Education for Inclusion: UK Independent Schools and Special Educational Needs in Saudi Arabia.
Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, 2nd April 2026
Written By:
Holly Callow, SBJBC Research Assistant
Executive Summary
The Saudi British Joint Business Council (SBJBC), in partnership with the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, convened a high-level roundtable on April 2nd, 2026, to address the demand for inclusive education in the Kingdom. As Saudi Arabia undergoes a significant transformation under Vision 2030, the education sector has emerged as a key element of the bilateral relationship and SEND has equally been identified as a national priority.
This roundtable forms part of the Education stream at SBJBC, building on the roundtable in Jeddah in November 2025. The SBJBC Education Programme aims to identify and reduce the challenges facing UK education providers seeking to enter the Saudi market, while prompting the ongoing developments and opportunities in the Kingdom for UK educational entities. Through research, roundtable discussions, and policy recommendations, the programme facilitates direct engagement between UK institutions and Saudi government stakeholders. As a whole, the programme supports the alignment of UK educational expertise with Saudi Arabia’s demand for international schooling and specialist provision under Vision 2030. SBJBC’s efforts encompass UK Independent Schools, training entities, SEN and SEND providers, and UK higher education institutions. We encourage entities related to education in the UK or Saudi Arabia to reach out to SBJBC and discuss their specific situations.
To read the full report: [Post-Event Report Education Roundtable]
