When I first arrived in Saudi Arabia in 2012, I had no idea how much this country would shape my life and career. My journey began in Rabigh, where I quickly fell in love with the Red Sea, spending weekends BBQing and exploring the beauty of the region. Over the years, my career in education led me to witness firsthand the profound changes taking place in the kingdom, particularly with initiatives like Saudization.
Saudization is an important part of the country’s Vision 2030, focusing on creating more job opportunities for Saudi nationals and reducing the kingdom’s dependence on foreign labor. As someone who has worked closely with both expats and locals in the education sector, I’ve seen how this initiative is not just about policy—it’s about transforming lives and empowering individuals to lead and succeed in their careers.
My first role as an instructor for Laureate Education gave me a front-row seat to this transformation. One student who stands out in my mind is Bandar. When I first met him, he spoke no English at all. I worked with him over the course of several months, helping him develop the language skills necessary for his professional growth. A decade later, I had the privilege of seeing him again—now a supervisor with a team of 10 employees, helping to power the country. His journey highlighted for me the importance of education in shaping the future workforce of Saudi Arabia. It made me realize just how critical it is to invest in developing local talent—not only for individual success but for the country’s growth and development.
Later, in my role with Amideast, I had the opportunity to work with the Skills for Success program, which further cemented my belief in the power of education. One of my students, Boudor, was a standout example of how workforce development can change lives. Today, she is thriving at a major consulting firm in Riyadh, contributing to the country’s ever-evolving workforce. Watching her journey unfold was incredibly inspiring and reminded me that the future leaders of Saudi Arabia are being nurtured and developed through educational programs like Skills for Success.
Witnessing these transformations firsthand has shown me the importance of Saudization—not just for the country, but for the expats who work alongside Saudis, sharing their knowledge and skills to contribute to this evolving landscape. As I continue to live and work in Saudi Arabia, I’m more committed than ever to the idea that education and workforce development are key to Saudi Arabia’s success, and that both locals and expats have important roles to play in shaping the kingdom’s future.
In future posts, I look forward to sharing more insights on Saudization and the impact it’s having on the workforce. I also hope to feature interviews with others who have experienced these changes firsthand, and discuss how the collaboration between expats and Saudis is creating new opportunities for growth and success.