Saudi FM hosts French presidential advisor for Middle East, North Africa
Updated 13 July 2024
Arab News
RIYAD: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan hosted Anne-Claire Legendre, the advisor to the French president for the Middle East and North Africa, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
During the meeting at the ministry on Friday, the two sides reviewed Saudi-French relations, ways to strengthen ties in various fields and the latest regional developments, particularly concerning the Gaza Strip.
The meeting was attended by Prince Saad bin Mansour Al-Saud, director general of the General Department for European Affairs at the Foreign Ministry.
Riyadh Hackathon: Fourth Industrial Revolution hackathon draws over 400 innovators, creators
Kingdom aims to become top ‘industrial power,’ says deputy minister
Focus on solutions for industry, energy, mining and logistics services
Updated 09 August 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: More than 400 innovators and creators participated in workshops and discussions on innovative ways to grow the Kingdom’s economy at the launch of the “Fourth Industrial Revolution Applications Hackathon” in Riyadh on Thursday.
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, in partnership with the National Industry Development and Logistics Program, organized the three-day event.
The aim of the gathering is to find innovative technical solutions for industry, energy, mining and logistics services, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
More than 50 experts and specialists are also participating as resource persons, facilitators and mentors in a number of workshops organized for the event.
In his speech during the opening ceremony, Ibrahim Al-Nasser, the MICT’s deputy minister for future capabilities and jobs, said the goal is to provide a stimulating environment for learning, cooperation and the exchange of ideas.
Al-Nasser added that he was confident the participants’ contributions would assist in “transforming the Kingdom into a leading industrial power and a global platform for innovation and development.”
How Saudi Arabia is preparing students for the high-tech AI jobs of the future
Training in high-demand skills will equip Saudi citizens for success in a tech-driven economy
KAUST is focused on upskilling undergraduate students to prepare them for future job markets
Updated 09 August 2024
SULAFA ALKHUNAIZI & HAJAR ALQUSAYER
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s education sector is undergoing a strategic transformation as it shifts its focus toward specialized fields like artificial intelligence, robotics and nuclear energy.
Driven by the Vision 2030 economic diversification plan, this marks a decisive step in equipping the Kingdom’s future workforce with the high-demand skills needed to secure the jobs of tomorrow.
Mansoor Ahmed, executive director of the Middle East and North Africa region at Colliers, the Canada-based professional services and management company, says the shift towards AI and technology is creating new job opportunities and driving higher education reforms.
“Graduates with expertise in these areas will fill high-demand roles, helping to reduce youth unemployment,” Ahmed told Arab News.
Saudi Arabia’s National Strategy for Data and Artificial Intelligence, launched in 2020, seeks to attract $20 billion in investments by 2030 and cultivate a workforce of 20,000 AI and data specialists.
Ahmed says the emergence of this highly skilled tech workforce will in turn help attract foreign investment, “positioning Saudi Arabia as a potential leader in innovation.”
AI could add more than $320 billion to the Middle East economy. A PWC analysis predicts Saudi Arabia is expected to have the largest gains in absolute terms, worth $135.2 billion, and the UAE will see the largest overall impact at 14 percent of its anticipated 2030 gross domestic product.
“The development of nuclear power plants and the integration of AI across various sectors will generate specialized roles in engineering, data analysis and machine learning,” said Ahmed. “This underscores the need to prioritize education in technology, AI, robotics and nuclear energy.”
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Saudi Arabia has affirmed its commitment to future tech by becoming a hub for global events and forums such as LEAP, the Global AI Summit, and the International Exhibition and Conference for Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Computing.
However, if the Kingdom hopes to lead in these specialized fields, it must first close the gap between market demand and educational output.
A report produced by Colliers found the current enrollment distribution in the Kingdom’s public universities “lacks alignment with the employee market,” with students still favoring humanities and Islamic studies.
