Makkah, 23 Dhu al-Hijjah 1447 AH (9 June 2026)

The Ministry of Tourism took part as main sponsor of the Career and Innovation Forum and Tourism Innovation Hackathon 2026, hosted by Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah from 8 to 9 June 2026 under the theme "Excellence and Leadership in the Tourism Sector", as part of its continued efforts to develop tourism human capital and open wider career horizons for students, graduates and job seekers in the tourism sector.

The forum was attended by Eng. Razan Al Ayed, Deputy Minister for Tourism Human Capital Development at the Ministry of Tourism, along with a number of specialists, experts and people involved in developing the Kingdom's tourism sector.

Raising the Readiness of National Talent

Nasser Al Ansari, the Ministry of Tourism's official spokesperson, said the ministry's participation stems from its role in developing tourism human capital and raising the readiness of national talent to support the sector's growth, through initiatives and programs focused on qualification, training and professional development.

He said the ministry is working to enable national talent to benefit from the growing opportunities in tourism, one of the Kingdom's most promising economic sectors, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

An Interactive Pavilion for the "Ahluha" Program

The ministry's participation included an interactive pavilion introducing the "Ahluha" program and the initiatives and services it offers to qualify and develop tourism sector workers, while highlighting the training and career opportunities available to young Saudis.

The ministry also took part in the enrichment session titled "The Future of the Tourism Sector in the Kingdom: Talent, Innovation and Partnerships", which addressed the importance of developing national talent and strengthening innovation and partnerships among the relevant bodies to develop the sector.

Specialized Workshops and the Hackathon

The ministry delivered four specialized workshops aimed at developing participants' professional and knowledge skills, and served on the judging panels of the Tourism Innovation Hackathon 2026, promoting a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the sector.

The participation reflects the ministry's support for quality initiatives that help develop creative ideas and turn them into projects and initiatives that strengthen the competitiveness of Saudi tourism.

Honoring Top Executive Master's Graduates

As part of its participation, the Ministry of Tourism honored ten outstanding graduates of its executive master's program, out of more than 500 graduates who completed the program across its two editions, delivered in partnership with specialized international universities.

The honors celebrate the graduates' excellence and highlight the impact of the ministry's education and development programs in preparing qualified national talent capable of leading the future of the Kingdom's tourism sector.

Investing in Tourism Human Capital

The Ministry of Tourism said its participation reflects its continued commitment to investing in national human capital and enabling young Saudis to help build a thriving and sustainable tourism sector.

This comes as part of efforts to strengthen the Kingdom's standing as a global tourism destination and support the Saudi Vision 2030 goals of developing national talent and raising the quality of tourism services.

At a Glance

  • Location: Makkah
  • Dates: 8 and 9 June 2026
  • Participant: Ministry of Tourism
  • Event: Career and Innovation Forum and Tourism Innovation Hackathon 2026
  • Executive master's graduates: more than 500
  • Honorees: 10 top graduates
  • Key initiatives: the "Ahluha" program and specialized workshops