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

Saudi students sit for their final high school exams in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah. (File/AFP)
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Updated 11 February 2026
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Saudi Arabia leads outcome-based education to prepare future-ready generations: Harvard Business Review

  • The transformation is being adopted and spearheaded by institutions such as Al-Nobala Private Schools

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According to the report, the shift addresses the growing gap between outdated models built for low-tech, resource-constrained environments and today’s dynamic world, where learners must navigate real-time information, virtual platforms,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


How do foreign investors in the Saudi Stock Exchange behave during regional wars?

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How do foreign investors in the Saudi Stock Exchange behave during regional wars?

RIYADH: Foreign investors’ behavior in the Saudi stock market varies during periods of war or geopolitical tension in the region.

In the first week after the outbreak of the Iran war, foreign investors recorded net sales of nearly SR1 billion ($266 million), according to a study by Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper.

According to Al-Eqtisadiah’s Financial Analysis Unit, foreign investors have exhibited inconsistent behavior during the last four wars or periods of regional tension, recording net sales twice and net purchases twice.

Previous tensions

On Sept. 14, 2019, facilities belonging to the Saudi oil giant Aramco were attacked. Foreign investors recorded net purchases of SR2.8 billion in the first week following the raid.

Aramco had not yet been listed on the stock exchange at that time, and this coincided with the beginning of the Tadawul All Share Index’s inclusion in emerging market indices, which encouraged buying and seizing opportunities.

During the Gaza War, which erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, foreign investors recorded net sales of SR1.8 billion by the end of the following week.

During the first week of the first Israeli-US war against Iran in June 2025, foreign investors recorded net purchases of SR1.3 billion.

Latest tensions

The first week following the second Iran War, which began on Feb. 28, foreign investors recorded net sales of SR916 million.

These sales occurred despite TASI rising 0.6 percent last week, driven by gains in most companies, most notably Saudi Aramco, which benefited from a nearly 29 percent increase in oil prices since the war began.

Saudi stock buyers, sellers during the first week of the war

In detail, Saudi and foreign investors recorded net sales of SR1.95 billion and SR916 million, respectively, on the TASI last week.

In contrast, Saudi institutions purchased shares worth SR 2.9 billion.