Misk Schools is a state-of-the-art, PreK–12 private day school for boys and girls in Riyadh that aims to prepare the next generation of leaders.
Founded in 2016 by HRH Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Misk Schools aspires to push forward the frontier of innovation in education, with a focus on approaches that enable students to grow into high performing, inquisitive, problem-solving learners who have the spirit to become future leaders and exemplary citizens of the world.
Teaching Students to Lead with Purpose
Everything we do is designed to ensure that when students graduate from Misk Schools aged 18, they will be prepared to lead with purpose because they are passionate learners, critical and creative thinkers, and globally-minded citizens who strive to learn what it means to live life well, and assume responsibility for making the world more habitable and humane.
We are one of five entities within the Misk Foundation which was founded by HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Foundation focuses on the country’s youth – and how new methods of fostering talent, nurturing potential, and enabling innovation can open fresh opportunities in the arts and sciences.
Dr Steffen Sommer
Director General
Dr Sommer is an accomplished education leader with more than 25 years of experience in senior roles across Europe and the Middle East. He joined Misk Schools as Director General in August 2022, after serving as the Principal of Doha College for seven years. Prior to his time in the Middle East, Steffen led top international schools in The Hague, Paris, and Lausanne.
As a fluent speaker of six languages, Steffen also served as Head of Languages at Rugby School, one of the UK’s premier independent boarding schools. He was born in Germany and earned his first degree in Language and Linguistics from the University of Leipzig. Following his military service, Steffen worked with car maker Peugeot in France and pursued a PhD in Birmingham, UK, before discovering his passion for teaching.
In addition to his work at Misk Schools, Steffen is actively involved in education initiatives throughout the Middle East and beyond. He serves as a board member of Outstanding Schools of the Middle East, is a co-founder of the international division of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC), Vice Chair of the Council of British International Schools (COBIS), and a Fellow of High Performance Learning.
