The franchise school will offer English language programs that aim to replicate standards found at its other centres across the UK, US, Canada, Ireland, Malta and South Africa.

“We want to make learning English more accessible, both financially and location-wise”

EC’s Executive Chairman Andrew Mangion said as the school is EC’s first venture into a non-English speaking country, the pedagogy will change slightly in Riyadh, while still giving a fulfilling experience.

“Full-immersion coupled with quality teaching remains the best way to acquire a language; however, in keeping with our mission to ‘help students succeed in a global community’, we want to provide students around the world with an opportunity to study English the EC way,” Mangion said in a statement.

EC said that Saudi students face challenges to studying abroad due to visa restrictions along with limited funding and scholarship opportunities.

Native English speaking teachers will be key to the school a success according to EC – something that many schools in the region do not offer.

This includes the school’s principal, Ryan Parmee.

“Our goal is to give as many learners as possible the chance to develop and further improve their English language skills, whether it’s for academic, professional or personal reasons,” he said.

“We want to make learning English more accessible, both financially and location-wise, and we want to be available to those Saudi students who want to benefit from language study before starting their full-immersion experience.”

EC is currently looking at discounts with its franchise partners and agent partners in the country, a spokesperson told The PIE News.