MENA region should create 300m jobs to achieve development goals, says World Bank president

Tahrir square in Cairo, Egypt. Image: Shutterstock
Short Url
Updated 31 March 2022
Follow

MENA region should create 300m jobs to achieve development goals, says World Bank president

  • He also lauded the enthusiasm of GCC countries to invest in hydrogen as promising

Three hundred million jobs should be created in the MENA region to achieve development goals, according to President of the World Bank, David Malpass. 


While speaking at the World Government Summit in Dubai, Malpass noted that MENA countries often fail to rise to developmental challenges, and it could have “serious implications for livelihoods and social stability across the region.”

According to Malpass, Gulf Cooperation Council countries were initially concerned about the global community’s desire to shift away from oil.

He noted that countries in the region should focus on deepening trade relationships, labor, capital mobility, investing in knowledge, and enabling a strong business environment.

He also lauded the enthusiasm of GCC countries to invest in hydrogen as promising.

“Renewables can replace fossil fuels for industrial and residential electricity generation,” said Malpass.

 


Saudi Arabia leads outcome-based education to prepare future-ready generations: Harvard Business Review

A Harvard sign is seen at the Harvard University campus in Boston, Massachusetts, on May 27, 2025. (AFP)
Updated 10 February 2026
Follow

Saudi Arabia leads outcome-based education to prepare future-ready generations: Harvard Business Review

  • The Riyadh-based school group developed a strategy that links every classroom activity to measurable student competencies, aiming to graduate learners equipped for the digital economy and real-world contexts

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s education system is undergoing a sweeping transformation aligned with Vision 2030, shifting from traditional, input-focused methods to outcome-based education designed to equip students with future-ready skills, Harvard Business Review Arabic reported.

The transformation is being adopted and spearheaded by institutions such as Al-Nobala Private Schools, which introduced the Kingdom’s first national “learning outcomes framework,” aimed at preparing a generation of leaders and innovators for an AI-driven future, the report said.

Al-Nobala has leveraged international expertise to localize advanced learning methodologies.

The Riyadh-based school group developed a strategy that links every classroom activity to measurable student competencies, aiming to graduate learners equipped for the digital economy and real-world contexts. The school’s group approach combines traditional values with 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, communication, innovation and digital fluency.

According to the report, the shift addresses the growing gap between outdated models built for low-tech, resource-constrained environments and today’s dynamic world, where learners must navigate real-time information, virtual platforms, and smart technologies.

“This is not just about teaching content, it’s about creating impact,” the report noted, citing how Al-Nobala’s model prepares students to thrive in an AI-driven world while aligning with national priorities.

The report noted that Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education has paved the way for this shift by transitioning from a centralized controller to a strategic enabler, allowing schools such as Al-Nobala to tailor their curriculum to meet evolving market and societal needs. This is part of the long-term goal to place the Kingdom among the top 20 global education systems.

Al-Nobala’s work, the report stated, has succeeded in serving the broader national effort to link education outcomes directly to labor market demands, helping to fulfill the Vision 2030 pillar of building a vibrant society with a thriving economy driven by knowledge and innovation.

Last February, Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan, Saudi Arabia’s minister of education, said that the Kingdom was making “an unprecedented investment in education,” with spending aligned to the needs of growth and development. He said that in 2025, education received the second-largest share of the state budget, totaling $53.5 billion.