Saudi-Turkey trade relations deepen as Turkish contractor wins Jeddah air base work 

The contract is the latest deal secured by a Turkish contractor in Saudi Arabia (Shutterstock)
Short Url
Updated 02 November 2022
Follow

Saudi-Turkey trade relations deepen as Turkish contractor wins Jeddah air base work 

RIYADH: Trade relations between Saudi Arabia and Turkey have further deepened with Turkish contractor Yuksel handed a $12 billion contract at the King Abdullah Air Base in Jeddah. 

The year-long project consists of site work for a future Life Support Area, Munition Storage Area and Air Defense Artillery for the US Army Corps of Engineers’ Transatlantic Middle East District, according to MEED. 

The contract is the latest deal secured by a Turkish contractor in Saudi Arabia after an unofficial embargo was lifted following rekindled diplomatic ties between Riyadh and Ankara. 

In August, Saudi Baytur, another contractor from Turkey, won a contract from Umm Al-Qura for Development & Construction Co. to build part of its Masar mixed-use development in Makkah. 

In an exclusive interview with Arab News on the sidelines of the recently concluded First Investment Initiative in Riyadh, Nureddin Nebati, the finance minister of Turkey, said the country is seeking more cooperation with Saudi Arabia and other countries as it plans to be an energy hub to Europe.  

“Turkey from its geographical position is an energy corridor from Russia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Any kind of natural gas or oil that is going to be transported or shipped, will cost less and will be more safely shipped,” said Nebati.  

Even though Nebati didn’t elaborate further on how the two countries might cooperate, he made it clear that peace in the region will bring energy costs down.  

“Turkey and Saudi Arabia are also assisting each other, which will bring peace to the region. That peace will bring more affordable gas prices, the energy prices, and will allow both countries to look ahead,” he added.  

He further pointed out that Turkey wants to elevate economic cooperation with Saudi Arabia, which will ultimately benefit the region.  

“In the incoming period, the cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Turkey will trigger, of course, new cooperation areas and with the vision of Saudi Arabia and Turkey’s 2023 vision, we will step out to a new century and will contribute to bringing peace and prosperity in the region,” he added. 

In June, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited Turkey and had talks with Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. 

“God willing, we will have the opportunity to assess to what much higher level we can take Turkey-Saudi Arabia relations,” said Erdoğan after the meeting. 


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.