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Who licenses nurseries in Saudi Arabia?
There are two licensing routes, and yours decides what you will be asked for:
- Ministry of Education licenses private and international nurseries and kindergartens. It approved updated licensing requirements in April 2024; a licence follows a commercial registration plus municipal and Civil Defense approvals, and covers only the licensed stage (nursery or kindergarten).
- Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) licenses private child hospitality centres through the Taheel platform, after a Civil Defense licence, an HRSD inspection report and a Balady municipal licence.
A new Education Law was approved in July 2026 and takes effect on 20 January 2027 with the Ministry of Education as licensing authority; its implementing regulations have not been issued yet, so EduX keeps record set-up flexible.
The records you will be asked for — and where they live in EduX
HRSD published draft rules for child hospitality centres in March 2026, including a dedicated register of enrolled children, caregiver-to-child ratios by age (for example one caregiver per five newborns), and cameras running continuously with recordings kept for at least 30 days. They are a draft at the time of writing, but they show clearly what inspectors will look for:
| Requirement | In EduX |
|---|---|
| Register of enrolled children | A file per child with documents and family details, exportable as a list at any time |
| Caregiver-to-child ratio | Children grouped by age and teacher, with live headcount per group |
| Safe pick-up | Authorised-collector list; the collector's name and time on every pick-up |
| Health and allergy records | Visible to every staff member who opens the child's file |
| CCTV | Not part of EduX — it does not replace cameras or store footage |
Fees and invoicing: ZATCA and 15% VAT
E-invoicing (Fatoora) is mandatory in Saudi Arabia: phase 1 since December 2021, and phase 2 (integration) rolling out in waves — wave 24 covers businesses with taxable revenue above SAR 375,000, due by 30 June 2026. VAT is 15%; the state bears VAT for citizens at MOE-accredited private schools, and whether nursery fees fall under that scheme is a question for your tax adviser.
In EduX: fee plans and instalments in SAR, ZATCA-compliant e-invoices, automatic reminders and a statement per family. Parents pay the usual Saudi ways, such as mada and bank transfer.
Children's data and the PDPL
The Personal Data Protection Law (Royal Decree M/19) has been in force since 14 September 2023, supervised by the Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA). Children's health data and photos are sensitive, so:
- EduX servers are in Riyadh; your nursery's data stays in the Kingdom.
- Each role sees only what it needs: a teacher her group, a parent their child, management the whole nursery.
- Daily-report photos go to the child's family only, not to a shared WhatsApp group.
What EduX runs day to day in Saudi Arabia
The core is the same everywhere; the setup is tuned to your nursery in Saudi Arabia: currency, app language, age groups and working days.
- Child profile: family details, documents, allergies and medication visible to every teacher who opens the file, and a list of the adults authorised to collect the child.
- Drop-off and pick-up: time in, time out and the name of whoever collected the child, with an instant notification to parents.
- Daily report: meals and how much was eaten, naps, activities and photos in the parent app (iOS and Android).
- Fees: instalment plans, automatic reminders before the due date, receipts and a statement per family.
- Staff: teacher and caregiver files, shifts and role-based permissions.
- Branches: for nursery groups, occupancy and collections per branch on one dashboard.
Full module details are on the nursery management system overview.
How we get you started in Saudi Arabia — and what it costs
Onboarding is fully remote, so it works the same whether you are in Riyadh, Jeddah or Dammam:
- A live demo on a working nursery account — free, no commitment.
- Data migration from Excel or your current system — children, families, fee plans and staff — free.
- Team training on the same screens your teachers will use every morning — free.
- Parent app launch and support through the first weeks, in English or Arabic, during working hours.
Price: plans start from SAR 5,000 per year, priced by the number of children and the modules you actually use. Ask for a quote with the form above.
Frequently asked questions
Does EduX suit HRSD-licensed child hospitality centres?
Yes. The same system serves MOE-licensed nurseries and kindergartens and HRSD-licensed hospitality centres; the age groups and records are set up differently.
Are EduX invoices ZATCA-compliant?
Yes — fees in SAR with ZATCA-compliant e-invoices at 15% VAT and a statement per family.
Where is children's data stored?
On servers in Riyadh, with permissions that separate what teachers, parents and management can see.
Does EduX replace CCTV?
No. Cameras and footage retention are a separate requirement in the draft HRSD rules; EduX covers records, attendance, pick-up and parent communication.
How much does it cost?
Plans start from SAR 5,000 per year by number of children; the demo, migration and training are free.