Chinese Language
RIYADH: With a large map of China displayed on the wall behind him, 14-year-old Yasser al-Shaalan carefully studied the names of different professions in his Chinese textbook.
He is one of thousands of Saudi students who are now learning Mandarin as part of the country’s school curriculum, a move that reflects the strengthening ties between Saudi Arabia and China.
Mandarin’s introduction into public schools marks a significant step in the Gulf nation’s efforts to diversify its economy and expand its global alliances. “Students at other schools are already proficient in English. Now, I know Arabic, English, and Chinese, which is a great asset for my future,” said Shaalan, highlighting the importance of multilingualism in an increasingly interconnected world.
In August 2024, Saudi Arabia implemented Mandarin as a compulsory second foreign language, following English, in schools across six of the country’s 13 administrative regions. Shaalan and his classmates now have three Mandarin lessons per week, taught by Ma Shuaib, a Chinese national and Muslim fluent in Arabic.
Inside their classroom in northern Riyadh, near the Saudi headquarters of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, students practice writing Chinese characters on an electronic whiteboard. “At first, it was difficult, but now it has become easy and fun,” said Shaalan, expressing his enthusiasm for the language.
‘Language of the Future’
Mandarin is among the world’s most widely spoken languages, with the majority of its speakers residing in China. Recognizing its importance, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced in 2019 that Chinese would be introduced throughout the country’s education system. Since then, several Saudi universities have launched Mandarin language programs.
In 2023, Prince Sultan University in Riyadh established Saudi Arabia’s first branch of the Confucius Institute, an organization promoting Chinese language and culture. While Confucius Institutes have faced scrutiny in Western nations such as the United States, Germany, France, Australia, and Canada—where critics allege they serve as political tools for Beijing—no such concerns have been raised in Saudi Arabia.
Ma Shuaib, the Mandarin instructor at Yazeed bin Abi Othman School, acknowledges that Chinese can be a challenging language to learn but says he employs modern teaching techniques to make it more accessible. “I use a digital whiteboard, gestures, and interactive games to keep students engaged and motivated,” he explained.
Although Mandarin is now a mandatory subject, students’ grades in the course do not contribute to their overall academic performance. “At the beginning, we focus on listening, speaking, and reading. Later, we move on to writing,” said Ma, who teaches five classes per week.
The school’s director, Sattam al-Otaibi, emphasized the significance of Mandarin in today’s world. “Chinese is the language of the future for economic communication. Many industries worldwide depend on China,” he noted.
Saudi Arabia has traditionally been a strong ally of the United States but has recently deepened its ties with China and Russia. The growing Chinese influence in the Kingdom is evident beyond education, with thousands of Chinese nationals working in Saudi Arabia, particularly in Riyadh. Even the city’s airport now displays signs in Arabic, English, and Chinese, reflecting the expanding cooperation between the two nations.
