King's Scholarship Program 2026: Tracks, Requirements and How to Apply
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program allows Saudi students with unconditional admission from accredited international universities to secure government funding. Applicants register through the Ministry of Education’s electronic portal across four main tracks aligned with Vision 2030, according to the Ministry of Education and the program’s official website.
What is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program?
The program sends Saudi male and female students to top-ranked global institutions across multiple disciplines. It targets high school graduates, university graduates, and those who have already secured admission at leading universities worldwide.
Its ambitions rest on three pillars: scholarship for economic growth, scholarship to advance research, development and innovation, and scholarship to strengthen the Kingdom’s international standing. The program’s vision is “globally competitive scholars contributing to their nation’s economic development,” while its mission states: “We send students abroad for knowledge and to build leaders who help us create something new and different for the world.”
What are the four scholarship tracks?
The program operates four tracks, each linking global university rankings to specific degree levels and fields of study:
- Pioneers track: Sends students to the top 30 educational institutions worldwide across all majors to meet Vision 2030 requirements.
- Emdad track: Addresses labor market shortages by sending bachelor’s and master’s students to the top 200 universities and institutes in high-demand fields.
- Research and Development track: Funds study at the top 200 institutions globally in priority fields that drive research and development.
- Wa’ed (Promising) track: Focuses on study, training, rehabilitation and capacity building in promising sectors and fields.
Beyond these four, the Ministry of Education’s e-services portal notes that the platform also covers a Distinction track and a Health Agreements track.
| Track | Target Universities | Degree Level | Majors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pioneers | Top 30 institutions globally | Not specified in source | All majors |
| Emdad | Top 200 universities and institutes globally | Bachelor’s or Master’s | Specific high-demand fields |
| Research and Development | Top 200 institutions globally | Not specified in source | Priority fields |
| Wa’ed | Not specified in source | Study, training and rehabilitation | Promising sectors and fields |
What are the application requirements?
The Ministry of Education sets general conditions for applicants using the electronic service. To ensure acceptance, candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Hold Saudi nationality.
- Have a record of good conduct and behavior.
- Obtain direct, unconditional admission in an approved major and institution for a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree.
- The accepted program must not be an executive degree.
- Study must take place in the country where the institution’s main headquarters is located.
- Commit to full-time study.
- Provide equivalency for any previous qualification earned outside the Kingdom.
- Submit complete and accurate documents during registration; applications will be rejected if registered information does not match official documents.
All applicants remain subject to the Ministry’s prevailing regulations for overseas scholarships.
How do you apply for the scholarship step by step?
Applications are submitted electronically through the Ministry of Education’s Qabool platform. According to the e-services portal, the steps are:
- Visit the Qabool platform link and log in via the National Single Sign-On or the Ministry’s unified login.
- Verify personal data and update it if necessary before proceeding.
- Enter required details such as social media accounts, language test scores and recognized international exam results.
- Click the “Start Application” icon and follow up through the platform.
The expected processing time to close an application is five business days. If technical issues arise, applicants can call the beneficiary care center at 19996, available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
How does the Wa’ed track work in the Saudi labor market?
The Wa’ed track extends beyond theory into direct partnerships with the private sector to train Saudi professionals. Flynas announced plans to qualify and graduate 300 Saudi pilots by the end of 2027 under its “Future Pilots” program and a scholarship-to-employment initiative through the Wa’ed track, according to Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper.
The move aims to continue raising Saudization rates among pilots and increase reliance on national talent in aviation. By 2024, the “Future Pilots” program had graduated around 300 co-pilots, helping Flynas reach one hundred percent Saudization in the co-pilot role.
Scholarship-to-employment programs are expanding into other industries as well. The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources opened applications for a scholarship-to-employment program with Eaton Smart Manufacturing in September 2026, according to Ajel. In October 2022, the General Authority for Military Industries launched a dispatch and scholarship program for military industry facilities, focusing on increasing sector enrollment and enabling participants to pursue specialized undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, according to the authority’s website.
Key figures
- Main program tracks: four (program website)
- Pioneers track ranking: top 30 institutions globally (program website)
- Emdad and Research and Development track rankings: top 200 institutions globally (program website)
- Expected application closure time: five business days (Ministry of Education)
- Beneficiary care center number: 19996 (Ministry of Education)
- Flynas target via Wa’ed track: 300 Saudi pilots by the end of 2027 (Al-Eqtisadiah)
- Flynas co-pilot Saudization rate: one hundred percent by 2024 (Al-Eqtisadiah)
What should applicants keep in mind?
First, identify the track that matches your university’s ranking, major and degree level, then secure direct unconditional admission before logging into the Qabool platform via National Single Sign-On. Monitor updates to approved university and major lists through the program website’s reference guide; the Ministry of Education notes the site is currently being updated to reflect university rankings by field.
Applicants should also follow announcements from government and private entities regarding scholarship-to-employment programs linked to the Wa’ed track, particularly as sectors like aviation, manufacturing and military industries continue launching opportunities tied to Saudi labor market needs.