Synopsis:
Egypt’s Hayah International Academy will open its first overseas campus in Riyadh in 2027 and has partnered with Fulton Science Academy to strengthen STEAM education. The move aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 focus on skills, innovation, and character development.
Egypt-based Hayah International Academy is expanding internationally for the first time with a new campus planned in Riyadh, marking a major step in its growth across the Middle East education sector. Alongside the expansion, the school has also signed a strategic partnership with Fulton Science Academy to strengthen its STEAM-focused academic offering.
The announcement was made during a pre-launch event at Bab Samhan, attended by Saudi education leaders, university officials, and industry stakeholders connected to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals.
Founded in Cairo in 2003 by Abeya Fathy and Mohamed Magdy, Hayah International Academy has built its reputation around combining academic excellence with character development. The IB World School, which also holds Cognia accreditation, currently educates nearly 2,000 students in Egypt.
The Riyadh campus is expected to open in September 2027 and reflects growing demand in Saudi Arabia for international education models that combine future-ready skills with holistic student development.
Abeya Fathy, Founder and Head of School at Hayah International Academy, said, “For twenty-two years, we have built Hayah around a single conviction, that character is not taught as a subject, but cultivated within a community,”. She added,“Bringing Hayah to Riyadh is not an arrival in a new market. It is the next chapter of a story that has always been about what kind of young people we are forming together”.
The partnership with Fulton Science Academy is expected to deepen the school’s focus on science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics education. Fulton, based in the United States, is known for its strong performance in national STEM and engineering competitions.
Under the collaboration, Fulton Science Academy will support curriculum design, educator training, and inquiry-led teaching methodologies in STEM and STEAM education. Hayah, meanwhile, will continue to lead the school’s character-focused learning model, which remains central to its identity. “Fulton is honored to walk this road with Hayah”, said Kenan Sener. Headded, "Our role in this partnership is clear and complementary: we bring the inquiry-led methodology and STEAM rigor that have become hallmarks of Fulton Science Academy. Hayah brings the character-led model that has defined them”.
The launch also reflects Saudi Arabia’s increasing investment in education reform and workforce readiness under Vision 2030. The Kingdom has been pushing institutions to focus not only on academic outcomes but also on leadership, creativity, innovation, and employability skills.
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Programs such as the Human Capability Development Program and the National Character Enrichment Program have identified character education and future skills as strategic national priorities. Hayah’s entry into Riyadh, combined with Fulton’s STEAM expertise, fits into this broader transformation agenda.
Ahmed Wahby, CEO of MindSpire Education, said the partnership arrives at a critical time for the Saudi education sector. “MindSpire is privileged to bring Hayah to Saudi Arabia, in partnership with Fulton Science Academy, at a moment when Vision 2030 has invited exactly this kind of school into the conversation,” he said.
The Riyadh campus is expected to create new opportunities for educators, academic professionals, and STEAM-focused talent in the region as Saudi Arabia continues to expand its education ecosystem. Admissions details for the campus will be released through the school’s regional platform ahead of the opening process.
