Education Ministry, British Council launch training program across Saudi Arabia

Education Ministry, British Council launch training program. (Shutterstock)
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Updated 11 January 2022
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Education Ministry, British Council launch training program across Saudi Arabia

  • NILE institute targets English language teachers in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH: The British Council and the Ministry of Education have launched an online training program for English language teachers in Saudi Arabia.

NILE allows participants to join fully tutor-led training which leads to certification recognized by schools and language teaching organizations worldwide. Each course is designed and run by an expert tutor and has a maximum of 16 participants.
The courses include a range of multimedia and bespoke activities, with tools developed by a team of teacher trainers and digital experts to recreate the interaction and engagement expected in a face-to-face teacher development course.
Dr. Mohammad bin Saud Al-Moqbil, deputy minister for general education, said: “Education in Saudi Arabia has been receiving great and continuous support from our wise leaders to guarantee prosperity and development in this particular vital domain.
Hence, multiple initiatives to process and achieve the highest global indicators and attain the set goals of the Saudi Vision 2030 are in pursuit of opportunities to level all plans and efforts.
“The Ministry of Education is proud to collaborate with the British Council to work together on this great program that targets 40 English language teachers across Saudi Arabia. By participating in this program, teachers will have the opportunity to work with their peers from other countries and develop essential skills and competencies.”

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The courses include a range of multimedia and bespoke activities, with tools developed by a team of teacher trainers and digital experts to recreate the interaction and engagement expected in a face-to-face teacher development course.

Eilidh Kennedy McLean, British Council country director for Saudi Arabia, said: “The British Council is delighted to support English language teachers in Saudi Arabia to undertake NILE online professional development courses. NILE is one of the world’s largest providers of training and development for English language teaching.
“The existing partnership between the British Council and the Ministry of Education is longstanding and strong, and this is a further initiative which contributes to building capacity and delivering opportunities for professional development. The UK is committed to a long-term partnership with Saudi Arabia, including engaging and supporting the delivery of Vision 2030. Education has always been at the heart of our bilateral strategic partnership.’’
Successful completion of a NILE online course entitles teachers to a certificate which is formally and officially aligned to The Eaquals Framework for Language Teacher Training & Development and the Cambridge English Teaching Framework.
This certification is part of the professional development plan of language teachers from over 45 countries and valued by employers and managers worldwide.
The British Council is the UK’s cultural relations organization, creating opportunities for people globally to connect and engage with each other through the arts, education and the English language.


The founding economy: A blueprint for stability in the First Saudi State

Updated 23 February 2026
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The founding economy: A blueprint for stability in the First Saudi State

  • The establishment of the First Saudi State created a secure environment that facilitated the arrival of caravans, secured vast trade routes, and revived commerce across the Arabian Peninsula

RIYADH: The economy during the founding stage of the First Saudi State served as a fundamental pillar in building the nation, consolidating its influence, and ensuring its stability. This early economic growth was inextricably linked to achieving security, unifying regions, and organizing society—factors that directly stimulated trade, stabilized markets, and enhanced the foundations of daily life in Diriyah and its surrounding areas.
According to Dr. Abdullah Al-Saleh Al-Othaimeen's "Diriyah: Origins and Development during the First Saudi State," published by the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah), the founding economy stands as a historical model reflecting the reciprocal relationship between political stability and early economic prosperity.

Beyond its political and intellectual prominence, Diriyah emerged as a vibrant economic hub. (SPA)

The establishment of the First Saudi State created a secure environment that facilitated the arrival of caravans, secured vast trade routes, and revived commerce across the Arabian Peninsula.
Beyond its political and intellectual prominence, Diriyah emerged as a vibrant economic hub. Its active markets attracted merchants and students from across the region, all of whom benefited from the state-provided stability. The local society relied on diverse activities for its livelihood, including trade, agriculture, and livestock breeding, with horses and camels playing crucial roles in transportation, commerce, and securing roads.
The social and administrative organization upon which the state was founded ensured the continuous availability of goods and sustained market stability. Ultimately, the close relationship between public security and economic growth during this founding phase solidified Diriyah's position as a premier political and commercial center in the Arabian Peninsula.