Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – November 8, 2026

The Technical and Vocational Training administration in the Makkah Region has launched “Rubban: The AI Journey in Professions,” a practical innovation program running from November 8 to December 2, 2026.

Hosted by the College of Telecommunications and Information Technology in Jeddah, the initiative is held under the patronage of Deputy Governor for Training Dr. Adel bin Hamad Al-Zunaidi, with supervision from the General Administration of Trainee Activities.

The program challenges male and female trainees to develop AI-powered solutions to real problems in their vocational specializations, offering six specialized tracks, four development stages, and SAR 9,000 in total prizes.

Turning Professional Challenges into AI Solutions

Rubban encourages participants to identify a recurring problem within their vocational field and design an artificial intelligence solution to address it.

Projects may involve AI-powered tools, intelligent assistants, or automation systems. Participants are also expected to measure the impact of their solutions using quantitative indicators before and after implementation.

Each participating team consists of two to three members.

Six Specialized Innovation Tracks

The program offers six tracks:

  1. Innovation in Beauty and Fashion

  2. Smart Tourism and Hospitality

  3. Administrative and Financial Technologies

  4. Smart Systems and Telecommunications

  5. Smart Maintenance and Sustainability

  6. Computing and Cybersecurity

These tracks connect AI applications with practical challenges across different professional sectors.

Four Stages of the Rubban Journey

Stage 1 – The Lighthouse (November 8–10): Introductory lectures and the launch of registration.

Stage 2 – Sailors' School (November 15–16): Remote specialized workshops.

Stage 3 – Setting Sail (November 17–24): Project development, with submissions due November 24.

Stage 4 – The Harbor (December 2): Announcement of winning teams and the closing ceremony.

SAR 9,000 in Prizes

Rubban offers a combined SAR 9,000 prize pool for winning teams.

The initiative encourages participants to demonstrate how their AI solutions address specific vocational challenges and produce measurable improvements.

Registration and Participation

Registration is open from November 8 through November 16, 2026, using the QR code in the official announcement.

Participants will progress through introductory sessions, specialized workshops, project development, and final evaluation before the winners are announced on December 2.

Rubban aims to strengthen practical AI skills and encourage vocational trainees to create innovative solutions with real-world applications.