FaceOf: Dr. Asma Siddiki, interim dean at Prince Mohammad Bin Salman College
Siddiki has been working in the education and higher education sectors in the region of 20 years.
Siddiki holds another important position at King Abdullah Economic City, as the senior director at Emaar, The Economic City, working on special projects
Updated 03 November 2018
Arab News
Dr. Asma Siddiki is the interim dean at the Prince Mohammad Bin Salman College (MBSC) of Business and Entrepreneurship. She is also the vice dean of student affairs.
Siddiki has been working in the education and higher education sectors in the region of 20 years.
Siddiki attained her bachelor’s degree in English literature and language from King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah in 1994, her master’s degree in general linguistics and comparative philology from the University of Oxford, in 1998, and her doctoral degree in experimental psychology from the same university in 2002.
Siddiki holds another important position at King Abdullah Economic City, as the senior director at Emaar, The Economic City, working on special projects.
Prior to this, she served as a higher education management consultant at the company she founded, Alpha1Education, which specialized in developing and delivering educational programs for youth. She was also the CEO of the company.
She also founded Oxbridge Summers, a summer school hosted at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge in the UK. Before that, she served as director of global higher education at Huron Consulting Group, based in Dubai, UAE.
Recently, diplomats from more than 40 countries were shown the investment and educational advantages of King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) during a one-day visit organized by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Siddiki outlined to the visitors the college’s academic programs and achievements and highlighted the diversity of MBA students at the business school. She also described future collaborations with other countries through scholarships and internships.
Jeddah students get closer look at electric motorsport
A PIF-linked initiative highlights technical and engineering careers behind electric racing events
Updated 24 January 2026
SALEH FAREED
JEDDAH: Students from local and international schools in Jeddah were introduced to STEM-related career pathways in electric motorsport this week, as part of an education program linked to the UIM E1 World Championship held on the Red Sea.
The sessions formed part of Driving Force Presented by the Public Investment Fund, an initiative run by Formula E and its electric racing series partners, to familiarize students aged eight to 18 with science, technology, engineering and mathematics through electric racing and sustainability-focused industries.
The sessions for students formed part of Driving Force Presented by the Public Investment Fund, an initiative run by Formula E and its electric racing series partners. (Supplied)
The programme took place alongside the 2026 E1 Jeddah GP and included workshops, school visits and trackside access designed to show how engineering, data, broadcast technology and event operations function within professional motorsport.
According to organisers, the initiative reached more than 60,000 students globally in 2025, with further expansion planned this year.
HIGHLIGHTS
• The program took place alongside the 2026 E1 Jeddah GP and included workshops, school visits and trackside access.
• Students learned about E1 races and their technical and environmental dimensions and discussed the engineering and marine aspects of electric boats.
• According to organisers, the initiative reached more than 60,000 students globally in 2025, with further expansion planned this year.
John Williams, managing director at E1, told Arab News: “The PIF is absolutely vital to everything we do here at the E1. They were crucial initial investment partner since the start of the championship and they continue to support us in a number of ways and more specifically around the Driving Force program.”
The sessions for students formed part of Driving Force Presented by the Public Investment Fund, an initiative run by Formula E and its electric racing series partners. (Supplied)
Elaborating more on the program, he said: “What we are doing is presenting and showing these students the available careers of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as careers in sports, not only pilots but also engineers and mechanics.”
Williams added that the main key to the program was bringing a new generation to the mechanism of sport.
“We are introducing to these exciting new technologies around the race but it could be our technology on the boat or our broadcast products, as well as how to manage the event its self. There are a range of opportunities to show it to the children in addition to enjoying the excitement of the race and meeting the pilots.”
The program’s Jeddah activities began at King Abdulaziz University’s faculty of maritime studies, where students took part in a hands-on workshop focused on STEM careers in the motorsport and sustainability areas conducted by technology experts and famous water pilots such as Dani Clos, Emma Kimilainen and Patricia Pita.
Students learned about E1 races and their technical and environmental dimensions and discussed the engineering and marine aspects of electric boats.
They also enjoyed exclusive behind-the-scenes access at the E1 Jeddah GP, pilot meet-and-greets, and front-row seats to watch the RaceBird boats in action.
