Riyadh’s universities run their own student housing, but the official pages I could reach publish no prices. Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University says its on-campus housing is open to Saudi and international students who are regularly enrolled and do not live in Riyadh, and that students pay rent and an insurance deposit unless they are on an external scholarship. King Saud University’s English housing page did not describe student housing at all. This guide sets out what I could confirm and what you should ask your university directly.
Details come from the Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University and King Saud University websites, checked on 28 October 2026. Neither page gives rent amounts, so I have not quoted any.
Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University housing
The housing office manages on-campus student housing, with the stated aim of providing a safe, orderly environment. The page lists these eligibility conditions for Saudi and international students:
- You are regularly enrolled at the university.
- You are free from infectious diseases.
- You have no previously terminated housing contract for security, ethical or public-interest reasons.
- You do not live in Riyadh, although the Deanship may make exceptions case by case.
- You complete the required documents and forms.
Residents pay accommodation rent and its insurance, except students on external scholarships at the university. Saudi students apply through the university’s Student Support Services Portal under “University housing services”. The page does not describe the steps for international students, so ask the housing office how to apply. Maintenance requests go through an online form, and the office’s official hours are Sunday to Thursday, 8am to 1pm.
King Saud University
King Saud University’s English housing page has headings for faculty housing and student housing, but it links only to faculty housing and gives no student eligibility, prices or application steps. I could not verify student housing there, so contact the university’s international students office through its contact page.
What I could not verify
I have not listed Riyadh neighbourhoods, studios, shared apartments or private dormitories, and I have not quoted rents, because I could not check current prices, availability or Saudi tenancy rules against official sources. If you rent privately, view the property in person or on a live video call, get a written contract and never pay before you have one. Before you commit, read our guide to university halls versus private housing, the checklist of what to look for before you sign and our safety guide. For other Saudi cities, see our guides to Jeddah and Al Khobar, or browse all student accommodation in Saudi Arabia.
FAQs about student accommodation in Riyadh
Can international students live in university housing in Riyadh?
Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University’s page says Saudi and international students can apply if they meet its conditions, including regular enrolment.
How much does student housing cost in Riyadh?
The official pages I checked list no amounts. Imam University says residents pay rent and an insurance deposit, with an exemption for students on external scholarships.
Can I live in university housing if I already live in Riyadh?
Imam University lists living outside Riyadh as a condition, but says the Deanship may make exceptions case by case.
Sources
All checked 28 October 2026.
