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His Royal Highness Prince Salman Sultan Abdulaziz, Governor of Madinah Province, emphasized that skills development and the qualification of national talent constitute a fundamental pillar for achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and building a generation equipped with the capabilities and knowledge required to keep pace with rapid transformations and the future needs of the labor market.
This came during the inauguration of the “Waad” Skills and Training Forum, attended by His Royal Highness Prince Saud Nahar Saud Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Madinah Province, on Monday. The forum is organized by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development at the King Salman International Convention Center.
The Governor of Madinah Province highlighted the strong support and attention given by the Kingdom’s leadership –supported by Allah- to the Human Capability Development sector, noting that the “Waad” Forum embodies the Kingdom’s commitment to empowering Saudi men and women to acquire high-value skills and enhance their readiness to compete in the labor market, thereby supporting national development and strengthening human capital efficiency.
During a tour of the accompanying exhibition, His Royal Highness reviewed the services offered by the forum’s partners, as well as the training programs, opportunities, and interactive activities delivered through augmented reality technologies, reflecting the integrated efforts of the Ministry and its public- and private-sector partners.
During the launch ceremony, H.E. Dr. Abdullah Nasser Abuthnain, Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, delivered a speech highlighting the forum’s significance as the concluding event of the regional “Waad” forums, which aim to expand access to training opportunities, raise awareness of the importance of skills development, and connect beneficiaries with national initiatives and programs that support professional growth.
He further noted that the Ministry is working on developing an integrated skills and training ecosystem through the launch of national initiatives, the expansion of training opportunities, and the strengthening of partnerships across sectors, contributing to the empowerment and qualification of national talent for promising industries and future-oriented sectors. He added that the second edition of the “Waad” Initiative aims to provide three million training opportunities by 2028.
Dr. Ahmed Abdullah Al Zahrani, Assistant Vice Minister for Skills and Training, delivered a presentation highlighting the Ministry’s key initiatives within the national skills ecosystem, the frameworks guiding its development, and future trends related to in-demand skills, in addition to showcasing the achievements of the “Waad” campaign across the Kingdom’s regions.
Attendees also viewed a presentation titled “Skills: The Currency of the Labor Market,” which highlighted the accomplishments of the “Waad” campaign across the Kingdom’s regions, along with the Ministry’s most prominent skills and training initiatives.
On the same context, His Royal Highness the Governor of Madinah Province patronized the signing of 16 cooperation agreements with a number of entities and private-sector partners aimed at expanding training opportunities for the region’s men and women and strengthening collaboration among stakeholders supporting skills development and professional qualification.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, His Royal Highness honored the forum’s sponsors and partners. The forum also announced the launch of 50,000 training opportunities for the men and women of Madinah Province through 2028 under the national “Waad” Training Initiative, aligned with the region’s developmental and economic priorities and its comparative advantages.
The forum further featured a range of specialized activities, including 16 in-person training workshops covering various modern skills and career pathways, in addition to providing 200 consultations through 39 consultation sessions delivered by 13 specialized advisors. These efforts aimed to support beneficiaries through career and training guidance, enabling them to capitalize on available opportunities and diverse development pathways.
