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Saudi Arabia Aligns Education Outputs with Industrial, Mining Sector Job Demands

A glimpse of one of the specialized institutes in the industrial sector in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A glimpse of one of the specialized institutes in the industrial sector in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Aligns Education Outputs with Industrial, Mining Sector Job Demands

A glimpse of one of the specialized institutes in the industrial sector in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A glimpse of one of the specialized institutes in the industrial sector in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Human Capacity Development Eng. Faris Alsaqabi said that the Ministry of Industry would soon announce its strategy to develop human capabilities in the industrial and mining sectors.

“The Ministry has succeeded in formulating the strategy as well as the national programs that support the achievement of its goals,” he said.

Alsaqabi made the remarks during his visit to the Food Industries Institute in Al-Kharj to review the latest developments in the field of training and Saudization.

Alsaqabi said that there has been diligent work to create 2.1 million jobs in the industrial and mining sectors, and the ministry is serious in the field of qualifying and training workers.

Alsaqabi said the Ministry has started negotiating with Saudi universities, academies and institutes to facilitate qualifying and developing capabilities and providing specializations that support the industrial sector in the Kingdom.

These include the opening of the Department of Mining Engineering at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, and the ongoing efforts with Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University to develop specializations that contribute to women’s participation in the industrial sector, as well as with King Abdulaziz University and King Saud University.

Alsaqabi said that the Ministry of Industry is working with the Ministry of Education to disseminate the culture of the Industrial Revolution through initiatives to enrich school curricula with some skills that are required in the labor market, especially in the technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and its impact on the industrial and the mining sectors.

The deputy minister said that the Agency of the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources for Human Capacity Development is concerned with the sustainability of learning, which begins from the kindergarten level and later during the educational journey through various levels of school and university education.

This does not end with graduation, but rather continues throughout life in order to raise the efficiency and skills of workers in the industrial sector so as to ensure that they are armed with the latest skills resulting from the influence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies.

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Saudi Budget Shows Continued Government Spending on Mega-Projects

King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Budget Shows Continued Government Spending on Mega-Projects

King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia’s third-quarter budget results this year reflect the government’s commitment to boosting spending on mega-projects while working to increase revenue and contain the budget deficit.
Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan stressed that managing the deficit is a key priority. He outlined strategies to ensure sustainable debt management, including directing debt to high-return sectors and attracting domestic and foreign investments.
The Ministry of Finance reported a budget deficit of SAR 30.23 billion ($8.06 billion) in the third quarter, down 15.6% from the same period last year. This brought the total deficit for the first nine months of the year to SAR 57.96 billion.
Government Spending and Revenues
Government revenues grew 20% in the third quarter to SAR 309.21 billion ($82.4 billion), while spending rose 15% to SAR 339.44 billion.
Non-oil revenues increased 6% year-on-year to SAR 118.3 billion, though they were 16% lower than in the previous quarter. Oil revenues climbed 30% year-on-year to SAR 190.8 billion but dropped 10% from the second quarter.
As of the third quarter, Saudi Arabia’s actual revenues for 2024 reached SAR 956.233 billion ($254.9 billion), a 12% rise from 2023.
Saudi Arabia’s spending topped SAR 1 trillion ($266.6 billion) by the end of the third quarter, a 13% increase from SAR 898.3 billion ($239.5 billion) a year earlier. The budget deficit for this period reached SAR 57.96 billion ($15.4 billion).
Saudi Budget Outlook and Reserve Update
The Kingdom’s Finance Ministry expects 2024 revenues to reach SAR 1.172 trillion ($312.5 billion), slightly below last year’s SAR 1.212 trillion ($323.2 billion). Expenditures are projected at SAR 1.251 trillion ($333.6 billion), with a budget deficit of SAR 79 billion ($21 billion), close to last year’s SAR 80.9 billion ($21.5 billion). By the end of the third quarter, the general reserve balance stood at SAR 390 billion ($104 billion), with the current account at SAR 76.7 billion ($20.4 billion) and public debt at SAR 1.157 trillion ($308.7 billion).
Vision 2030 Projects, Economic Reforms
Shura Council member Fadhel al-Buainain attributed the spending increase to Vision 2030 projects and social welfare programs, noting a 6% rise in non-oil revenues and a 16% boost in oil revenues.
He stressed that these gains contribute to financial stability and diversification efforts.
Enhanced Services and Growth Sectors
Dr. Mohammed Makni, Assistant Professor of Finance & Investment at Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University, highlighted the government’s focus on improving health, education, and quality of life, which are part of Vision 2030 goals impacting citizen services.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Makni explained that Saudi Arabia’s recent expansionary spending aims to complete Vision 2030 projects.
He added that the third-quarter budget reflects positive growth across oil and non-oil activities, which have boosted revenues.
Economist Dr. Mohammed al-Qahtani pointed out that non-oil sectors and efficient spending helped reduce the third-quarter deficit.
He cited strong growth in tourism, culture, and entertainment as key contributors to non-oil revenues. Al-Qahtani expects continued improvement in the fourth quarter, especially if oil prices strengthen.