Enrollments in GenAI courses have skyrocketed by 861 per cent, and Cybersecurity courses climbed by 17 per cent across the Middle East and North Africa region, according to a recent report by Coursera, a leading online learning platform.

The report titled, ‘Global Skills Report 2024’, by Coursera also highlighted significant strides the MENA region is making in emerging technologies, illustrating a keen regional interest in advanced skills to propel innovation and address unique challenges. Additionally, it reflected the key skills, and top nations thriving in the digital education landscape.

Key findings from Global Skills Report 2024 by Coursera

#1 Course enrollments - The enrollments in Gen AI courses in the UAE region jumped by a whopping 1,102 per cent, and for KSA by a remarkable 1,788 per cent. Additionally, Egypt also saw a huge jump in Gen AI courses enrollment with 585 per cent since 2023. 

Sharing insights from the report, Kais Zribi, Coursera’s General Manager for the Middle East and Africa commented, “Aligned with its vision of becoming one of the leading nations in AI by 2031, the UAE is accelerating AI proficiency to close skill gaps and build a competitive workforce. AI represents the most significant workplace opportunity for the UAE’s skilled workforce, evident in the country’s growth in GenAI enrollments. With AI integration across sectors, targeted training programs will be crucial to nurturing a skilled talent pool and significantly increasing its contribution to the UAE’s economic growth.”

#2 Top professional skills certifications - According to the report, MENA saw a significant increase of 41 per cent in professional certifications for - data analytics, project management, cybersecurity, digital marketing and e-commerce, and social media marketing. In the UAE, the top professionals' certifications increased by 40 per cent for data analytics, project management, and digital marketing and e-commerce. Meanwhile, in KSA the top professional certifications increased by a whopping 98 per cent for data analytics, project management, and cybersecurity, and in Egypt the professional certifications increased by 34 per cent for data analytics, social media marketing and front end development. 

#3 Top skills - The report highlighted leadership development, supply chain systems, audit, people development, advertising, resilience, storytelling, influencing, conflict management, and budget management, among the top skills for MENA workers. In the UAE, the top skills included resilience, leadership development, blockchain, supply chain systems, people development, emotional intelligence, conflict management, audit, general accounting, and change management. For KSA workers, the top skills included leadership development, supply chain systems, resilience, people development, graphic design, change management, conflict management, regression, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. “The UAE leads in skill proficiency and is ranked second globally in business. Learners are honing their skills in leadership development, resilience, and blockchain, gearing up for roles like operations manager, IT project manager, and business analyst. These skills align with the UAE’s emphasis on roles in business intelligence and digital transformation, which are poised for significant growth. However, with 82 per cent of UAE workers feeling they need more training to boost their career confidence, there's a clear need for further skill development,” added the report. 

Commenting on the MENA’s skills trend, H.E Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Education, UAE said, “We will spare no effort to meet the ambitions of our students to obtain world-leading education that qualifies them for current and future labour market requirements.”

Abdallah Al Dardari, Assistant Secretary-General, and Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States, UNDP, also commented, “Realising skill development solutions that are necessary for meeting the challenges of the 21st century requires robust innovation and collaboration between key actors.

Prof. Ibrahim Mohamed Alkaabi, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Qatar University said, “We are committed to equipping our students and graduates with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the ever-evolving job market. In an era where rapid technological advancements and changing industries demand continuous learning and adaptation, upskilling and reskilling have become paramount.

#4 Top ‘next’ roles - According to the report, MENA workers upskilling for emerging skills and technologies are preparing for their next roles in - operations manager, IT project manager, project manager, machine learning engineer, securities & commodities trader, personal financial advisor, communications specialist, treasurer, contract administrator and communications manager. These roles are also aspired workers in KSA and UAE as well. 

Some additional findings from the report reflect that last year, cyberattacks cost companies in Saudi Arabia and the UAE a hefty US$6.53 million, sparking a rush for more cybersecurity experts. This has led to a significant 65 percent increase in cybersecurity course enrollments compared to last year. This trend also aligns with KSA’s goals to train at least 40 percent of workers in data and AI skills by 2030. Meanwhile, there is a pressing need to bridge the skills gap, as at least 60 percent of university students are enrolled in degrees that are no longer in demand in the current and future job market.