In a recent webinar, Bennett Global Team Lead and Senior Education Consultant Aamynah Nagji explains the perception (and reality) of American schools in Saudi Arabia.
In Saudi Arabia, we've observed a strong preference for the American curriculum among the local population. This interest is largely driven by the perception that attending an American school is a direct pathway to admission into U.S. universities. While this isn’t strictly necessary—students don’t have to attend an American school to gain entry to an American university—it remains a common misconception. Additionally, the Saudi government provides substantial grants and scholarships for students pursuing higher education in the U.S., further reinforcing the demand for American-style schooling.
As a result, there is a significant need for American schools in the region. Many of these institutions incorporate a local flavor, blending American education with a strong emphasis on Arabic language and culture. Arabic subjects are commonly taught in Arabic, ensuring that students maintain a connection to their heritage while benefiting from an international curriculum.
Based in Dubai, Aamynah Nagji is a veteran independent education consultant and also a Global Team Lead (GTL) for Bennett’s Asia-Pacific team of consultants. As a GTL, Aamynah supports Bennett’s consultants throughout APAC, overseeing their casework and providing regular updates to our corporate and RMC clients. She also handles Bennett’s work into several locations in Asia, in addition to supporting the many “Bennett” families relocating to Dubai.
Aamynah holds a B.A. in Economics and Statistics from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, India, and received her certification as a Chartered Financial Analyst from AIMR, USA. She is also a Certified Leader and Life Coach who speaks fluent Hindi and Urdu.
Over the years, Bennett International Education Consultancyhas worked with hundreds of corporations across the globe, many of them Fortune 500 companies, providing domestic and international school advisement & placement services - preschool through university - to the dependents of relocating employees. In addition to education placement, our team provides customized consulting for corporations with a range of education issues: education policy writing & benchmarking, tuition studies, group move advisement & planning, and remote education solutions.