University of New Haven to Launch Riyadh Campus in Alignment with Saudi Vision 2030
University of New Haven to Launch Riyadh Campus
PC: Youssef Abdelwahab/ Unsplash
June 2025 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: The University of New Haven (UNH), a leading US based institution, has officially announced plans to open a new international branch campus in Riyadh by Fall 2026. This milestone marks a significant step in Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 agenda to transform the Kingdom into a global hub for higher education and innovation.
The announcement follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UNH and key Saudi ministries, including the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Investment, and the Royal Commission for Riyadh City. The agreement was formalized during the Human Capability Initiative in Riyadh, hosted under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
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UNH becomes the first US university to apply for a higher education license to operate a campus in Saudi Arabia. The Riyadh campus will offer a mix of undergraduate, graduate, executive education, and micro-credential programs through three core colleges:
College of Business and Digital Innovation
College of Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing
College of Arts and Applied Sciences
All courses will be taught in English and mirror the curriculum and standards of UNH’s main campus in Connecticut, ensuring international accreditation and employability-focused education.
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Supporting Vision 2030 and Workforce Development
The Riyadh campus is expected to enroll 13,000 students over time and aims to become a center for workforce-ready talent in fields such as engineering, cybersecurity, health sciences, and business. The initiative supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals of economic diversification, local talent empowerment, and increased global academic collaboration.
President of UNH, Dr. Jens Frederiksen, stated, “Saudi Arabia is a natural partner in our mission to prepare a global, dynamic workforce. Our campus in Riyadh will help shape future leaders for the region and beyond.”
The university also plans to establish research centers and innovation hubs addressing regional challenges in digital transformation, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing.
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Strengthening US-Saudi Educational Ties
The announcement was well-received by the U.S. diplomatic community. Alison Dilworth, Chargé d’Affaires of the US Mission to Saudi Arabia, said, “This new chapter in US-Saudi academic collaboration underscores our growing partnership in research, innovation, and global education.”
As part of the MoU, UNH and Saudi authorities will collaborate on student exchange, joint research, industry partnerships, scholarship programs, and professional training aligned with local economic goals.
With this move, UNH joins a select group of global universities expanding into the Kingdom, contributing to Saudi Arabia’s ambition of becoming a regional leader in higher education.
