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CEO of SPIRE: Saudi Competencies to Meet Renewable Energy Company Needs

Eng. Majed Refae, the CEO of the Saudi Polytechnic Institute of Renewable Energy (SPIRE) (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Eng. Majed Refae, the CEO of the Saudi Polytechnic Institute of Renewable Energy (SPIRE) (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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CEO of SPIRE: Saudi Competencies to Meet Renewable Energy Company Needs

Eng. Majed Refae, the CEO of the Saudi Polytechnic Institute of Renewable Energy (SPIRE) (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Eng. Majed Refae, the CEO of the Saudi Polytechnic Institute of Renewable Energy (SPIRE) (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Eng. Majed Refae, the CEO of the Saudi Polytechnic Institute of Renewable Energy (SPIRE), said that work was underway with strategic partners to provide companies operating in renewable energy projects with skilled national cadres.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Refae noted that more than 7,800 jobs will be needed for energy projects in Saudi Arabia during the coming years, expecting the demand to grow with the announcement of new and investment plans.

SPIRE is a strategic partnership institute within a comprehensive system, which the Ministry of Energy considers an important tributary for providing human resources and qualifying young men and women to work in the oil, gas and energy sectors and companies, with the support of Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Energy.

The institute is located in Al-Jouf region in northern Saudi Arabia.

Refae said that the region was selected to be the headquarters of the institute, as it is situated within the global Sun Belt, which makes the solar radiation it receives one of the highest rates in the world.

Therefore, SPIRE was chosen to be near the first renewable energy projects in Saudi Arabia - the Sakaka solar power plant and Dumat al-Jandal for wind energy. This will allow the institute to introduce trainees to real work environments, he underlined.

Al-Jouf is also close to several other renewable energy projects in Qurayyat, Turaif, Hafr Al-Batin, and Tabuk, located in the north of the country.

Asked about the launching date, Refae said: “SPIRE is now in the final stages of training procedures; we expect to start operation at the end of March.”

As for the training programs, he pointed to a 12-month program targeting holders of diplomas from technical colleges, in which the focus is on specialization and skills needed by employers.

Another 24-month program is directed towards high school graduates, in which the trainees undergo an intensive program in the English language and preparatory materials, followed by a 4-month field training on the job site.

According to Refae, SPIRE is based on the principle of training with employment, which is one of the most important bases of work in the National Center for Strategic Partnerships. Therefore, all those who successfully pass the selection tests will be contracted by companies operating renewable energy projects in Saudi Arabia.

The CEO of SPIRE told Asharq Al-Awsat that the institute will seek to provide programs and specializations that meet the renewable energy sector in the areas of management, operation and maintenance.

This will be supported by creating accreditation programs that are tailored to the needs of companies operating in this promising sector, in accordance with the plan of the Ministry of Energy and Saudi Vision 2030.

Pointing that the institute capacity will reach 3,000 trainees, Refae added: “We are in the process of rehabilitating and equipping the facilities, and we plan to start training 250 cadres during the current year.”

“We are cooperating with local universities and institutes within the national system to provide curricula in accordance with the highest international standards,” he remarked.

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IMF Upgrades Outlook for Surprisingly Resilient World Economy to 3.3% Growth this Year

FILE PHOTO: A view of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., US, November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier//File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., US, November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier//File Photo/File Photo
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IMF Upgrades Outlook for Surprisingly Resilient World Economy to 3.3% Growth this Year

FILE PHOTO: A view of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., US, November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier//File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., US, November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier//File Photo/File Photo

An unexpectedly sturdy world economy is likely to shrug off President Donald Trump's protectionist trade policies this year, thanks partly to a surge of investment in artificial intelligence in North America and Asia, the International Monetary Fund said in a report out Monday.

The 191-nation lending organization expects that global growth will come in at 3.3% this year, same as in 2025 but up from the 3.1% it had forecast for 2026 back in October, The Associated Press reported.

The world economy "continues to show notable resilience despite significant US-led trade disruptions and heightened uncertainty,'' IMF chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas and his colleague Tobias Adrian wrote in a blog post accompanying the latest update to the fund's World Economic Outlook.

The US economy, benefiting from the strongest pace of technology investment since 2001, is forecast to expand 2.4% this year, an upgrade on the fund's October forecast and on expected 2025 growth — both 2.1%.

China — the world's second-largest economy — is forecast to see 4.5% growth, an improvement on the 4.2% the IMF had predicted October, partly because a trade truce with the United States has reduced American tariffs on Chinese exports.

India, which has supplanted China as the world's fastest-growing major economy, is expected to see growth decelerate from 7.3% last year (when it was juiced by an unexpectedly strong second half) to a still-healthy 6.4% in 2026.

