Riyadh | BETH | B
Dhul Qadah 20, 1447 AH | May 07, 2026

University of New Haven is moving forward with the launch of its new campus inside Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City (Misk City), in what is considered the first initiative of its kind for a foreign university to establish an international campus in Saudi Arabia.

Overview

The campus will be located within the “Forum” knowledge complex inside Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City in Riyadh, with classes expected to begin in August 2026 following the completion of final regulatory and academic approvals.

The university will offer a range of English-language academic programs through three main colleges covering:

• Business Administration and Digital Innovation
• Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing
• Arts and Applied Sciences

Expected majors include:

Cybersecurity,
Artificial Intelligence,
Forensic Science,
Sports Management,
Esports and Gaming,
Digital Design,
and various engineering disciplines.

The university also plans to expand in the coming years to reach approximately 13,000 male and female students, within a broader strategy aimed at supporting Saudi labor market needs and linking education to technology and the new economy.

BETH Analysis

The move is not merely the opening of a foreign university inside the Kingdom.

It reflects a broader transformation in the concept of higher education in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia is no longer only sending students abroad to global universities.

It is increasingly attracting international universities into the Kingdom itself, through a model that connects:

education,
economy,
innovation,
and the future labor market.

The selection of Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City also carries symbolic significance, as the project seeks to build a new technological, youth-driven, and knowledge-based environment that goes beyond the concept of a traditional university campus toward creating an integrated knowledge society.

The move also reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing appeal as a regional hub for international education, particularly amid the accelerating pace of economic and technological transformation projects under Vision 2030.