“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 AMAALA families, the development of Daraah International School adds an important piece to the destination’s growing community infrastructure.
As the destination expands, the school’s development will be one to watch for parents, educators and school leaders interested in how new communities in Saudi Arabia are planning education alongside wider economic and social development.
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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