Business

France Says Still Loyal to Syria Kurds, Hails Ceasefire

Syrian army personnel celebrate as government forces enter Raqqa city following the withdrawal of Syrian Democratic Forces, in Raqqa, Syria, January 18, 2026. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri
Syrian army personnel celebrate as government forces enter Raqqa city following the withdrawal of Syrian Democratic Forces, in Raqqa, Syria, January 18, 2026. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri
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France Says Still Loyal to Syria Kurds, Hails Ceasefire

Syrian army personnel celebrate as government forces enter Raqqa city following the withdrawal of Syrian Democratic Forces, in Raqqa, Syria, January 18, 2026. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri
Syrian army personnel celebrate as government forces enter Raqqa city following the withdrawal of Syrian Democratic Forces, in Raqqa, Syria, January 18, 2026. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri

France on Monday welcomed a ceasefire between the Syrian government and Kurdish-led forces and stressed it remained loyal to the latter who spearheaded the battle against the ISIS group.

"France is faithful to its allies," the foreign ministry said, urging all sides to respect the ceasefire deal, which will also see the Kurdish administration and forces integrate into the state after months of stalled negotiations.

Business

Lucid in 2026: 'Made in Saudi Arabia' Label Goes Global

Mark Winterhoff, interim CEO of Lucid (Company) 
Mark Winterhoff, interim CEO of Lucid (Company) 
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Lucid in 2026: 'Made in Saudi Arabia' Label Goes Global

Mark Winterhoff, interim CEO of Lucid (Company) 
Mark Winterhoff, interim CEO of Lucid (Company) 

Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a global launchpad for Lucid, the electric-vehicle manufacturer, not merely as a consumer market, but as a manufacturing and export hub serving markets worldwide.

Speaking from Riyadh during his participation in the Future Minerals Forum, Mark Winterhoff, interim chief executive officer of Lucid — whose largest shareholder is Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) — outlined the company’s next phase, which focuses on disciplined expansion, resilient supply chains, and a strategic shift from ultra-luxury vehicles toward a broader consumer segment.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Winterhoff described the forum as a critical platform for the electric-vehicle industry, given its heavy reliance on minerals and rare earth elements, particularly those used in magnets. He praised Saudi Arabia’s leadership in this area, noting its direct impact on multiple industrial sectors. Winterhoff oversees the execution of Lucid’s strategy and leads teams responsible for product design, engineering, and manufacturing efficiency.

Saudi Arabia as an Export Base

Winterhoff said Lucid’s Saudi factory - the company’s first manufacturing facility outside the United States - was designed from the outset as a major export platform, not solely to meet domestic demand.

Under current plans, only 13 to 15 percent of production will be allocated to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets, with the majority destined for export. He confirmed that Lucid remains on track to begin production at the facility by the end of this year, specifically in December.

In January 2025, Lucid joined the “Made in Saudi Arabia” program, enabling it to use the national manufacturing label on vehicles produced locally. The company is the first automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to receive the designation, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s push to localize advanced industries, deepen partnerships with global manufacturers, and establish itself as a hub for electric-vehicle production and exports.

Strong Growth Momentum

Winterhoff said Lucid posted strong growth in both production and deliveries in 2025. Annual production more than doubled, while deliveries rose 55 percent year-on-year. The fourth quarter recorded particularly strong results in the United States and the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia.

He noted that Lucid was the only electric-vehicle manufacturer in the US to report higher deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2025, at a time when many competitors saw sharp declines.

According to company figures, Lucid produced about 18,378 vehicles in 2025, up 104 percent from 2024, while deliveries reached 15,841 vehicles. In the fourth quarter alone, production climbed to 8,412 vehicles — up 116 percent from the previous quarter — while deliveries rose 31 percent to 5,345 vehicles.

While Lucid currently operates in the luxury segment, its most significant strategic shift involves developing a mid-size vehicle priced at around $50,000. Winterhoff said this model, aimed at a much wider consumer base, will form the backbone of production at the Saudi plant and enable the facility to reach its targeted maximum capacity.

Supply Chain Challenges and Outlook

Winterhoff identified supply chains - particularly for minerals, rare earth elements, and semiconductors - as ongoing challenges for the industry. He said Lucid faced repeated difficulties over the past year in sourcing magnets and securing stable semiconductor supplies. Forums such as the Future Minerals Forum, he added, are part of the solution, helping build a more stable and sustainable resource ecosystem.

Looking ahead, Winterhoff expressed confidence in Lucid’s trajectory. The company currently leads US electric-vehicle sales in the luxury sedan segment and ranks third when internal combustion vehicles are included. With the launch of its mid-priced model, Lucid expects higher production volumes and, in 2026, plans to enter the autonomous robotaxi market, an emerging sector it views as a key source of future growth.