Al Alia International Indian School

In January 2003, Indian politician and educationist Thomas Chandy announced the establishment of Al-Alia Indian Central School in the capital's al-Aziziyah neighborhood during a press-conference among journalists in Riyadh.[1] Chandy chose al-Aziziyah neighborhood in order to cope with the soaring education needs of the Indian community in Manfuhah and Ghubaira neighborhoods.[1] The school was inaugurated on 3 April 2003 with 23 teachers and 200 students with Dr. Ram Thakur being its inaugural principal. In 2009, the school shifted its premises from al-Aziziyah to a new campus in al-Malazz neighborhood.[6]

In 2012, Al Alia made headlines when it hosted a condolence meeting within its premises upon the death of former Indian ambassador to Saudi Arabia MO Hasan Farook Maricar.[7] More than 40 different leaders of various Indian organization attended the event presided over by the school's then principal, Pious John.[7] In 2014, Al-Alia took part in the Peevees UN Simulation Conference which was chaired by Capt. William Roe, managing director of the Saudi Aviation Flight Academy[8] and hosted by Al-Yasmin International School in Riyadh.[9] In 2015, Al-Alia participated in Lulu-Keli Inter-School Football Tournament hosted by LuLu Group at Nasriya Al-Asima International Stadium in Riyadh[10] and also faced-off against Yara International School.[11] In 2017, Riyadh Indian Association (RIA) hosted RIA Faber Castell Impressions 2017, in which 700 students from different countries participated, including Al Alia.[12] Al Alia celebrated its 17th anniversary in late 2019, in which Rajesh Kumar from the Indian embassy in Riyadh was invited as chief guest.[13]

Al-Alia International Indian School is owned by Mohammad Hamad Abdullah Al Humaidi, a Kuwaiti educationist[14] and is presently managed by a committee 3 permanent and 8 non-permanent members.[15]