You live in Riyadh, Jeddah or Al Khobar. Your children go to an international school, speak English all day, and you want them to read the Quran properly — not just recite sounds from memory. You've looked for a teacher, and found two kinds: local circles taught entirely in Arabic, which your child can't follow yet, and tutors who don't come back after the second week.
This guide is for you. It explains what a good online Quran class looks like for an English-speaking child in Saudi Arabia, what to ask before you pay anything, and how to try one for free.
Why living in Saudi Arabia doesn't make it easier
It sounds like it should: the Quran is everywhere, and there are Quran circles in every neighbourhood. But most circles are taught in Arabic, in a group, at fixed times. A seven-year-old who doesn't yet know the Arabic letters sits in the circle, recites a few lines when his turn comes, and doesn't understand the corrections. Parents notice after a few months that he can "recite" Al-Fatiha but can't read a new line on his own.
What he needs is different: one teacher, one child, with explanations in English — until the Arabic is strong enough to switch.
What a good online Quran class looks like
- One-to-one. The whole lesson belongs to your child. Every mistake is corrected, one by one.
- Explained in English. The teacher reads in Arabic and explains rules, letters and meanings in simple English. As your child progresses, more of the lesson moves into Arabic.
- A clear starting point. Beginners start with the Noorani Qaida — the letters, their sounds and how they join — before moving to the Quran itself. See how beginners start with the Noorani Qaida.
- A written report after every lesson. What was covered, how it went, and the homework — so you can help at home even if you don't read Arabic.
- Female teachers available for girls, on request.
Timing that fits a Saudi school week
Most international schools in the Kingdom finish in the early afternoon, Sunday to Thursday. The easiest routine for most families is two or three short lessons a week after school — or one on a weekday and one on Friday or Saturday. Lessons are 30, 45 or 60 minutes. For children aged 4–7, 30 minutes is usually right: long enough to make progress, short enough to keep their attention.
What it costs
Children who are taught with English explanations are on our non-Arabic speakers plan. These are the monthly prices, as published and as charged:
Non-Arabic speakers — packages
| Package | Lessons / month | 30-minute lesson | 60-minute lesson | Per lesson (60 min) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continuity | 8 | $50 | $100 | $12.50 |
| Excellence | 12 | $72 | $144 | $12 |
| Distinction | 16 | $91 | $182 | $11.38 |
The smallest package available is 8 lessons per month (two per week). These are the same prices published on the packages page and the same ones charged — this table is generated from the pricing engine when the page loads.
Families with more than one child get a sibling discount of 10% for two children and 15% for three or more, and a yearly plan saves a further 10%. Full plans are on the packages page.
Five questions to ask any teacher before you pay
- Can you explain in English, and will you move to Arabic as my child improves?
- Where will my child start — and how will you know?
- What happens if we cancel a lesson in advance — or the teacher misses one?
- Will I get a written update after each lesson?
- If the teacher leaves, who continues — and from where?
Our answers: yes; from a placement in the free trial; it's moved to another slot, and a lesson the teacher misses is made up; yes, after every lesson; and a colleague continues from the written record. For more on choosing safely, see how to vet an online Quran teacher.
Start with a free trial lesson
The trial is a full lesson with a teacher, free, with no card required. The teacher listens to your child, finds the right level, and suggests a plan. You decide afterwards. Book the free trial lesson — or read more about online Quran classes in Saudi Arabia for English speakers.
Frequently Asked Questions
My child has never learned Arabic letters. Is that a problem?
No — that is exactly where most of our English-speaking students start. The Noorani Qaida takes a beginner from the letters to reading words, and then into the Quran.
Are the teachers native Arabic speakers?
Yes. Our teachers are Al-Azhar graduates who read with correct tajweed, and the teachers assigned to English-speaking children explain in English.
Can my daughter have a female teacher?
Yes. Ask for a female teacher when you book the trial.
How do I pay from Saudi Arabia?
By bank card on our secure payment page. The amount is shown in your currency before you confirm.