Saudi Vision 2030 Inspires a Prosperous Intelligent Future

It is increasingly evident that the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry is the foundation for prosperity, not only for its footprint in the digital sector but also for its influence in transforming all other industries. This digital economy now represents a fundamental component of the global economy. Living in this era of transformation and technological innovation requires ambition and bold decisions to ensure sustainable competitiveness and leadership. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 exemplifies this ambition by setting roadmaps and actions to transform the Kingdom into a globally competitive, innovation-based digital economy by empowering the new generation and propelling Saudi Arabia to the forefront of global technology leadership. Sectors like advanced connectivity, Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and cybersecurity are becoming pivotal to national competitiveness. A critical component of this transformation is the cultivation of ICT talent. By investing in ICT talent, the Kingdom can remain at the forefront of this global shift, driving innovation and attracting international investment.

For more than two decades, Huawei has been honored and proud to serve and partner with the Saudi government and organizations, fully aligned with Vision 2030, realizing its ambition by focusing on developing a robust ICT talent ecosystem. Through our innovative programs and strategic collaborations with the Saudi MCIT, universities, and industry organizations, Huawei has been a key contributor to nurturing local talent and advancing the Kingdom’s intelligent transformation. In 2023, Huawei established its regional headquarters for the Arabia Region in Riyadh. This served as a bridge connecting students from various Arab countries. With their diverse cultural backgrounds, these students have a unique opportunity to bring different perspectives, collaborate, and exchange ideas.

Huawei ICT Talent Ecosystem Expansion in Saudi Arabia

Huawei’s foundational business partnership strategy is its commitment to nurturing and developing local ICT talent in Saudi Arabia who are skilled and well-equipped to carry the Kingdom’s transformation flag, creating a better future for themselves and their country. We believe that building a comprehensive, healthy ICT talent ecosystem translates directly into billions of dollars of economic growth, millions of jobs, and thousands of skilled university graduates, benefiting all industries. By bringing global expertise in advanced ICT, R&D capabilities, industrial experience, and investment in comprehensive training initiatives, the country's ambitious goals will be achieved.

In 2014, Huawei started its ICT Academy platform in Saudi Arabia, and then expanded it to the whole region. What a fruitful collaborative journey it has been! This holistic, one-stop mechanism for a competitive digital talent ecosystem covers three different scenarios: technology, business, and strategy across the whole life cycle, from gap analysis and planning to cultivation and, finally, to the assessment phase. This is also about connecting cultures and aspirations, inspiring a new generation to shape a better, more innovative tomorrow. Over the past 10 years, under the guidance of MCIT, Huawei has collaborated with more than 20 universities in Saudi Arabia to set up ICT Academies, training more than 32,000 students, 6,500 of whom have obtained Huawei ICT certification. Huawei also partnered with TVTC, providing technical courses in many universities, helping with the implementation of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

At Huawei ICT Academies, students can master ICT skills and put them into practice by learning the latest information not only about the ICT industry but also about all other industries. Participants gain access to Huawei's cutting-edge technology and tools, ensuring they are familiar with the latest industry standards. Additionally, certifications such as Huawei Certified ICT Associate (HCIA) and Huawei Certified ICT Expert (HCIE) validate their skills and increase their employability at Huawei and in the global market. Students are also encouraged to participate in the annual Huawei ICT Competition program. In this program, they can compete and connect with peers from all over the world and gain exposure to global transformation fronts. In 2024, Huawei expanded its leading talent development initiatives to include collaborations with global organizations like the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE), bringing global learning standards to local markets.

Huawei & Saudi Strategic Partnership Beyond ICT Academies

Along with Huawei ICT Academies, Huawei Saudi pursues a multi-faceted approach to developing ICT talent. In Riyadh, Huawei inaugurated the "Future Space" technology center, offering a state-of-the-art platform for professionals and students to experience cutting-edge technologies. Huawei also collaborates with academic institutions to integrate emerging technologies like AI into the educational curriculum. Through these initiatives, Huawei achieves broader and deeper alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategic goals, supporting the Kingdom’s journey toward a thriving, intelligence-based economy.

ICT Talent for Intelligence & Intelligence for ICT Talent

ICT talent is the main resource and the lifeblood of transformation. These are the minds that innovate, the muscles that execute, and the hearts that pump intelligence into all other industries. At Huawei, we believe in and champion this principle: “ICT Talent for Intelligence, Intelligence for ICT Talent.” It shows the bidirectional, strong relationship between talent and intelligence. The first part calls for raising talent for the intelligence era, which we discussed above. The second part describes the collective need for advanced technological innovations in cultivating and developing ICT talent. Through Huawei's advanced intelligent education, smart classroom, and campus solutions, the entire higher education learning process is transformed for all stakeholders—students, teachers, administration, and content creators. This results in more effective and inclusive intelligent talent cultivation and certainly faster time to job placement.

To Conclude: More Work Is Needed in the AI Era

The strong and longstanding Saudi-Huawei partnership, coupled with investment in the cultivation and development of ICT talent, has made significant progress and positively impacted Saudi Arabia's envisioned intelligent transformation for society. Coupled with Saudi Arabia’s advanced digital infrastructure, this makes Saudi Arabia an attractive destination for multinational companies seeking to expand in the Middle East. However, challenges remain. The rapid pace of technological change requires continuous adaptation and investment in education and infrastructure. A large pool of comprehensive AI professionals skilled in solving complex industrial problems is needed.

To address this, at this year’s Huawei Regional Competition Award Ceremony, we launched "T.H.E. GOLD Talent" program aimed at jointly cultivating AI talent in collaboration with the UNESCO IITE, and universities. This program will focus on enabling a favorable environment for ICT talent cultivation. It will also be coupled with a human resources program to ensure closure of the loop between talent cultivation and hiring through Huawei and other partners. Together, we are shaping a future where Saudi Arabia's local digital talent stands at the forefront of global innovation.