On International Women’s Day, the International Youth Foundation (IYF), J.P. Morgan, and Hilton together with Saudi social enterprise, Alf Khair, announced the launch of a new employability initiative to prepare unemployed young Saudi women with skills training and job placement in the retail, hospitality, and other promising sectors.
“Through our global partner network, IYF proudly draws on the rich experience of organizations such as Alf Khair,” said Bill Reese, IYF CEO. “Their local knowledge and networks allow us, J.P. Morgan, and Hilton to more effectively achieve our goal of preparing young Saudi women to access quality employment.”
The initiative will offer work readiness training using IYF’s proven Passport to Success (PTS) curriculum. The skills learned in these interactive sessions include time management and problem solving and will serve these young women throughout their careers and lives. Participants then will be placed in jobs with established employers in the retail and hospitality sectors, where they will receive three to four weeks of job-specific technical training plus mentoring from within the hiring company.
In Saudi Arabia, 60 percent of young women are unemployed, compared to 17 percent of young men. The government of Saudi Arabia has prioritized increasing young women’s employment, and associated regulatory changes have prompted a greater willingness by companies to hire young women.
Bader Alamoudi, senior country manager, J.P. Morgan Saudi Arabia, said: “Woman are an important part of any competitive workforce. At J.P. Morgan in Riyadh, more than 35 percent of our employees are women. We are proud to support this innovative program to help young Saudi women enter the labor market in industries that can offer good jobs.”
To ensure success on the ground in Riyadh, the initiative has engaged local partner Alf Khair. This social enterprise will recruit and pre-screen participants, prepare them for job interviews, provide an orientation on the sectors and employer expectations, and offer one-on-one follow-up support once young women have secured employment.
“Hilton’s future depends on resilient and thriving societies and that starts with investing in young people. Hilton has been continually recognized as a leading employer in Saudi Arabia and employs 209 female team members in the country, including 158 Saudi nationals,” said Rudi Jagersbacher, president Middle East, Africa and Turkey, Hilton.
New initiative prepares Saudi women to enter workforce
New initiative prepares Saudi women to enter workforce
Alfanar Engineering signs MoU with Schneider Electric Saudi Arabia
Alfanar Engineering Services announced the signing of a strategic MoU with Schneider Electric Saudi Arabia during its participation in the Saudi Arabia Smart Grid Conference. Both Schneider Electric and Alfanar Engineering have committed to further enhancing operational excellence and customer-centric service delivery thereby ensuring long-term asset reliability of their clients in the Kingdom.
Alfanar Engineering brings to the collaboration a strong in-Kingdom service footprint, supported by extensive operations and maintenance capabilities, advanced testing and commissioning equipment, and a network of specialized service centers and labs strategically located across Saudi Arabia. These capabilities enable the delivery of responsive, high-quality technical support tailored to the needs of critical infrastructure and industrial operations. Schneider Electric, with its extensive installed base of energy management and automation solutions, plays a key role in supporting mission-critical facilities and national industries across the Kingdom.
The collaboration was signed by Sattam Al-Motairi, chief operating officer of Alfanar Engineering Services, and Mohamed Shaheen, cluster president — Saudi Arabia, Schneider Electric. It brings together Alfanar’s local operational expertise and service reach with Schneider Electric’s global technologies and service standards. Together, the two companies will enhance service reliability, improve response efficiency, and deliver greater value through sustainable solutions that optimize asset lifecycles. The MoU also supports the development of localized technical services, contributing to the Kingdom’s objectives for sustainable infrastructure, localization, and industrial resilience.
Al-Motairi said: “At Alfanar Engineering Services, we believe that true value is created long after equipment is installed, through reliable service, fast response, and teams that understand the realities of the field. This collaboration with Schneider Electric enables us to enhance the delivery of after-sales services across the Kingdom, combining deep local expertise with world-class technology. Our focus is clear: keeping critical operations running, supporting our customers’ long-term success, and contributing meaningfully to Saudi Arabia’s industrial and infrastructure ambitions.”
Oday Al-Aithan, vice president of field services for Schneider Electric in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Yemen, and Bahrain, said: “At Schneider Electric, we are turning advanced energy management and digital solutions into tangible outcomes through our partnership with Alfanar Engineering Services. By combining our integrated technologies, extensive installed base, and global expertise as a leading energy technology partner with Alfanar’s strong in-Kingdom field services, we deliver smarter, faster, and more reliable solutions that optimize asset performance, accelerate response times, and support resilient, sustainable infrastructure, contributing to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.”
