Tasked with implementing the government's strategic educational plan in Canada, the Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau (SACB) was established in May 1978 in Ottawa. The SACB was opened as a branch of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia and became the official representative of the Ministry of Education (MOE), Saudi universities, and all other governmental agencies that sponsored Saudi students in Canada. The SACB also functioned as the intermediary between Saudi Arabian universities and their Canadian counterparts for matters pertaining to cultural, educational, and scientific research.
For nearly 30 years, SACB’s primary task was the administration of the Saudi Postgraduate Medical Program in Canada, through which upwards of 5,000 Saudi doctors obtained their medical specialty training and returned to Saudi Arabia to take leading roles in the Kingdom's health care system. Relatively few non-medical Saudi students were enrolled in Canadian universities during this period.
In 2005, SACB's work expanded rapidly due to the introduction of the King Abdullah Scholarship Program (KASP) and now known as the King’s Scholarship Program. The KSP was introduced as a way to establish sustainable human resources in the Kingdom. The abroad-scholarship program aimed to equip thousands of qualified Saudi men and women with the education and skills required to lead the country’s transformation from an oil-based to a knowledge-based economy.
In addition to administering the Saudi Postgraduate Medical Program, the SACB has now managed and continues to manage the educational affairs of thousands of Saudi students pursuing ESL, Bachelors, Masters and PhD studies in different fields all over Canada.
The SACB enables young Saudi men and women to take advantage of the high-quality education and training in Canadian post-secondary institutions, considered to rank amongst the foremost in the world. Administering scholarships and providing comprehensive support services to ensure the cultural, educational, and social welfare of Saudi students and their families in Canada.
Distinguished generations will lead Saudi Arabia's transformation from an oil-based to a knowledge-based economy, with strengthened international partnerships, a world-class higher education system, and a reputation for excellence in scientific research.
SACB is comprised of the Cultural Attaché's Office and the following departments:
