Soudah Development, Ministry of Tourism to promote tourism, hospitality skills via new deal

• Soudah Development signs memorandum of understanding with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism preparing people to more than 8,000 jobs
• Agreement will support Vision 2030’s Human Capability Development Program

Soudah, Saudi Arabia: 22 November 2021 – Soudah Development, a closed joint-stock real estate development company owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), today signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Tourism to enhance cooperation in promoting tourism and hospitality talent.

It is part of the company’s ongoing efforts to empower and upskill the local community in Soudah and Rijal Almaa, create more than 8,000 full-time jobs by 2030 and support small and medium-sized enterprises. It will also advance Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 Human Capability Development Program – which aims to ensure that the local community has the capabilities to compete globally by developing basic and future skills, as well as enhancing knowledge of priority industries.

The memorandum of understanding was signed under the patronage of the CEO of Soudah Development, Eng. Husameddin AlMadani and Mohammed Bushnag, Deputy Minister for Human Capital at Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, and. It was signed by the Community Integration & Development Director Dr. Reem AlFrayan, and the Deputy Undersecretary of the Ministry of Tourism for Human Capital, Mr. Bandar Al-Safeer.

The signing ceremony included a meeting with the next generation of men and women from the region who are interested in the tourism sector and owners of small businesses, to identify ways to support and empower them as part of Soudah’s efforts to motivate local investors, support small and medium enterprises, develop human capital and activate community integration.

The agreement lays out a framework to equip youths with a wide range of training programs and opportunities. that will result in full-time employment It will offer on-the-job training initiatives, distance learning schemes and scholarships to study abroad. Training and development will be encouraged ensure people have the skills, knowledge, and expertise to compete for the best jobs.

It will also promote collaboration and cooperation between Soudah Development and the Ministry of Tourism in a wide range of areas.

Dr. Reem AlFrayan, Community Integration & Development Director at Soudah Development, said: "This cooperation will have a major role in developing human capital in the project area, which will contribute to qualifying the people of Soudah and Rijal Almaa to compete for quality opportunities in the tourism sector. This will help to achieve one of the company's goals to provide job opportunities and support the local community, which we consider a fundamental pillar of Soudah Development and our highest priority.”

Soudah Development is a closed joint stock real estate development company wholly owned by the Public Investment. It aims to drive the development of Soudah and parts of Rijal Almaa in the Asir region to create a luxury mountain tourism destination. It aims to promote the area’s unique heritage and authentic culture by investing in local infrastructure and attracting with an investment of SAR 11 billion.