School life
In a Saudi Arabia classroom
Local school customs vary. The best way to learn about a class's day is to ask them directly.
All country briefings
Middle East · Country briefing
Saudi Arabia
A child-friendly mission briefing for 20 November - capital, climate, school day, languages, fun facts, native animals, and five questions to ask the class on the other side of the world.
- CapitalRiyadh
- Population~35 million
- Time zoneAsia/Riyadh (UTC +3)
- CurrencySaudi riyal (SAR)
Saudi Arabia, with Riyadh marked
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Climate in November: Mild autumn; cooler in the north.
The capital
Riyadh
Photo · Wikimedia Commons
Fun facts
What makes Saudi Arabia a bit special.
AlUla and Hegra - stone cities in the desert
Tombs and houses carved into sandstone cliffs 2,000 years ago
Open lesson
The Edge of the World
A cliff that drops 300 metres into a flat ancient seabed
Open lesson
Riyadh - the capital in the desert
A 7-million-person city that has grown faster than almost anywhere else
Open lesson
Old Jeddah - Al Balad
A 1,400-year-old port full of coral-stone houses with wooden windows
Open lesson
Date palms and desert oases
How a single tree feeds people, animals and whole towns
Open lesson
Dates - the sweet desert energy
Tiny sticky fruits that have powered desert journeys for thousands of years
Open lesson
Tap any card to open a class-ready mini-lesson - for the teacher to walk through, or an older child to read aloud.
Native animals
Wildlife your partner class might know best.
- 🐪
Rub al Khali - the Empty Quarter
The world's biggest sand desert, the size of France
Open lesson
- 🐠
Red Sea coral reefs
Some of the world's healthiest coral, full of bright tropical fish
Open lesson
- 🦌
Arabian oryx - the unicorn of the desert
Saved from extinction and brought back to the wild
Open lesson
- 🐆
Arabian leopard - the shy mountain ghost
One of the rarest big cats in the world, hiding in the high cliffs
Open lesson
- 🐱
Sand cat - the tiny desert hunter
A cat with furry feet that barely leaves a footprint
Open lesson
Tap any animal to open a class-ready lesson about it.
Greetings to learn
Say hello like a local
- Hello!Arabic
Five questions to ask
Conversation starters
- 01What does your school day look like?
- 02What do you eat at lunch?
- 03What games do you play at break?
- 04What's the weather like today?
- 05What do you wish more children around the world knew about your country?
What not to assume
Friendly cautions
- ℹSaudi Arabia has many regions and communities - there is no single experience.
- ℹClimate, food, and traditions can vary widely from one part of the country to another.
Culture
Food, music, sport, festivals.
Food
Music
Sport
Festivals
Tap any chip to open a class-ready lesson - what it is, why it matters, fun facts.
Reflection prompts
- “What's something you'd love to share about your school day?”
- “What's the most surprising thing you'd love to ask the other class?”
Could your class meet Saudi Arabia?
Choose Saudi Arabiawhen you register - we’ll show you the time-zone feasibility.