How Middle East is shaping young talent for AI tech
The Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, is making significant strides in preparing young talent for the rapidly advancing fields of AI and emerging technologies. By establishing centres of excellence and forming partnerships with educational institutions and leading organisations, Middle Eastern governments and employers are poised to transform the local talent pool, especially recent graduates who represent the future of the region's economic development.
The commitment skill development of regional talent aligns with the rapidly changing workplaces driven by AI and emerging technologies. The year 2024 is a year of action, where efforts to drive innovation and change come to fruition. On the occasion of World Youth Skills Day, we highlight the Middle East's commitment to driving this transformation by investing in and nurturing young talent. The region aims to secure a strong and competitive position in the future job market, especially in the age of emerging technologies and AI.
#1 PwC Middle East partners with Microsoft for setting up AI Centre of Excellence
The AI Centre of Excellence in Riyadh has been established to develop the skills of fresh engineers in the region. This centre will upskill Saudi engineering talent in AI and ML technologies, including Azure OpenAI and open-source models. Aligning with Saudi Vision 2030, the initiative aims to build unmatched AI engineering capabilities within the Kingdom. Additionally, the centre will be a hub for knowledge exchange and collaborative learning, engaging both local and global partners from the public and private sectors to broaden expertise and perspectives.
Sharing the vision for the initiatives, Turki Badhris, President of Microsoft Arabia explained how skilling the workforce, especially the young saudi engineers, can drive digital transformation, innovation, and economic growth in the kingdom. He stated, “To take advantage of cloud and AI technologies is crucial to unlocking the full potential of these transformative technologies, and we are proud to play a role in this important endeavour… we aim to provide young Saudi engineers with the skills and tools they need to thrive..”
#2 UAE's AI office partners with Samsung GE
The Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications Office in the UAE has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Samsung Gulf Electronics to promote AI learning and skill development among youth. This partnership includes initiatives like the UAE's AI Summer Camp 2024 and the launch of the Galaxy AI Pioneers programme. These programmes cover AI, machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and AI robotics. The AI office emphasised that students will leverage Galaxy AI features to enhance their innovative thinking. Additionally, Samsung Innovation Campus offers ICT education, including AI, IoT, Big Data, Coding, and Programming, as well as essential soft skills to nurture talented youth who will shape our future society.
#3 UAE national strategy for AI 2031
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched the ‘National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031,' aimed at integrating AI into key economic sectors and providing advanced AI training to residents and the workforce. This initiative ensures competitiveness in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. The government has also established specialised training and research centres and offers international study opportunities for promising machine learning (ML) students. Additionally, funds are being allocated to increase the number of STEM students, with a goal of preparing at least one-third for careers in AI, thus strengthening the UAE's AI talent pool.
Furthermore, the UAE government has appointed Omar Sultan Al Olama as the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence to lead this national strategy. His role is to set the direction for his tenure and implement the vision set by the leadership, as emphasised in the initiative, “UAE aims to become one of the leading nations in AI by 2031, in alignment with the UAE Centennial 2071, creating new economic, educational, and social opportunities for citizens, governments, and businesses, and generating up to AED 335 billion in extra growth."
#4 Dell partners with Aramco & National IT Academy
Dell Technologies has announced a partnership with Aramco and the National IT Academy (NITA) to empower Saudi Arabia’s young talent. Fresh graduates in engineering, computer science, and IT will have access to advanced training programmes and certifications in storage management, data science, and AI. This initiative aims to equip regional talent with the skills needed to thrive in today’s data-driven world and aligns with Saudi Arabia’s vision to create a vibrant tech ecosystem. By combining their expertise and resources, the collaboration demonstrates a shared commitment to developing a future-ready IT workforce in Saudi Arabia.
Emphasising the commitment towards skill development of Saudi’s young talent, Majed S. Al-Ghassab, Executive Director of NITA, said, "through comprehensive training programs, hands-on experiential learning, and strategic industry collaborations with Aramco and Dell, we can leverage their tech expertise in program management and training delivery to create a valuable learning experience for students. We believe this agreement will play a crucial role in preparing Saudi Arabia’s emerging talent for success in the dynamic job market and contribute to the nation’s ambitious technology goals."
These are some recent examples of how both Saudi Arabia and the UAE are making concerted efforts to equip their young populations with the necessary skills and knowledge to lead in the AI and emerging tech sectors. Through strategic investments, educational reforms, and public-private partnerships, these countries are positioning themselves as leaders in the digital revolution, fostering a new generation of tech-savvy professionals poised to drive future economic growth.