Several major universities in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, announced the suspension of in-person classes for Monday, December 15, 2025, and their conversion to distance learning, in addition to postponing some scheduled exams, in response to reports from the National Center for Meteorology indicating a rainy weather situation that requires caution.
Details of university decisions in Riyadh
The official spokesperson for Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University confirmed in an official statement that the university president, Dr. Ahmed bin Salem Al-Amri, has directed that classes be conducted remotely via approved educational platforms. This decision applies to all male and female students at the main campus, King Abdullah University for Female Students across all academic levels, and the College of Applied Sciences in Huraymila Governorate, in order to ensure the safety of university staff and students during the current weather conditions.
In a related context, Princess Noura bint Abdulrahman University made a decision to postpone the exams that were scheduled to be held today, Monday, and set an alternative date for them to be held on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, to ensure that the students’ academic achievement is not affected by the emergency weather conditions.
King Saud University also announced the suspension of in-person classes on Monday, based on weather warnings, emphasizing that the safety of students is its top priority. The university clarified that new schedules for final exams, which coincided with the suspension, will be announced later.
Prioritizing safety and digital transformation in education
These swift and flexible decisions are part of the Saudi Ministry of Education and universities' strategy, which prioritizes the safety of students, faculty, and administrative staff. Educational authorities rely on direct and continuous coordination with the National Center of Meteorology and the General Directorate of Civil Defense when deciding to suspend classes. This ensures that appropriate measures are taken well in advance of the start of the school day, thus mitigating traffic congestion and avoiding potential risks during heavy rainfall and flash floods.
Digital infrastructure and the continuity of education
The handling of this rainy weather demonstrates the advanced state of digital infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. Suspending in-person classes no longer means halting the educational process as it did in the past. Thanks to significant investment in technology and educational platforms like Blackboard and other university systems, the transition from in-person to remote learning has been seamless and uninterrupted. This reflects the success of the digital transformation plans within the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which has enabled institutions to manage crises and emergencies with high efficiency.
During this time of year, the capital Riyadh and other regions in the Kingdom experience seasonal weather fluctuations, which necessitates continuous monitoring of weather forecasts and adherence to the instructions of the competent authorities to ensure everyone's safety.
