Opportunities for UK universities in Saudi Arabia as country opens up

By understanding the regulatory environment, addressing key considerations and overcoming common hurdles, institutions can confidently expand into the Kingdom – whether through branch campuses, collaborative programme offerings or commercial arms.

KSA has collaborated with foreign universities for decades through joint courses, student and faculty exchange as well as teaching and learning certifications. Equally The King Abdullah Scholarship Program (KASP), established in 2005, has been the largest scholarship initiative in Saudi Arabia's history, providing thousands of Saudi students with opportunities to study abroad, significantly increasing their access to international education. This programme was perhaps the most significant route for local students to gain foreign education before recent regulatory changes allowed foreign universities to open a physical standalone presence in the KSA, similar to other parts of the Middle East.

There is significant local enthusiasm for foreign universities to establish a presence in Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom has launched initiatives to bring in students and researchers from around the world to study in Saudi universities, benefiting from various academic curricula in its colleges, universities, and institutes. The ‘Study in Saudi Arabia’ initiative aims to showcase educational opportunities and promote collaborations with distinguished researchers from different fields. This initiative aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which seeks to develop the educational sector and boost its international position.

Why foreign universities want to open in Saudi Arabia

Foreign universities are keen to establish a presence in Saudi Arabia for several reasons:

• strategic location – Saudi Arabia's strategic location in the Middle East makes it an attractive hub for international education
• growing demand – there is a rising demand for higher education in Saudi Arabia, with the Kingdom needing 900,000 more higher education places by 2030
• Vision 2030 – this policy aims to diversify the economy and increase private sector involvement in higher education, creating opportunities for foreign institutions
• collaborative opportunities – universities can explore joint programmes, branch campuses and executive education centers to cater to the local and regional market
• government support: the KSA government is actively seeking to attract foreign investment and improve the quality of university education.

These opportunities are exciting, but expansion into new territories can bring uncertainty for institutions around regulatory and operational requirements.

The regulatory environment

Saudi Arabia has published detailed guidelines for foreign university branches to ensure quality of education and operational transparency. The Executive Rules Regulating Foreign Universities’ Branches (8 page / 383KB PDF) were issued by the minister of education on 16 April 2025.

The regulations require documentation such as evidence of financial solvency, a commercial register, legal entity establishment documentation, and approval from the Ministry of Investment (MISA) and the Ministry of Education (MOE).

Common hurdles for foreign universities

Partnering with local experts will allow foreign universities seeking to establish a presence in KSA to streamline how best to navigate the combination of commercial requirements and education requirements, and to address any operational challenges that arise on the ground.

Some cultural adaptation will also be required to enable these institutions to align their educational offerings with local needs and expectations.

Universities with licenses to open in Saudi Arabia

To date, Saudi Arabia has approved foreign investor licenses for five international universities: Arizona State University; University of Wollongong; University of Strathclyde; Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland; and IE University.

The University of New Haven has also just signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the MOE and is due to open a branch campus in Riyadh in autumn 2026, serving approximately 13,000 students. The campus will feature colleges of Business and Digital Innovation, Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing, and Arts and Applied Sciences.

Join experts at Pinsent Masons at our webinar on 17 June for further insights and practical input based on their experiences of advising educational institutions opening up in Saudi Arabia, and from being in-house in several leading KSA universities.