Where can I take IELTS in Saudi Arabia?

The British Council says IELTS on computer is available at its Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam centres, and describes paper-based IELTS in Al-Hassa, Buraydah, Dammam, Hail, Jeddah, Jubail, Madinah, Makkah, Riyadh, Tabuk and Taif (British Council dates and locations). On 10 October 2026 its booking system flagged all 19 locations for computer-delivered sessions, so check the format of the session you pick. Only residents can sit IELTS on paper.

IDP's Riyadh and Jeddah session lists showed IELTS on computer (SAR 1,705), Writing on Paper (SAR 1,875) and IELTS for UKVI (SAR 1,815), with One Skill Retake available at the main rooms. For IELTS for UKVI the British Council names Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Al-Ahsa (UKVI page); it no longer offers UKVI on paper.

Many IDP venues are universities and colleges: Princess Nourah Bint Abdul Rahman University in Riyadh, King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University in Dammam and King Khalid University in Abha among them. IDP also lists Saudi British Centre branches in Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah and Al Khobar, and an exam centre at the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties in Riyadh. IDP labels its main Riyadh test room for male and female candidates.

Choose by distance, dates and price rather than brand: the British Council charged SAR 1,636 and IDP SAR 1,705 for the same test on 10 October 2026. If you live in the north or south, the British Council's network reaches cities such as Arar, Hail, Hafar Al Batin, Bisha and Najran where IDP lists no venue.

For fees, ID rules and refunds, see our IELTS fee in Saudi Arabia guide. Take a free IELTS mock test before you travel to a centre.