Saudi Gazette report

AL-ULA — The Royal Commission for AlUla has launched the second phase of its scholarship program, which gives successful applicants an opportunity to pursue degrees at prestigious universities and academic institutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Australia.

This comes as part of the Royal Commission’s commitment to working with the local community to build their capabilities and develop the region sustainably. The program aims to improve the leadership skills of the students, while developing their entrepreneurial capabilities in different fields of their choice.

The students will also learn the languages of their host countries. The scholarship program is strategically built to provide students with the skills, expertise, specialties and tools that the labour market will need in the future.

Upon their return to Al-Ula, the Royal Commission aims for them to contribute to shape the future of the region.

The program has been designed to span up to five years, ensuring the development of new and vibrant sectors of the local economy for the students to take a part in the transformation once they receive their training, education and fruitful experiences.

After the positive response to the first phase of the scholarship program, which was launched last year (i.e., 2018), the Royal Commission expanded the second phase of the program to allow for 300 male and female students to encourage the largest possible number of bright young people to join.

The program will prepare them to participate in building a promising future for the country and to play a leading role in achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. Through the scholarship program, students can obtain diplomas, bachelor's and master's degrees in different areas such as tourism, hospitality, agricultural techniques, archeology, history and other disciplines that can help facilitate the development efforts in Al-Ula.

During the registration period, RCU will hold awareness sessions for the community’s youth, parents and academics to highlight the importance of the program and its role in building a generation of forward-thinking individuals to lead the transformation process that takes place in Al-Ula. This will enhance the skilled labor market in Al-Ula.

Commenting on the initiative, Abdullah AlKhelaiwi, chief of Economic and Social Development at the Royal Commission for Al-Ula, said: "The people of Al-Ula are our partners in our plans to develop and transform the region. Therefore, we must work hand-in-hand to achieve the objectives of the Royal Commission for Al-Ula and the Kingdom more broadly. The youth of AlUla are the future of the province, and therefore investing in them is the most important kind of investment for us to make. Knowledge and worldly experience contribute to the strengthening of the local economy, as it will empower the youth to lead the various sectors, which, in turn, will empower the local community that will witness significant change and promising opportunities as a result."

"Our plans, programs and initiatives are inspired by the Vision 2030, and we are working to fully realize them and achieve the transformation that the Kingdom is seeking. We are working to open our doors to the world for tourism, as well as for cultural and informational exchange," he added.

Al-Ula's youth interested in applying for the scholarship program can register through the program's portal on RCU’s website.