Record Number of Saudi Students Now Studying in the U.S.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The number of Saudi students studying in the United States has reached nearly 50,000, announced the Saudi Cultural Attache Assistant for Administrative and Financial Affairs in Washington, D.C., Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Subayil.

"Studying in the U.S. and other countries throughout the world is a great opportunity for Saudi students," said Saudi Ambassador to the United States Adel A. Al-Jubeir. "Dialogue fostered through the King Abdullah Scholarship Program will help promote peace and cultural understanding for generations to come."

Dr. Al-Subayil stated that the number of Saudi students on scholarships in the U.S. has increased significantly; as recently as 2005, only 2,500 Saudi students were studying in the U.S. He also indicated that the current percentage of female scholarship students is approximately 30%.

To complement domestic education programs, King Abdullah has also found ways to allow Saudi youth to experience the best universities the world has to offer through its King Abdullah Scholarship Program. The program provides qualified students the opportunity to attend colleges and universities around the world. The Saudi government has offered scholarships to more than 120,000 students worldwide.

For more information on Saudi Arabia's education initiatives please visit www.saudiembassy.net or follow the Embassy on Twitter @SaudiEmbassyUSA.

SOURCE Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia