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.



Saudi Minister of Industry Stresses Kingdom’s Commitment to Expanding Partnerships with Russia

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef speaks at Monday's event. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef speaks at Monday's event. (SPA)
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Saudi Minister of Industry Stresses Kingdom’s Commitment to Expanding Partnerships with Russia

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef speaks at Monday's event. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef speaks at Monday's event. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef stressed on Monday the Kingdom’s commitment to deepening its industrial and investment partnerships with Russia and leveraging joint opportunities across several priority sectors to achieve the mutual interests of both countries.

He made his remarks during the keynote speech at the International Industrial Exhibition “INNOPROM. Saudi Arabia,” underway in Riyadh and continuing until February 10. The event is witnessing wide participation from leaders in the public and private sectors, as well as major industrial companies from the Kingdom, Russia, and several other countries.

Alkhorayef said that Riyadh’s hosting of INNOPROM reflects the mutual interest between Saudi Arabia and Russia in boosting industrial and investment cooperation, building on historical relations spanning over a century.

This helps in expanding strategic industrial partnerships and stimulating targeted investments between the two countries, the minister added.

Riyadh’s hosting of the exhibition shortly after the Kingdom’s participation as a partner country in its previous edition in Russia underscores both countries’ commitment to deepening bilateral relations and developing cooperation in priority sectors, particularly industry, logistics, and supply chains, he went on to say.

Moreover, the minister underlined the Saudi and Russian governments' commitment to establish a strong cooperative foundation that provides a stable and secure investment environment for long-term investors.

Alkhorayef addressed the mining and minerals sector, noting that the Kingdom views Russia’s advanced experience in this field as a model to benefit from.

Promising opportunities exist in Saudi Arabia for Russian companies specializing in mining and mine services to participate in developing the vital sector, which constitutes the third pillar of the national industry under Saudi Vision 2030, he remarked.

The Kingdom also possesses an integrated system to support industrial projects, including advanced industrial cities, modern infrastructure, industrial financing, and training and qualification programs, alongside policies that support localization and knowledge transfer, all contributing to enabling high-value industrial investments and bolstering their sustainability, he noted.

INNOPROM is one of the leading international industrial exhibitions, organized annually for more than 15 years in Russia, attracting major industrial companies.

The current edition in Riyadh features broad Saudi and Russian participation, along with a business program that includes dialogue sessions and bilateral meetings aimed at building strategic partnerships that support the economic development objectives of both countries.


Egypt Plans $1 Billion Red Sea Marina, Hotel Development

This picture shows a partial view of Egypt's Red Sea city of Sharm el-Sheikh, October 7, 2025. (AFP)
This picture shows a partial view of Egypt's Red Sea city of Sharm el-Sheikh, October 7, 2025. (AFP)
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Egypt Plans $1 Billion Red Sea Marina, Hotel Development

This picture shows a partial view of Egypt's Red Sea city of Sharm el-Sheikh, October 7, 2025. (AFP)
This picture shows a partial view of Egypt's Red Sea city of Sharm el-Sheikh, October 7, 2025. (AFP)

Egypt announced plans on Monday for a new $1 billion marina, hotel and housing development on the Red Sea in a bid to boost the region's tourist industry.

Construction on the "Monte Galala Towers and Marina" project would ‌start in ‌the second ‌half ⁠of the ‌year and run for seven years, Ahmed Shalaby, managing director of the main developer, Tatweer Misr, said.

The 10-tower development - a partnership with the ⁠housing ministry and other state bodies ‌including the armed ‍forces' engineering authority - ‍would cost about 50 ‍billion Egyptian pounds ($1.07 billion), he added.

The project, also announced by the cabinet, will cover 470,000 square meters on the Gulf of Suez, about ⁠35 km south of Ain Sokhna, Shalaby said.

Egypt aims to boost total tourist arrivals to around 30 million by 2030, from around 19 million recorded by the tourism ministry in 2025.


Saudi-Polish Investment Forum Explores Prospects for Economic and Investment Cooperation

The forum brought together government officials, business leaders, and investors from both countries with the aim of enhancing economic cooperation - SPA
The forum brought together government officials, business leaders, and investors from both countries with the aim of enhancing economic cooperation - SPA
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Saudi-Polish Investment Forum Explores Prospects for Economic and Investment Cooperation

The forum brought together government officials, business leaders, and investors from both countries with the aim of enhancing economic cooperation - SPA
The forum brought together government officials, business leaders, and investors from both countries with the aim of enhancing economic cooperation - SPA

The Saudi-Polish Investment Forum was held today at the headquarters of the Federation of Saudi Chambers in Riyadh, with the participation of Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Finance of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Domański, and Vice President of the Federation of Saudi Chambers Emad Al-Fakhri.

The forum brought together government officials, business leaders, and investors from both countries with the aim of enhancing economic cooperation, expanding investment partnerships in priority sectors, and exploring high-quality investment opportunities that support sustainable growth in Saudi Arabia and Poland.

During a dedicated session, the forum reviewed economic and investment prospects in both countries through presentations highlighting promising opportunities, investment enablers, and supportive legislative environments.

Several specialized roundtables addressed strategic themes, including the development of the digital economy, with a focus on information and communication technologies (ICT), financial technologies (fintech), and artificial intelligence-driven innovation, SPA reported.

Discussions also covered the development of agricultural value chains from production to market access through advanced technologies, food processing, and agricultural machinery. In addition, participants examined ways to enhance the construction sector by developing systems and materials, improving execution efficiency, and accelerating delivery timelines. Energy security issues and the role of industrial sectors in supporting economic transformation and sustainability were also discussed.

The forum witnessed the announcement of two major investment agreements. The first aims to establish a framework for joint cooperation in supporting investment, exchanging information and expertise, and organizing joint business events to strengthen institutional partnerships.

The second agreement focuses on supporting reciprocal investments through the development of financing and insurance tools and the stimulation of joint ventures to boost investment flows.

The forum concluded by emphasizing the importance of continued coordination and dialogue between the public and private sectors in both countries to deepen Saudi-Polish economic relations and advance shared interests.