That is now changing. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology has an Artificial Intelligence Initiative focused on research and graduate level education, while KAUST Academy focuses on talent development in AI with programs targeting outside learners.
“KAUST aims to address this gap by offering specialized training and development programs in areas that are in high demand, helping students transition from traditional fields of study to more market-aligned disciplines,” Sultan Albarakati, director of KAUST Academy, told Arab News.
“We are focusing on upskilling a broad range of undergraduate students to prepare them for future job markets.”
DID YOUKNOW?
Saudi Arabia’s National Strategy for Data and Artificial Intelligence seeks to attract $20 billion in investments by 2030.
The Kingdom aims to cultivate a workforce of 20,000 AI and data specialists by the end of the decade.
AI could add more than $320 billion to the Middle East economy, with Saudi Arabia alone gaining $135.2 billion.
Supported by the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence, the KAUST Academy’s AI program covers the entire field, from essentials to advanced level, with projects allowing students to demonstrate the knowledge they acquire.
The program focuses on improving skills in key areas such as deep learning libraries, optimization, linear algebra, machine learning, computer vision, artificial intelligence applications, Python programming and large-scale deep learning.
To support AI research in Saudi Arabia, Silicon Valley tech giant Google recently awarded five seed grants to KAUST faculty members. The grants, which total $100,000, will fund projects focused on multilingual, multimodal machine learning, specifically generative and large language models.
KAUST Academy focuses on talent development in AI with programs targeting outside learners. (Supplied)
Ahmed says the Kingdom’s investment in AI spans multiple sectors, integrating into healthcare, robotics, manufacturing, and service industries — introducing new roles that require a blend of technical and analytical skills.
“This cross-industry application will significantly expand job opportunities for graduates,” he said.
AI is expected to transform the world of work over the coming years. Some 23 percent of jobs are expected to change by 2027, with 69 million new jobs created and 83 million eliminated, according to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2023.
To ensure alignment of educational outputs with labor market needs, Saudi Arabia’s Human Capability Development Program has set out to review higher education degrees based on their recent and expected employability results.
“Training in these high-demand skills will equip Saudi citizens for success in a tech-driven economy, with the HCDP emphasizing critical thinking, problem-solving and technical expertise,” said Ahmed.
The Yazidi nightmare
Ten years after the genocide, their torment continues
635 unlicensed drivers apprehended at Saudi airports
Updated 08 August 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: The Saudi Transport General Authority identified 635 people for providing unlicensed transport services to passengers at the Kingdom’s airports in July.
The crackdown was part of a wider campaign in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and other authorities. The aim is to improve the safety and quality of services provided to travelers, reduce illegal activity, and promote the use of licensed transport services.
The authority stressed that those found guilty of providing transport services without a license to do so at an airport face a fine of up to SR5,000 ($1,333) and having their vehicle seized.
Over 20 spiny-tailed lizards released in royal reserve
Updated 08 August 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: More than 20 spiny-tailed lizards have been released into the King Khalid Royal Reserve, reported Saudi Press Agency.
The move is part of a joint program between the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority and the National Center for Wildlife. The authority said it would boost the reptile’s population, amid warnings from the International Union for Conservation of Nature that it was classified as an endangered species.
The release is part of wider efforts to increase the numbers of those species identified as being endangered in line with the national environment conservation strategy and the Saudi Vision 2030.
In cooperation with the NCW, the authority has released several endangered species including the Arabian sand gazelle, mountain gazelle, Arabian oryx and Nubian ibex, in a bid to reintroduce them to their natural habitats.
Insurance policies for cultural assets to be launched in Saudi Arabia
Updated 08 August 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture will be introducing a financial product that will allow the owners of artworks and other cultural assets to insure their belongings for loss or damage.
The matter will be discussed at a conference, in collaboration with the Insurance Authority, at the Cultural Palace in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter next Tuesday.
The conference will bring together government officials and representatives of the insurance industry for discussions on the issue, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
