Turkish schools to reopen in Saudi Arabia as relations improve

Turkish schools will reopen in Saudi Arabia, Ankara has announced, as relations between the two largely Muslim countries improve.

The schools had been shut for the 2020-2021 academic year as relations soured over a number of regional issues, including the killing of veteran Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at Riyadh’s consulate in Istanbul.

Turkey’s education ministry said in a statement that the decision to reopen the schools operating under its supervision came after discussions by the ministers of education in both countries, at a meeting on the sidelines of the Transforming Education Pre-Summit held in Paris in June.

In March last year, the Saudi education ministry said there were 26 Turkish schools operating in the country, eight of which Saudi Arabia gradually closed.

It was not clear how many are still operating.

Turkey has made efforts since last year to mend its relations with regional rivals across the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, as well the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.