Farid Academy Sets Riyadh Base as It Scales Across Arab Markets

Farid Academy, the Egyptian education-technology startup focused on character education and mental health for children and youth, has opened a central operations office in Riyadh as part of its expansion into Saudi Arabia. The move accompanies a strategic partnership valued at SAR 4.5 million for three years with Amad Association for Human Capacity Development, as the company prepares for a seed funding round in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Founded in 2024 by Mahmoud Hussein, Farid offers one-on-one live sessions for children aged 3 to 18 that combine psychological well-being and personality development. It also runs training programmes to certify youth and graduates as coaches under its methodology.

The $1.3 million three-year agreement with Amad will see over 500 Saudi university graduates trained as coaches and more than 4,000 Saudi children and adolescents enrolled in specialised programmes emphasising character, critical thinking, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Previously, Farid raised US$250,000 in a pre-seed round led by Amal bint Abdulaziz Al-Ajlan—a Saudi businesswoman—funds that have already been used to support the platform’s expansion into both the Saudi and UAE markets.

The Riyadh operations office marks Farid’s first regional outpost. The choice of Saudi Arabia aligns with the country’s growing investment in human capital, youth initiatives, and its Vision 2030 goals.

Farid’s offerings set it apart in the MENA edtech landscape. Unlike platforms that focus narrowly on academic tutoring, Farid integrates character building and mental health support into its curriculum. Its model includes one-on-one sessions and coach certification, making the startup a hybrid of education, psychology and personal development.