King’s College Riyadh has marked an important milestone in the development of its new SEDRA campus, with one year to go until it welcomes its founding students in August 2027.

The new campus, located within ROSHN Group’s SEDRA community in north Riyadh, continues to take shape ahead of opening next year.

The milestone reflects the progress of the partnership between ROSHN Group and Cognita, bringing together ROSHN Group’s vision for integrated, family-focused communities with Cognita’s experience in supporting schools to grow and thrive.

It also marks the next chapter for King’s College Riyadh, building on the school community established in Diriyah over the past six years and the 145-year heritage of King’s College in the UK.

The SEDRA campus will offer a British education that is internationally minded while being rooted in Saudi culture, language and identity. When it opens in August 2027, the school will initially welcome students from Pre-School to Year 9, before expanding progressively to Year 13.

Its purpose-built facilities will support learning across science, technology, the arts, performance and sport.

Celebrating a shared ambition

The one-year milestone was marked at an event attended by government representatives, education leaders, students, parents and partners.

Guests included Dr Alice Burt, Deputy Ambassador at the British Embassy Riyadh, and Maryam Alasmari, General Education Sector Development Senior Director at the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.

Senior leaders from ROSHN Group, Cognita and King’s College also joined the event, including Oussama Kabbai, Group Chief Development Officer at ROSHN Group; Darren Gale, Managing Director, GCC, Cognita; Jacqueline Doran, Principal of King’s College Riyadh; and Justin Chippendale, Director of International Schools at King’s College Taunton UK.

Darren Gale said:

“This is a hugely significant moment for ROSHN Group and Cognita, and for the next chapter of King’s College Riyadh. This partnership brings together ROSHN Group’s ambition to create communities where families can live, belong and thrive, with Cognita’s experience of creating the conditions for great schools to thrive.

“We are also building on strong foundations established at Diriyah and the heritage and authenticity of King’s. At SEDRA, we have the opportunity to bring those strengths together to create something really special for young people and families: an exceptional British education, global in outlook and authentically rooted in the culture, identity and ambition of Saudi Arabia.”

Oussama Kabbai said the campus was an important part of ROSHN Group’s ambition to create communities supported by high-quality social infrastructure.

Dr Alice Burt highlighted the partnership as an example of the continuing ties between the UK and Saudi Arabia, particularly in education, and the opportunities created when British expertise works alongside Saudi ambition.

The development also supports the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030 through investment in education and human capability development.

For Cognita, the partnership reflects our role in standing behind schools as they grow, bringing expertise, investment and support while protecting the identity and heritage that make each school distinctive.

Find out more about King’s College Riyadh SEDRA at kingscollegeriyadh.com/sedra.