Saudi Arabia Offers 1,000+ Scholarships to Indonesian Students

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Saudi Arabian government is offering more than 1,000 scholarships to Indonesian students as part of efforts to strengthen higher education cooperation between the two countries.

Saudi Arabian Minister of Education Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan made the statement during a meeting with university rectors on Wednesday, September 2, 2026 evening at the official residence of the Saudi Arabian Ambassador in Jakarta.

“We provide more than 1,000 scholarships for the Indonesian government. So far, perhaps only around 50 percent have been utilized,” he said.

According to him, the remaining scholarship quota can be utilized through various programs prepared by the Saudi Arabian government. The application process will also be facilitated through the “Study in Saudi Arabia” website.

“Students can apply through the website. After that, they can obtain approval and process their academic needs, including theses and diplomas, as well as residence permits in the Kingdom,” he added.

In addition to scholarships, Saudi Arabia is offering stronger research cooperation through the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) program. The program is designed to encourage collaboration among universities, researchers, and the private sector.

Yousef said the RDI program provides incentives and grants based on submitted research projects. The cooperation is expected not only to produce research but also to provide benefits that can be applied by the private sector.

“Sometimes universities conduct very good research. However, in the end, the research does not provide real benefits or produce an impact that can be utilized,” he emphasized.

Therefore, Saudi Arabia wants to encourage universities and researchers to direct research toward fields that address the needs of and provide direct benefits to the private sector. According to Yousef, this approach will also open opportunities for new incentive programs.

In higher education, Saudi Arabia is also encouraging direct cooperation between universities, including faculty and student exchanges. The Saudi Arabian government plans to hold a workshop to connect Indonesian universities with Saudi Arabian universities that have suitable areas for cooperation.

“We want to see more opportunities for faculty exchanges. We want lecturers to be able to come and teach for one semester or one year,” Yousef said.

Yousef hopes the various programs can strengthen educational relations between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. In addition to academic and student exchanges, the two countries will also encourage the reactivation of several higher education cooperation agreements that were previously signed. (Diffa Sephiawardhani)