Skills Week Boosts Saudi Workforce Upskilling

A national campaign known as Skills Week is spearheading efforts to upskill and reskill the Saudi workforce, in line with the Human Capability Development Program under Saudi Vision 2030. The campaign is led by the Skills and Training Deputyship at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, working alongside government entities and private-sector partners.

Rather than a single paid event, Skills Week serves as a coordinated umbrella bringing together multiple training initiatives. Among its flagship programs is the Waad National Training Initiative, which focuses on large-scale training and improving employability for Saudi nationals as a core human capital program. Another is the Skill Accelerator Program, which aims to upskill and reskill more than 300,000 Saudis by 2027 across seven key economic sectors, offering more than 3,000 training programs through local and international providers.

What the training covers

Activities under Skills Week emphasize digital skills including artificial intelligence, data, cybersecurity, cloud computing and software development. They also cover sector-specific skills in tourism, manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality and technology, along with soft skills, entrepreneurship and building a culture of innovation.

Registration for the various programs takes place mainly through official ministry platforms and portals, the National eLearning Center platforms such as FutureX for AI and digital tracks, and program-specific forms announced with each initiative.

For the community, one of the most notable points is cost. Skills Week is an awareness and activation campaign and does not charge a fixed participation fee. Many of its training tracks are free of charge for Saudi citizens, particularly government-backed digital and vocational courses. Programs such as Waad and the Skill Accelerator are generally free or heavily subsidized for Saudi nationals, as they form part of Vision 2030 human capital initiatives rather than commercial courses. Some programs offered by partner training providers may carry individual fees that vary by sector and provider.

---

Stay updated with the latest news, events, sports updates, business insights, real estate and lifestyle stories on Saudi Living — the leading online platform for residents, expats, and visitors in Saudi Arabia.

Follow Saudi Living for daily updates:

• Instagram - @saudiliving
• X - @saudiliving
• Facebook - @saudiliving
• YouTube - @saudiliving