Universities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, has large established universities as well as private universities, several of which teach in English. For an international student the city offers degrees in business, engineering, law, medicine and the health sciences, and, at some universities, courses in Arabic for non-native speakers. Our directory currently lists one university in Riyadh; this page also names other institutions as background.

Universities in Riyadh

The city has public and private universities of very different profiles:

• King Saud University is a major research university; according to the university, it publishes 23% of the academic research in Saudi Arabia.
• Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University has colleges of medicine, dentistry, nursing and pharmacy, engineering, law and languages, and an institute that teaches Arabic to non-Arabic speakers.
• Alfaisal University is a private nonprofit research university founded in 2002 by the King Faisal Foundation. It offers bachelor's and graduate programmes in business, engineering and computing, medicine, pharmacy, science, and law and international relations.

The university in our directory is Al Yamamah University (listed as Al-Yamamah College). It was licensed as a college in 2001, admitted its first students to the College of Business Administration in September 2004 and its first female students in 2006, and became a university in 2008. Its campus lies in northern Riyadh on King Fahd Road and covers more than 160,000 square metres. Teaching is organised in a College of Business, a College of Engineering and a College of Law, with bachelor's and master's programmes; since 2022-23 the university also has a campus in Al Khobar in the Eastern Province.

Language of instruction and quality

Al Yamamah University uses English as the primary language of instruction across its programmes, and new students who need it start with a University Preparatory Program. The university states that it is accredited by the National Center for Academic Accreditation and Evaluation and the Education and Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC), and that its engineering programmes are accredited by ABET. Before you enrol at any university in Riyadh, check that the programme you want is accredited in Saudi Arabia and recognised in the country where you plan to work.

Costs

Fees differ widely between universities, so ask each university for the fees that apply to international students. At Al Yamamah University, according to its fee page (checked in October 2026), a bachelor's degree in business, engineering or law costs SAR 37,000 per semester, and the preparatory programme SAR 32,000 per semester. Applicants also pay a non-refundable admission fee of SAR 3,000 and an English placement test fee of SAR 500. The Master of Business Law costs SAR 144,000 and the Master in Cyber Security SAR 129,000 for four semesters. The university offers discounts for siblings, alumni and graduates of partner high schools, and two scholarship programmes.

Practical tips

• Visa: Saudi visas are handled through the visa platform of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; ask the university's admissions office which visa route applies to your programme before you apply.
• Transport: the Riyadh Metro links many districts of this large city; according to the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, it had carried more than 232 million passengers by mid-2026.
• Location: the universities are spread across the city, so check where your college is before you look for housing.
• English level: if your English is not yet at the required level, budget for one or more semesters of preparatory study.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in English at a university in Riyadh?

Yes. Al Yamamah University uses English as the primary language of instruction, with a preparatory programme for students who need to improve their English first.

How much does a private university in Riyadh cost?

At Al Yamamah University a bachelor's degree costs SAR 37,000 per semester, plus a SAR 3,000 admission fee and a SAR 500 English placement test, according to its fee page in October 2026.

Which universities are in Riyadh?

Riyadh's universities include King Saud University, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Alfaisal University and Al Yamamah University, among others.

Can I learn Arabic at a university in Riyadh?

Yes. Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University has an institute for teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers.