Al Baha, 26 Shawwal 1447 AH (14 April 2026)

HRH Prince Hussam bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Al Baha Region, has opened the "Waad" Skills and Training Forum, organized by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development at the King Abdulaziz Cultural Center, in the presence of Abdullah bin Nasser Abuthnain, Vice Minister for Labor, and a number of leaders and experts in skills development.

A Tour of the Initiatives

On arrival, the Governor inaugurated the accompanying exhibition and toured the participating pavilions, reviewing the leading programs and initiatives offered by government and private bodies in skills development, including quality initiatives such as the "Skills Hackathon", which aims to foster innovation and develop technical capabilities.

Supporting Skills Development and Employment

The Governor praised the ministry's efforts in launching training initiatives that qualify national talent and raise its readiness for the labor market, stressing the importance of these programs in providing quality job opportunities in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

A National Strategy for the Labor Market

Abdullah bin Nasser Abuthnain said holding the forum in Al Baha reflects growing attention to developing young people's skills, noting that the ministry is working with various bodies to develop a labor market strategy aligned with future change. He said the number of Saudis working in the private sector has passed 2.5 million, a sign of growth in national employment.

Quality Initiatives and Wide Training Opportunities

He announced the launch of a number of strategic initiatives, most notably the "Career and Skills Planning" initiative and the "Skills Accelerator", which targets the training of 300,000 private sector employees. The forum also saw the launch of the second edition of the national training campaign "Waad", which aims to deliver 4 million training opportunities by 2028.

Agreements to Strengthen Practical Training

The Governor witnessed the signing of 10 cooperation agreements between government and private bodies, aimed at strengthening practical training paths and developing the skills of the region's young men and women, improving employment opportunities and raising professional competence.

Varied Events and Training Workshops

The forum features 27 pavilions from public and private sector bodies, along with 14 specialized training workshops covering fields such as artificial intelligence, game development, tourism, health, finance, marketing and media. Some 20 experts and specialists delivered professional training content that meets the needs of the modern labor market.

30,000 Training Opportunities in Al Baha

The "Waad" forum in Al Baha offers around 30,000 training opportunities through 2028, through professional development programs, workshops and educational sessions designed to raise the readiness of national talent and build the skills of the future.

Building on Previous Success

The forum extends the series of "Waad" forums held in several regions of the Kingdom, including the Northern Borders, the Eastern Province, Makkah, Jazan, Najran and Hail, which have benefited more than 16,000 visitors with the participation of 72 bodies, as part of continued efforts to develop human capital.

At a Glance

  • Venue: King Abdulaziz Cultural Center, Al Baha
  • Attendance: leaders and experts in skills development
  • Agreements: 10 cooperation agreements
  • Training opportunities: 30,000 through 2028
  • Pavilions: 27
  • Training workshops: 14
  • Initiatives: the Skills Accelerator and the "Waad" campaign