NEOM is a groundbreaking mega-project in northwest Saudi Arabia. But as NEOM’s visionary projects unfold, one big question remains: Are there schools in NEOM for the families who are moving there to work?
The answer is yes. Neom Community School (NCS), which opened in 2021, is the first school in the region. NCM was built to meet the need for K-12 education within the mega-development for families of expatriates employed by the project.
Neom Community School: The First School in NEOM
As of February 2025, Neom Community School has been enrolling students from Kindergarten through to Grade 11, with plans to expand as the NEOM grows.
The school has already seen impressive enrolment, particularly in its Kindergarten and Elementary sections, which have around 600 students. However, the Middle and Senior School sections are still in their early stages, with around 100 students in Grades 6-8 and just over 40 students in Grades 9-11.
While there may be limited information available for prospective families right now, there’s no doubt that as NEOM continues to grow and attract more expatriates, the demand for schools will expand. This could mean more schools and opportunities for families moving to NEOM.
What is NEOM?
Launched in 2017 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, NEOM promises to transform the Red Sea coast into a hub of innovation and sustainability, powered entirely by renewable energy.
From THE LINE, a revolutionary city design focused on human-centred living, to Trojena, a sustainable mountain tourism destination that will host the 2029 Asian Winter Games and Oxagon a floating port city, NEOM has ambitious plans to create a futuristic city unlike any other in the world.
Looking Ahead: Education in NEOM
While Neom Community School is currently the only option for families in NEOM, it’s clear that as the city grows, so will its choice of schools.
As part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 for the future, the Ministry of Education has launched an ambitious strategy to raise the quality of education. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of private international schools opening across the Kingdom, a rise in the number of Saudi nationals attending private schools, and a growth in the expat population.
Saudi Arabia’s education sector continues to grow with new British schools opening in Riyadh and Jeddah. Most recently, Sherborne School, one of the UK’s top independent schools, announced the opening of its first international school in Saudi Arabia. Sherborne School Jeddah will open in September 2025.
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Further Reading:
- How the MENA-Africa Collaboration is Accelerating Innovation and Opportunity in the Region
- KAUST Preparing Saudi Engineers for the Kingdom’s Future