Saudi Arabia-based King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) has signed a contract with King Abdulaziz University (KAAU) to train 1,000 male and female students from Rabigh and nearby towns in the kingdom as part of KAEC’s annual Tomouh (Ambition) programme.

Tomouh is designed to develop high school students’ skills so they can succeed in the labour market. The initiative is run under the banner of ‘My Future…My Responsibility’, said a KAEC statement.

The deal was struck under the patronage of Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Governor of Makkah Province. Signing it were Fahd Hamidaddin, chief marketing officer, KAEC, and AbdulRahman Al-Youbi, acting president of KAAU.

Hamidaddin said the training will be conducted for a total period of four months with classes running six-hours a week.

He added: “Since the programme kicked off three years ago, more than 700 young Saudis have benefited from the training courses, which greatly help to bridge the gap between the outcomes of the educational process and the actual needs of the labour market.”

Fahd Al-Rasheed, group CEO and managing director of KAEC, said: “The programme has been launched to train young Saudis and hone their professional skills for leadership jobs in the public and private sectors.

“Training will enable young Saudi nationals to compete for jobs with some of the most prominent national and international companies operating at KAEC.”

Al-Rasheed also underlined the value and significance of KAAU’s participation in the Tomouh programme, as it is one of the most important academic institutions in the kingdom.

Speaking on behalf of KAAU, Al-Youbi, said: “We encourage young students in Rabigh to take advantage of this opportunity that KAEC has opened up for them.”