SGP trains next-gen Saudi port managers

A workshop participant, right, poses with her certificate. For this year’s workshop, SGP sent four female operations officers, while MAWANI’s delegation consisted of five female Saudi nationals.
Updated 23 November 2019
Follow

SGP trains next-gen Saudi port managers

The Saudi Global Ports (SGP) recently held a seven-day workshop for its staff and representatives from Saudi Port Authority (MAWANI).

The session was hosted in Singapore by PSA International’s training center in October.

Since its incorporation in 2015, SGP has been co-sponsoring annual workshops for SGP officials and MAWANI representatives.

The latest workshop was tailored toward middle-level management personnel who are looking to hone their knowledge in areas such as vessel, yard, container freight station and container depot planning. 

The workshop content and materials are the result of PSA International’s accumulated global exposure and knowledge, and aims to provide best-in-class training and knowhow in container related operations. For this year’s workshop, SGP sent four female operations officers from the operations department, while MAWANI’s delegation consisted of five female Saudi nationals. 

Edward Tah, CEO of SGP, said: “SGP is committed to working alongside and supporting the development of Saudi Arabia’s logistics toward achieving Vision 2030. Through programs like this, we can upgrade the knowledge of our staff and enhance the partnership between MAWANI and SGP so as to provide better service to customers calling at Dammam.” 

Reem Alharbi, operations officer at SGP, said: “A key takeaway is the use of data analytics to better forecast the peaks and lulls of the terminal, and how to optimize resources within the terminal to improve productivity and cost savings without compromising performance.”

SGP operates the second container terminal at King Abdul Aziz Port Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Since the start of operations in 2015, SGP has recorded year-on-year volume growth and raised the benchmark performance for Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. SGP believes in the development of local capabilities. To date, it has employed and trained over 300 Saudi nationals, upgrading their skills to enhance the Kingdom’s logistic industry. 

SGP is located in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia at Dammam’s King Abdul Aziz Port. It is an important deep-water hinterland port in the Arabian Gulf serving the major provincial cities in the eastern and central provinces of Saudi Arabia. Dammam is the closest gateway port to the country’s economic center and capital city, Riyadh, and is linked by an existing railway network and excellent highways. It is also the largest Gulf port in Saudi Arabia.

PSA is a leading global port group and a trusted partner to cargo stakeholders around the world. With flagship operations in Singapore and Antwerp, PSA’s portfolio comprises a network of more than 50 coastal, rail and inland terminals in 19 countries.


Schneider Electric launches academy in Saudi Arabia to build future-ready talent

Updated 04 February 2026
Follow

Schneider Electric launches academy in Saudi Arabia to build future-ready talent

Schneider Electric has announced the launch of the Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa in Saudi Arabia, a regional capability platform dedicated to skilling, upskilling, and knowledge sharing.

The launch comes at a critical moment as the Kingdom accelerates energy transition, industrial localization, and human capability development under Vision 2030. The academy reinforces the Kingdom’s leadership role in building future-ready talent while supporting industrial and energy transformation across the wider Middle East and Africa region.

The Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa is not a traditional training center; it is a regional platform translating Schneider Electric’s global energy technology expertise into applied capability for Saudi Arabia and the broader region. Anchored in Riyadh, the academy is designed to serve as a benchmark for skills development and enablement across the MEA.

The launch reflects Schneider Electric’s long-term commitment to investing in people and capabilities, and to supporting national priorities across energy, industry, and digital infrastructure.

Mohamed Shaheen, cluster president of Schneider Electric Saudi Arabia and Yemen, said: “This launch reflects our long-term commitment to Saudi Arabia and to building capability that lasts. After more than 40 years in the Kingdom, we continue to invest where impact matters most: in people. Launching the Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa from Riyadh underscores our belief that sustainable transformation is built on local capability and trusted partnerships.”

The academy directly supports Saudi Arabia’s focus on human capability development, localization, and Saudi-made outcomes by enabling the skills behind advanced energy systems, industrial automation, and digital infrastructure. Capabilities developed through the academy will support Saudi manufacturing, national projects, and resilient supply chains, while also strengthening regional industrial ecosystems.

“The Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa is designed to enable real outcomes,” said Walid Sheta, zone president for the MEA at Schneider Electric. “By equipping talent with future-ready skills across electrification, automation, and digital intelligence, we are strengthening Saudi and regional capability to design, operate, and lead the energy and industrial systems of the future.”

The launch event in Riyadh brought together senior government representatives, industry partners, customers, and Schneider Electric’s leadership, highlighting the importance of cross-sector collaboration in aligning education, skills development, and labor market needs.

Designed as a long-term platform, the Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa will continue to evolve through partnerships, programs, and continuous capability development, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s role as a regional hub for skills, knowledge, and industrial enablement.