In a strategic move to enhance the efficiency of national human capital, the Ministry of Commerce, in partnership with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program, announced the opening of applications for a package of specialized programs within the "Promising Track" scholarship program, which begins with employment. This initiative aims to attract talented and ambitious young Saudis and train them in critical and vital fields, including engineering, information technology, artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, and geospatial intelligence.

Details of application deadlines and available programs

The ministry explained that the application window for academic programs is available from February 3rd until February 8th, 2026, while the application period for training programs started on January 18th and will close on February 1st, 2026. This scheduled timeframe is to give applicants ample opportunity to prepare the admission requirements and necessary documents for this important educational and professional journey.

Strategic context: A promising path and Vision 2030

This announcement is not just a typical study opportunity; it comes within the context of the major national transformation underway in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of Vision 2030. The "Promising Path" represents one of the cornerstones of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program strategy launched by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, which focuses on directly aligning educational outcomes with the evolving needs of the labor market. The path aims to rehabilitate national talent in promising, high-growth sectors, contributing to bridging the skills gap in specialized technical fields and reducing reliance on foreign expertise in critical areas such as cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.

Top universities and available majors

The current offering is distinguished by its prestigious geographical and academic diversity, encompassing:

• The Oxford Executive Diploma in Artificial Intelligence for Business is offered by the Side Business School at the prestigious University of Oxford in the UK. The 12-month program begins in January 2027. Applicants must have at least five years of professional experience and achieve an IELTS score of 7.5. The program is designed for candidates with a bachelor's degree in Information Technology or Computer Engineering.
• Advanced Diploma in Data Science (Canada): From Saint Francis Xavier University, for 24 months, starting in September 2026. A minimum GPA of 4.5 out of 5 and an IELTS score of 6.5 are required.
• George Mason University (USA) programs include a 6-month applied cybersecurity training program (starting August 2026) and a 9-month geospatial intelligence program.

Economic and professional importance

This program's significance stems from its "employment-first" approach, providing job security for scholarship recipients and ensuring a continuous flow of highly qualified talent to national entities and major corporations. Investing in fields such as geospatial intelligence and artificial intelligence is an investment in the Kingdom's digital infrastructure, further solidifying its position as a regional hub for technology and innovation.

General admission requirements

The ministry emphasized that applicants must be Saudi citizens, of good character, and committed to full-time attendance and residency in the host country. It also noted that current scholarship recipients are not eligible to apply, and that all applicants will be subject to the rigorous selection criteria of each institution to ensure the selection of the most qualified candidates.

The Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) announced a qualitative leap in Saudi labor market indicators, recording unprecedented record numbers during 2025. The Fund’s various programs and initiatives succeeded in supporting the employment of more than 562,000 citizens in private sector establishments, which represents a remarkable growth of 29% compared to the previous year, 2024.

Record numbers and rapid growth in localization

These results are the fruit of intensive strategic efforts, with the Fund revealing that the total amount spent on training, empowerment, and career guidance support programs during 2025 reached approximately 8.3 billion riyals. More than two million citizens benefited from these programs, directly contributing to enhancing their professional readiness and aligning their skills with the evolving demands of the labor market and promising sectors.

In a related development, the number of establishments benefiting from the Fund's services has increased to more than 226,000, distributed across various regions of the Kingdom, representing a growth of 27%. Notably, these statistics show that small, micro, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for the lion's share, constituting approximately 94% of all beneficiary establishments, reflecting the crucial importance of this sector in driving the national economy.

Vision 2030 and the transformation of the labor market

These figures cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader context of Saudi Vision 2030, which prioritizes reducing unemployment and empowering Saudi nationals. This achievement is tangible proof of the success of Saudization policies and the shift from reliance on government employment to building a strong and attractive private sector for Saudi talent. Focusing on human capital development is the cornerstone for ensuring sustainable economic growth and diversifying income sources away from oil.

Strategic partnerships to boost GDP

The fund noted the signing of 45 high-quality training agreements linked to employment in vital sectors, which strengthens the private sector's contribution to the GDP. This approach not only boosts employment figures but also improves the quality and sustainability of available jobs, positively impacting the economic and social stability of Saudi families.

For his part, the Director General of the Human Resources Development Fund, Turki Al-Jawini, affirmed that these results reflect the success of the Fund’s strategic transformation in maximizing economic impact, stressing the continued development of programs to raise the productivity of national cadres and enhance the competitiveness of Saudi citizens locally and globally through an advanced digital infrastructure and effective partnerships.

As part of ongoing security efforts to enhance community security and strictly enforce regulations, the Jazan region police announced their success in arresting a citizen involved in a harassment case, in direct coordination with the General Directorate of Community Security and Combating Trafficking in Persons.

Details of the arrest incident in Jazan

Security authorities announced the arrest of Ibrahim Mohammed Mohsen Jabran after he was found to have harassed a woman. The regional police confirmed that the suspect was immediately detained and all initial legal procedures were taken against him, in preparation for referring him to the Public Prosecution for further investigation and to ensure justice is served.

The role of the General Directorate of Community Security

This operation is part of an intensive effort by the General Directorate of Community Security and Combating Human Trafficking at the Ministry of Interior. Since its establishment approximately a year ago, and in close cooperation with the police forces in the Kingdom's regions and governorates, extensive campaigns have been launched to monitor and combat immoral acts and behaviors that violate public decency in all their forms, and to ensure that those involved are brought before the competent judicial authorities.

Anti-harassment system: legal context and community protection

The anti-harassment law in Saudi Arabia, enacted by the state, represents a significant step forward in penal legislation aimed at protecting individual privacy, dignity, and personal freedom, as guaranteed by Islamic law and applicable regulations. The firm implementation of this law reflects the commitment of relevant authorities to providing a safe environment for all, especially women and children, and to deterring anyone who might consider violating the dignity of others.

Deterrent penalties in Saudi law

The anti-harassment law clearly stipulates strict and uncompromising penalties. In general cases, anyone who commits a harassment offense is punishable by imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years, and a fine not exceeding 100,000 riyals, or one of these two penalties.

According to the provisions of the law, the penalty is increased to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years and a fine not exceeding 300,000 riyals, or one of these two penalties, under specific aggravating circumstances. These circumstances include: recidivism, the crime occurring in a public place, or if the victim is a child or a person with special needs. This underscores the Saudi legislator's commitment to protecting the most vulnerable groups in society and ensuring public safety.