Oracle to Train 50,000 Saudis in AI Tech

Oracle has recently launched “Mostaqbali” (My Future), an initiative aimed at providing technical training to Saudi youth, preparing them for high-demand technology-driven jobs in the future. Developed in partnership with Future Work and overseen by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the program’s objective is to train and certify 50,000 Saudi nationals in cutting-edge cloud-powered digital technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT) by 2027.

Mostaqbali is accessible to all Saudi nationals at various stages of their educational and professional journeys, catering to students entering the workforce and young professionals. With a special emphasis on youth and women, the initiative is expected to enhance Saudi Arabia’s IT talent pool, aligning with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 as organizations in the country seek to recruit local talent for the deployment of new technologies, driving digital innovation and growth.

Majid Al-Dahwi, the Undersecretary of Ministry of HR and Social Development for Saudization, emphasized the proactive nature of the initiative, describing it as a crucial step in Saudizing future skills and enabling modern work processes such as freelancing. The aim is to equip young Saudis with next-generation skills, closing the skills gap and establishing a highly skilled and creative labor market to realize the Kingdom’s 2030 Vision.

The Mostaqbali program, delivered through Oracle MyLearn, Oracle’s comprehensive training and enablement platform, offers digital learning experiences. It provides foundational training in cloud technologies and progresses to professional-level training and certifications, including areas such as DevOps, AI, applications business processes, and data science. The program also tailors additional training based on individual learning levels and educational goals.

Participants in the program have the opportunity to secure professional certification and earn badges indicating their job readiness for specialized roles. This not only benefits learners but also aids potential employers in identifying suitable candidates, fostering job placement opportunities within the Kingdom.

Reham AlMusa, Vice President – Business Applications and Country Leader – Saudi Arabia, Oracle, highlighted the program’s alignment with Saudi Arabia’s National Transformation Program, aiming to increase the digital economy’s contribution to the national GDP to around 20% by 2025. The initiative reflects Oracle’s commitment to empowering Saudi youth and investing in the country’s present and future workforce, supporting the Saudi Vision 2030 and addressing the growing demand for technological skills.

Oracle’s investment of $1.5 billion in Saudi Arabia, focusing on cloud capacity, includes the opening of a third Oracle Cloud Region in Riyadh. This expansion, along with existing cloud regions in Jeddah and planned regions in NEOM, reinforces Oracle’s commitment to supporting the digital initiatives of both public and private sector organizations in Saudi Arabia. With a total of five cloud regions in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Oracle’s rapid expansion positions it as a major player in the region’s cloud services landscape.