A Family & Corporate Guide to Relocating to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is undergoing one of the most significant national transformations in the world today. Once known primarily for its energy sector, the Kingdom is now expanding rapidly across technology, finance, education, culture and tourism under Vision 2030, a long-term programme reshaping both the economy and daily life.
This evolution is attracting a growing number of international families. While many relocations still begin with corporate or government-led assignments, an increasing number of families are choosing to remain long term. Riyadh and Jeddah, in particular, are emerging as global centres for business, innovation and professional life, supported by improving infrastructure and a rising standard of living.
At Treberys Private, we guide families and individuals through the educational, practical and personal considerations involved in relocating to Saudi Arabia. With people on the ground in both the UK and the Gulf, we ensure that each stage of the move is approached with clarity, discretion and careful sequencing.
Why Saudi Arabia Is Becoming a Major Destination for International Families
Relocation to Saudi Arabia is often prompted by professional opportunity. However, families quickly discover that the Kingdom offers a broader proposition than employment alone.
A Stable, Structured Environment
Saudi Arabia remains one of the most stable countries in the region. Infrastructure is robust, daily life is orderly and security standards are high. For families arriving from international cities, the sense of structure and predictability is reassuring.
A Growing Global Business Hub
As part of Vision 2030, international companies are increasingly establishing regional headquarters in the Kingdom. Key sectors driving relocation include finance, legal and professional services, recruitment, technology, real estate, healthcare, aviation and large-scale infrastructure. The Kingdom is also attracting founders, digital businesses and regionally mobile professionals seeking long-term opportunity rather than short postings.
For families, this shift means that corporate relocations are more frequently accompanied by multi-year planning and permanent settlement considerations.
A Rising Standard of Living
Investment across culture, education, tourism and residential development is reshaping the experience of living in Saudi Arabia. Master-planned districts, improved public spaces and an expanding hospitality and dining scene are changing how families experience daily life.
International Connectivity
Riyadh and Jeddah offer strong air links across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, allowing families to remain closely connected to home and to international business networks.
Understanding the Key Cities
Although Saudi Arabia is geographically large, most international relocations centre around three regions.
Riyadh
The political and commercial heart of the Kingdom. Riyadh is fast-growing, ambitious and increasingly international in character. It attracts families relocating for corporate headquarters, consulting, finance, legal and government-adjacent roles.
Jeddah
A historic port city with a softer rhythm of life. Jeddah appeals to families seeking coastal living, established expatriate communities and a slightly more relaxed pace alongside professional opportunity.
The Eastern Province
Long associated with the energy sector, this region continues to attract families connected to engineering, infrastructure and industrial roles. Residential compounds and international schooling options are well established.
Choosing the right location is shaped by workplace demands, family lifestyle preferences and schooling availability. These decisions are best made together rather than sequentially.
Education in Saudi Arabia: Structure, Standards and Considerations
International education in Saudi Arabia has expanded significantly in recent years. While the landscape is less standardised than in neighbouring Gulf states, families can access strong international pathways in major cities.
Curricula Available
British, American, International Baccalaureate and Indian curricula are all represented, alongside a smaller number of alternative and faith-based options.
What Makes the Process Complex
Admissions in Saudi Arabia can feel less predictable than in the UAE. Policies vary between schools, demand fluctuates alongside corporate hiring cycles and assessment approaches differ by institution and age group. Waitlists are common, particularly in Riyadh, and cultural expectations can vary more noticeably between schools.
For families relocating through work, these variables often run in parallel with employment onboarding, making early coordination essential.
Treberys Private supports families in understanding curriculum pathways, academic expectations and school culture, ensuring decisions are aligned with both short-term logistics and long-term plans.
Why Sequence Matters: Work, School and Neighbourhoods
Most relocations to Saudi Arabia begin with an employment contract, and workplace location is often the initial anchor point. However, schooling should be considered at the same time, not once housing has already been secured.
In cities such as Riyadh, traffic patterns and commuting distances can significantly affect daily family life. Aligning workplace location, school choice and neighbourhood early on is critical to avoiding unnecessary strain.
Treberys Private structures this sequence from the outset, ensuring that each decision supports the next rather than constraining it.
Residency, Documentation and the Practicalities of Relocation
Relocating to Saudi Arabia involves a defined but detailed administrative process. Corporate sponsors typically manage the primary visa, with family members linked through dependent applications. Alongside residency requirements, families must also coordinate documentation for schooling, housing and local registration. Timelines can overlap, and requirements often differ depending on role, nationality and location.
Treberys Private works closely with trusted partners across tax advisory, business structuring, long-term residency planning, property and lifestyle services. Our role is to coordinate these elements so that the move feels structured rather than fragmented.
Many individuals and families relocating to Saudi Arabia require support beyond the immediate move. This may include business setup, regulatory considerations, tax planning, investment pathways or longer-term residency options.
Through our trusted partner network, Treberys Private facilitates introductions across these areas, ensuring that advice is integrated into the broader relocation strategy rather than treated as a series of disconnected decisions.
Our role is to coordinate, not complicate.
How Treberys Private Supports Families Moving to Saudi Arabia
Our work begins with a detailed conversation about your role, family priorities and longer-term plans. From there, we design a clear relocation roadmap that aligns education, housing, documentation and partner support in the correct order.
We support families with school selection and applications, educational planning, introductions to specialist advisers and the ongoing coordination required to keep the process calm and controlled.
With presence in both the UK and the Gulf, we provide continuity throughout the transition and beyond, including ongoing academic support and private tutoring where required.
Timing Matters: When to Begin
Saudi school availability varies significantly by city, year group and corporate intake cycles. Families are best served by beginning planning six to twelve months in advance, particularly for British or IB pathways and for mid-secondary entry points.
While urgent relocations are sometimes possible, early planning provides access to a broader range of options and a smoother overall transition.
How Treberys Private Supports Families Moving to the UAE
Our work begins with a conversation, understanding motivations, priorities and long-term plans. From here, we design a structure entirely around your family. We advise on school selection, manage applications, coordinate assessments, oversee timelines and introduce partners across property, immigration, tax and business. With teams in both the UK and UAE, we ensure continuity throughout the journey, guiding families through each step quietly and with clarity.
Timings Matters
Demand at leading schools is high, particularly at key entry points. Families should ideally begin planning a full year in advance. This allows time for school visits, applications, assessments and coordinated relocation planning. While we support urgent placements, availability is often limited at later stages in the academic cycle. Early preparation provides the best chance of securing the right environment for the long term.
Education Services in Saudi Arabia
In addition to full relocation support, Treberys Private provides standalone education services for families and individuals already based in Saudi Arabia or relocating independently.
These services include:
This work is delivered through our network of experienced British tutors and education specialists, offering families continuity and academic rigour regardless of location.
Begin the Conversation
If you are considering a move to Saudi Arabia, whether through a corporate assignment or a planned family relocation, Treberys Private would be pleased to support you. Our approach is quiet, personal and highly tailored, ensuring each decision aligns with your wider professional and family goals.