Market Snapshot: Saudi Arabia
Canadian Study Visas for Saudi Students Surge 18% as U.S. and U.K. Decline
New INTO Market Snapshot: Saudi Arabia reveals major shifts in Saudi student mobility across the Big Four destinations — Australia, Canada, the U.K., and the U.S. — with data current to March/May 2025.
Key Findings:
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Canada Leads Growth: Study visas for Saudi students rose 18% year-over-year, the only market to record growth.
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U.K. Still Largest, but Down: The U.K. issued 4,900 visas, a 12% decline, though bachelor’s-level visas grew 5%.
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U.S. and Australia Slide: U.S. visas dropped 6%, while Australia saw a sharp 34% fall and widespread enrollment declines across all study levels.
Why It Matters:
The data signals a notable shift toward Canada, driven by visa policy changes and evolving global dynamics, reshaping opportunities for one of the Middle East’s most valuable student markets.