One World International School (OWIS) in Riyadh has been recognized as the first Apple Distinguished School in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for its integration of Apple technology across curriculum, giving a competitive digital advantage to students in an ecosystem that is configured to new-age standards.
Apple Distinguished School (ADS) is a recognition from Apple Inc. to schools that incorporate Apple technology in their learning environments. Schools with this status use Apple products such as iPads, Macbooks, Apple pens, Garage Band, and relevant hardware and software to seamlessly meet excellence in education by fostering creativity, communication, critical thinking, to deliver measurable academic outcomes.
This distinction reflects OWIS’s commitment to its long-term vision for technology-enabled education and digital excellence, underpinned by continuous professional development for staff. ADS representatives Ms. Sherifa Aly, Head of Education KSA, and Mr. Dmitrii Leshchinskii, Head of Business and Education KSA, visited the OWIS campus on 15 September 2025 to formally extend their congratulations.
Commenting on the recognition, OWIS principal Shannon Pipes said, “it is a validation of the school’s long-standing commitment to digital learning and student progress. We are thrilled to receive this recognition. Through adoption of a comprehensive Apple ecosystem, we are witnessing a fundamental shift in student learning and teacher instruction.”
Ms Pipes added that being the first school in Saudi Arabia is a proud achievement, and the school plans to continue getting further support from Apple for its faculty and students. “The support from Apple has helped us build a culture of innovation and digital fluency in our school. With powerful tools at hand and limitless learning ahead, our journey is just beginning.”
OWIS is part of the Global School Group, an education network with presence in 12 countries, which has been a leader in Edtech through the embrace of smart personalised learning systems and empowering methods for superior pedagogy. Imparting technology-based future-relevant learning is at the core of OWIS, where technology is used not just as a tool, but as an integral part of pedagogy.
