OnlineRiyadh
Students in Riyadh join the Saudi Arabia online edition by video, with free registration.
7–10 October 2027
Online Expo - Middle East, 7–10 October 2027
Saudi Arabia Online University Fair 2027
A free virtual university fair for students in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Khobar, Medina, Mecca and across the Kingdom. Meet international admissions teams by video, without travelling.
What is the Saudi Arabia Online Study Expo?
The Saudi Arabia Online Study Expo is a free virtual university fair held from 7 to 10 October 2027 as part of the World Study Expo online programme. Students anywhere in the Kingdom can attend live university sessions and book one-to-one video meetings with admissions representatives from universities worldwide.
Saudi Arabia has the largest young population in the Gulf and an education sector changing faster than any of its neighbours. Demand for international study is rising, and it is rising across a much wider geography than the three or four cities that international recruiters usually visit.
An online format suits this market particularly well. It reaches Abha, Tabuk, Hail and Buraydah as easily as it reaches Riyadh. It lets families make first contact with an overseas institution from home, which for many is a more comfortable starting point than committing to travel. And it removes the practical barrier of reaching a fair held in another city on a working day.
- Dates
- Thu 7 – Sun 10 October 2027
- Days
- Thursday to Sunday
- Hours
- Thu/Fri 4-10 PM, Sat/Sun 10 AM-7 PM
- Cost
- Free for students
Cities covered
Where students join from in Saudi Arabia
Every city joins the same online edition on the same terms, wherever you live.
Online
OnlineJeddah
Students in Jeddah join the Saudi Arabia online edition by video, with free registration.
7–10 October 2027
Same week, 7–10 October 2027
The other Middle East editions
One free registration covers every edition in the programme.
OnlineUAE Online
Every emirate, including those without a physical exhibition, and a second conversation after September.
7–10 October 2027
OnlineQatar
A small, well-prepared applicant pool in Doha weighing strong local provision against study abroad.
7–10 October 2027
OnlineOman
Muscat, Salalah, Sohar and Nizwa, with total cost of study at the centre of the conversation.
7–10 October 2027
OnlineKuwait
An experienced market where institutional recognition and approved lists decide the shortlist.
7–10 October 2027
OnlineBahrain
Finance, accountancy and health sciences applicants across Manama, Riffa and Muharraq, meeting universities by video.
7–10 October 2027
Who it is for
Who the Saudi Arabia edition is built for
Students and families who should attend
- Secondary students in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Khobar and cities across the Kingdom
- Students holding or applying for government scholarship support
- Undergraduates planning a masters abroad, and professionals considering an MBA
- Parents who want to assess an institution before the family commits to overseas study
- Students whose English is still developing and who need pathway or foundation routes
- Women students and families exploring destinations, accommodation and support arrangements
Institutions that should exhibit
- Universities with strong provision in engineering, computing, health sciences and business
- Institutions offering foundation, pathway and pre-sessional English routes
- Universities recognised by scholarship and sponsorship bodies
- Institutions able to describe student support, accommodation and pastoral care in detail
- Universities in destinations with established Saudi student communities
- Business schools and professional education providers targeting sponsored employees
Market briefing
What international universities should understand about Saudi Arabia
Demand is spread far beyond the big three cities
Recruitment activity concentrates on Riyadh, Jeddah and the Eastern Province, which leaves a significant population in secondary cities with almost no direct access to international institutions. An online edition reaches them at no additional cost, and interest from these cities is frequently stronger precisely because nobody else is talking to them.
Sponsorship shapes the shortlist
A substantial share of students study abroad with government or employer support, and those programmes carry conditions about recognition, subject area and sometimes specific institutions. Universities that can speak precisely to accreditation and documentation requirements are in a much stronger position than those that lead with rankings.
English-language routes are a deciding factor
English proficiency varies widely. Institutions offering credible pathway years, foundation programmes and pre-sessional English convert better here than those with a single fixed language threshold and no route for students who narrowly miss it.
Family assurance matters as much as academics
Decisions are made as a family, and questions about accommodation, safety, halal provision, prayer facilities and the presence of an existing Saudi student community come up early and sincerely. Institutions that answer these directly, rather than treating them as an afterthought, build trust quickly.
Study areas in demand
- Engineering
- Computer Science
- Artificial Intelligence
- Data Science
- Medicine
- Nursing and Allied Health
- Business and Management
- Finance
- Tourism and Hospitality
- Architecture
- Law
- Education
- Environmental Science
Destinations families shortlist
- United Kingdom - long-established recognition and large Saudi student community
- United States - historically the largest destination, strong for research and engineering
- Australia and Canada - growing steadily, particularly for health and engineering
- Ireland and Germany - increasing interest for medicine and engineering respectively
- Malaysia and the UAE - regional options with lower cost and shorter travel
Destinations and admissions
Where you could study, and what to ask
Which study destinations do Saudi students explore at the online fair?
