All Saudi students return to school Sunday as new academic year begins
Students in Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, and Taif join peers nationwide Sunday, marking the full resumption of classes for the new school year.
Key Takeaways
AIAll students across Saudi Arabia will return to classrooms on Sunday, as those in Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, and Taif join their peers in other regions for the start of the new academic year.
The school year began last Sunday, August 16, 2026 (3 Rabi Al-Awwal 1448 AH), in 11 regions across the Kingdom, with students returning to schools in phases according to schedules set for each area.
School day start times
Education departments have announced the start time for the first lesson in the regions and governorates completing their return on Sunday as follows:
Makkah: First lesson begins at 7:00 a.m.
Jeddah: First lesson begins at 7:00 a.m.
Taif: First lesson begins at 7:00 a.m.
With this, all students across the Kingdom will be back in school, marking the official start of the new academic year.