Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers approved a new decision concerning educational scholarships for family members of certain categories of employees and scholarship students during its meeting in Riyadh on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, chaired by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

According to the official announcement, spouses and children of eligible individuals may be included in educational scholarships for bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, subject to a set of applicable regulations and eligibility requirements.

The decision identifies three categories: employees officially assigned to work abroad, employees studying under scholarship arrangements, and students undertaking educational scholarships. Their spouses and children may qualify for inclusion under the relevant scholarship framework.

The measure is particularly relevant to families accompanying eligible employees and students overseas, as it concerns opportunities for spouses and children to pursue university education through Saudi Arabia’s educational scholarship system.

However, the Cabinet announcement did not provide a complete breakdown of the applicable conditions or announce a new application timetable specifically associated with the decision. Eligibility should therefore not be interpreted as automatic approval for every accompanying family member.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education maintains an electronic service for applications to join educational scholarships, with academic and administrative requirements that vary according to the applicant’s circumstances and the primary scholarship holder’s status.

The decision forms part of several measures approved during the Cabinet meeting. It does not constitute a general change to family visit visas or a new family sponsorship policy for all expatriate residents in Saudi Arabia.

Source: Saudi Press Agency (SPA)