Students in Saudi Arabia interested in studying in the UK, the USA, Australia, Canada or Ireland can discuss those destinations with participating universities during the Saudi Arabia online edition on 7–10 October 2027. The deciding question for many families is whether an institution is recognised for scholarship or sponsorship purposes, so ask that first.
Recognition status is published by the Saudi Ministry of Education; check the current list yourself rather than relying on a stand's assurance, and ask the university how its recognition applies to your programme. Our UK, USA, Australia and Canada guides explain applications, intakes and funding for each destination.
What admissions and scholarship questions matter most for students from Saudi Arabia?
Ask whether the university is recognised by your scholarship body or sponsor, what English-language route exists if you do not yet meet the score, whether a foundation or pathway year is available, and which intakes and deadlines apply. Government scholarship conditions are set by the awarding body, not the university, so confirm both sides agree before you commit.
- Recognition and accreditation documents the university can provide to a sponsor
- Pre-sessional English and pathway programmes, and how they lead into the degree
- Postgraduate entry requirements for engineering, computing, medicine and business
- University scholarships that can be combined with, or replace, sponsorship
- Accommodation options for students arriving with family
How it works
How the online edition works
Register once, then meet universities by video across four days.
Register free
One registration covers every World Study Expo edition, online and in person.
Build your profile
Tell us your subject, level, intended intake and preferred destinations.
Browse university profiles
Programmes, entry requirements, tuition information, scholarships and brochures.
Add universities to a wishlist
Shortlist the institutions you want to speak to before the event opens.
Book one-to-one appointments
Reserve video slots with admissions representatives, subject to availability.
Attend live sessions
Join group presentations and Q and A alongside your booked meetings.
Follow up
Leave with entry requirements, deadlines and a named contact at each institution.
Ask the recognition question first
If your study will be sponsored, confirm accreditation and whether the institution can supply documentation in the format your programme requires. Everything else is secondary until that is settled.
Be direct about English
Ask what score is required, what happens if you fall short, what the pathway options are and how much time they add. Most institutions have a route.
Ask the family questions
Accommodation, safety, halal provision, prayer facilities and the size of the Saudi student community are all reasonable and expected questions.
Schedule
Saudi Arabia schedule
Four days of live sessions and one-to-one appointments, shown in Saudi Arabia local time (AST).
| Date | Time | Type | Time zone | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday 7 October 2027 | 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM | Online | Saudi Arabia local time (AST) | Register Now |
| Friday 8 October 2027 | 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM | Online | Saudi Arabia local time (AST) | Register Now |
| Saturday 9 October 2027 | 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM | Online | Saudi Arabia local time (AST) | Register Now |
| Sunday 10 October 2027 | 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM | Online | Saudi Arabia local time (AST) | Register Now |
Times shown are Saudi Arabia local time (AST). Individual university sessions are published in your dashboard once you register, and appointment slots depend on each institution's availability.
For universities
Reaching Saudi students without a Riyadh office
Saudi Arabia is expensive to cover properly in person. Doing it well means several cities, several trips and a local presence most institutions cannot justify until enrolment numbers support it. The online edition is a way to build that pipeline first.
It also reaches the segment physical fairs systematically miss: families in smaller cities, and students whose first conversation with an overseas university is more comfortable from home than in a crowded hall.
Recruit in Saudi Arabia
Request the exhibitor brochure for the Middle East week, including the appointment model, available formats and how to combine countries.
Questions
Saudi Arabia Online Study Expo: your questions
Is the Saudi Arabia Online Study Expo free?
Yes. Registration and attendance are completely free for students and parents anywhere in the Kingdom.
When does it run?
It runs from Thursday 7 to Sunday 10 October 2027, alongside the other Middle East editions. Sessions are Thursday and Friday from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Saudi Arabia local time.
I live outside Riyadh or Jeddah. Is this relevant to me?
Especially so. The online format means students in Abha, Tabuk, Hail, Buraydah and every other city have exactly the same access as students in the largest cities.
I am applying for a government scholarship. What should I ask universities?
Ask about accreditation, whether the institution appears on your programme's approved list, and whether they can provide documentation in the format your sponsor requires. Confirm this before discussing course detail.
My English is not yet at the required level. Can universities still help?
Yes. Many institutions offer foundation years, pathway programmes and pre-sessional English courses. Ask specifically what score you need, what routes exist if you fall short, and how long each takes.
Can my parents join the meetings?
Yes. We encourage it, and universities expect it. Questions about accommodation, safety and cost are usually best raised by parents directly.
Do universities discuss accommodation and student support?
They should, and you should ask. Accommodation options, halal food provision, prayer facilities and the size of the existing Saudi student community are all reasonable and common questions.
What technology do I need?
A browser and an internet connection. A camera and microphone make one-to-one meetings work better but are not mandatory for attending group sessions.
Can I meet universities from more than one country?
Yes. Institutions from the UK, USA, Australia, Canada, Europe and Asia are all invited, and you can book meetings with as many as your schedule allows.
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