The number of young Saudis studying in the United States has been increasing in recent years, according to Consul General Joseph A. Kenny at the US Consulate General in Dhahran. Kenny informed local businessmen here of the rising interest of young Saudis to pursue their higher education in the US after the farewell ceremony in which he personally bid goodbye to Saudi friends and leading businessmen in the region after completing his two-year tenure of office as consul general in Dhahran. He said there are now over 28,000 Saudis enrolled in various universities in the US. This number, he said, is expected to increase to over 30,000 within the next few years. “During the last seven months of this year alone, the number of student visa applicants increased by 162 percent,” Kenny said. He said the diversity of Saudis studying in the US is very impressive – from the 18-year-old high school graduate pursuing a bachelor's degree in design to a 44-year-old woman completing her Ph.D. in biochemistry. “I am impressed by these bright, talented young Saudi men and women who immerse themselves in a completely foreign environment while pursuing challenging coursework at world-class institutions of higher learning across America,” he said. Kenny said some of the Saudi students are leaving their country for the first time. He said the US Consulate General in Dhahran, by way of assisting those applying to study in the US, has expanded the services of the Education Advisor Office by offering student orientation workshops and assistance. The office of the education advisor also assists Saudi school counselors, and facilitates the application process of students. The United States now offers five-year, multiple entry visas to Saudi students studying in American universities. The majority of those applying for student visas are approved by the US missions in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dhahran.
