Schools across Riyadh have moved classes online for a full week after Saudi authorities instructed schools to remain closed, leaving many parents with little information about the reason behind the sudden decision.
According to messages shared with AFP, families were informed by their schools about the last-minute change, with some notices saying that schools had been told by Saudi authorities to remain closed throughout the week. The announcement came with no detailed public explanation.
For parents, the sudden disruption has created uncertainty. Some families said they were trying to understand why schools had been closed for an entire week and what the decision could mean for their children’s routines and safety.
The move comes as security tensions in and around the Gulf remain high, with Saudi Arabia facing repeated attacks linked to the conflict in Yemen. The latest school announcement followed reports that the Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted drones and ballistic missiles targeting the kingdom.
The attacks are part of a broader escalation involving Yemen’s Houthi fighters, who are backed by Iran. Renewed hostilities since July have ended a period of relative calm and added another layer of instability to an already tense Middle East.
For families living in Riyadh, the issue is not simply about moving lessons from classrooms to screens. A sudden change affecting an entire school community can disrupt childcare arrangements, work schedules, transportation plans and children’s daily routines.
One Riyadh parent told AFP that families deserved clearer communication when a decision affects an entire school community for a week. Another Lebanese expatriate living in the capital described the announcement as unexpected and said families were unsure about what was happening.
The United Nations Security Council has also expressed concern over escalating attacks on Saudi Arabia, noting that civilians, including women and children, have been among those wounded.
For now, students in affected Riyadh schools are expected to continue their education remotely while families wait for further information from authorities and individual schools. The sudden transition highlights how quickly regional security developments can affect everyday life, including education.
Behind the official announcements are thousands of families simply trying to keep life moving as normally as possible. Parents want to know that their children are safe, students need stability, and schools need clear communication when circumstances change without warning. In uncertain times, timely and transparent information can matter almost as much as the decision itself.
