{
  "id": 2701854,
  "title": "Over 1.6 million Riyadh students return as new school year begins",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/over-1-6-million-riyadh-students-return-as-new-school-year-begins",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-23T02:56:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ajel English",
    "slug": "ajel-english",
    "url": "https://english.ajel.sa/saudi-arabia/jjk5n7zze"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Riyadh schools welcomed over 1.6 million students on Sunday as the new academic year commenced. The General Administration of Education in Riyadh organized the return of students to classrooms on 10 Rabi Al-Awwal 1448H, signaling the start of the 1448-1449 school year. Director General of Education, Dr. Naif bin Abed Al-Zaraa, lauded the efforts of teachers and staff, along with other departments, in preparing for the new school year. To mark the occasion, the administration launched the \"Back to School\" program, which included interactive activities for students, teachers, and parents. The initiative aimed to create a positive start to the academic year, as part of a broader communication plan under the slogan \"We Write the Story.\" The administration also announced the revised school timings for the year. During summer, schools will open at 6:15 a.m. for morning assembly and the first class will start at 6:30 a.m. Winter term will commence with morning assembly at 6:45 a.m. and classes beginning at 7:00 a.m. During Ramadan, classes will start at 9:00 a.m.",
  "summary": "Schools across Riyadh welcomed more than 1.6 million students on Sunday as the new academic year began, following extensive preparations.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}