The British Embassy Riyadh has opened a new funding opportunity focused on Saudi Arabia’s special educational needs sector, with concept notes due by 21 September 2026.
The Saudi SEN market assessment call is being delivered through the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s Gulf Strategy Fund. It offers funding of between £60,000 and £80,000 for a project that must be completed by February 2027.
The initiative will examine Saudi Arabia’s evolving SEN education landscape and identify practical opportunities for UK organisations to enter, partner and grow in the market.
For UK SEN providers, specialist schools, professional bodies, training organisations and education technology companies, the call could provide a route into a market undergoing significant education reform.
Saudi SEN Market Reform Creates New Areas Of Opportunity
Saudi Arabia is continuing to reform its education system under Vision 2030.
The reforms include developing provision for students with special educational needs and disabilities. They also cover early identification, mainstream inclusion, specialist support and assistive technologies.
In addition, emerging requirements address specialist centres, digital learning options and support for gifted students.
The changes could create opportunities for organisations with expertise in inclusive education, specialist teaching, assessment, assistive technology and teacher development.
However, organisations entering the Saudi SEN market will need to understand the regulatory environment and local education landscape before developing partnerships or investment plans.
What The Saudi SEN Market Assessment Will Examine
The funded project will provide an evidence-based assessment of Saudi SEN provision and the opportunities available to UK organisations.
The work will examine Saudi laws, regulations and policies affecting SEN provision, inclusion, specialist education and private-sector participation.
It will also assess current provision and identify gaps in areas including,
- Early identification and assessment
- Mainstream inclusion
- Specialist staff and teacher capability
- Assistive technology
- Adaptive educational resources
- Specialist centres
- Digital learning
- Support for gifted students
The assessment will also map key government, regulatory, education, commercial and non-profit stakeholders.
As a result, the project is expected to give UK organisations a clearer picture of where demand exists and how they could potentially respond.
Market Entry And Partnership Models Will Be Explored
The Saudi SEN market assessment will also consider the practical challenges faced by international organisations.
These include licensing, foreign investment, ownership, local partnerships and professional accreditation.
Safeguarding, data protection and workforce requirements will also form part of the assessment.
Furthermore, the project will identify potential partnership and market-entry models for UK organisations.
The final recommendations will include a prioritised six to 12-month action plan for the FCDO, Department for Business and Trade and Department for Education.
This could make the findings particularly useful for education companies that are exploring Saudi Arabia but need greater clarity on regulations, partnerships and commercial opportunities.
Who Can Apply For The Saudi SEN Market Call?
The call is open to a range of organisations, subject to appropriate due diligence.
Eligible applicants include,
- Non-profit organisations
- Non-governmental organisations
- Academic institutions
- Think tanks and research organisations
- Professional bodies
- Private companies
Applications can come from organisations based in the UK or Saudi Arabia.
However, the British Embassy Riyadh has identified SEN expertise and Saudi legal capability as minimum requirements.
The proposed team should include a senior SEN specialist, a Saudi legal or regulatory specialist, an education-market or commercial specialist and an experienced project lead.
Applicants should also have the ability to review authoritative Arabic-language sources.
Practical Experience Will Be Important
The project is expected to go beyond a general description of Saudi Arabia’s education sector.
Applicants must propose a rigorous approach that combines desk research, legal and regulatory verification, stakeholder consultation and market analysis.
Importantly, the call requires legal provisions to be independently verified through authoritative Saudi sources.
The assessment must also distinguish between requirements already in force, implementing regulations, policy direction and areas where legal uncertainty remains.
For education providers, this distinction is important when considering market entry. It can help organisations avoid treating proposed reforms as established requirements.
What The Successful Project Must Deliver
The selected implementing partner will be expected to produce several practical outputs.
These include,
| Deliverable | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Final report | Provide an evidence-based assessment of Saudi SEN provision |
| Market-opportunity matrix | Identify and prioritise opportunities for UK organisations |
| Market-entry guide | Explain requirements and potential routes into the market |
| Six to 12-month action plan | Set out practical next steps for UK stakeholders |
| Senior stakeholder presentation | Communicate findings to key decision-makers |
The project must be completed within the relevant financial year and will be funded through the Gulf Strategy Fund. The budget cannot exceed £80,000, including delivery, administrative and staffing costs.
How Applications Will Be Assessed
The British Embassy Riyadh has set out six main appraisal criteria.
| Assessment Area | Weighting |
|---|---|
| Strategic fit | 20% |
| Technical quality and methodology | 20% |
| SEN expertise | 20% |
| Saudi legal and market expertise | 15% |
| Value for money | 15% |
| Implementing organisation and team capability | 10% |
SEN expertise and Saudi legal and market expertise are particularly important because both are identified as minimum requirements.
Therefore, organisations considering an application will need to demonstrate more than general education-sector experience.
They will need to show relevant specialist knowledge, local capability and a credible approach to producing commercially useful findings.
Key Dates For Applicants
Concept notes must be submitted by 21 September 2026.
Successful implementers are expected to be invited to submit full project proposals on 3 October. Funding decisions are expected in mid-October.
The British Embassy Riyadh has encouraged potential applicants to discuss project ideas with its Programmes Team before applying.
Applications and questions should be directed to Ri***************@******ov.uk.
The official call, application templates and guidance are available through the British Embassy Riyadh’s GOV.UK announcement.
Why The Saudi SEN Market Matters For Education Providers
The call comes as Saudi Arabia continues to develop its education system and expand opportunities for private-sector and international participation.
For UK SEN organisations, the opportunity extends beyond market research. It could help identify where specialist expertise, teacher training, technology and educational services can support Saudi priorities.
For Saudi schools and education stakeholders, stronger international collaboration could also bring access to specialist knowledge and new approaches to inclusive education.
Ultimately, the assessment aims to connect Saudi education needs with practical UK expertise while providing organisations with a clearer understanding of the market and its requirements.
For more information please visit
Further Reading
- King’s College Riyadh New SEDRA Campus Partners With Preschool To Support Early-Years Transition
- Nearly 2 Million Saudi Students Return To Schools In Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah And Taif