Red Sea Global’s Graduate Program Shapes Tourism Workforce in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Projects spoke with Fadi Alasseri, Senior Director – Education at Red Sea Global, about the company’s groundbreaking collaboration with Albunyan Academy and Al Matarat.
The program has produced over 400 graduates, all working within the assets of Red Sea Global’s projects, aligning with Vision 2030’s goals for a skilled workforce in the tourism and hospitality sectors.
Saudi Projects: Red Sea Global’s partnership with Albunyan Academy and Al Matarat has resulted in over 400 graduates. How has this program contributed to Red Sea Global’s vision of creating a world-class destination?
Fadi Alasseri: Red Sea Global was founded to help diversify the Saudi economy and provide job and training opportunities for Saudi youths in promising industries such as tourism and hospitality. Red Sea Global partnerships with Bunyan Academy, SACA, and EWA have been instrumental in advancing our vision of creating a world-class destination.
With over 400 graduates from various specialized tracks such as luxury hospitality, culinary arts, airport services, and renewal energy, the Red Sea Global Vocational training program ensures we build a workforce that meets the project’s unique demands.
These graduates bring valuable skills in priority fields, ranging from luxury hospitality to technical expertise in airport services, hospitality, engineering, and renewable energy, all of which are critical to maintaining the high standards Red Sea Global is committed to. The graduates contribute directly to shaping the visitor experience, ensuring that our standards are maintained and our commitment to sustainability is achieved within all operational aspects.
Over 400 graduates have successfully completed one year as employees at our destinations with excellent feedback from all employers and guests. They are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and cultural understanding necessary to contribute to the growth of our destination, aligning their personal development with the goals of Red Sea Global and the 2030 vision.
Over 400 graduates now work within Red Sea Global’s assets
Saudi Projects: Can you tell us more about the program’s structure and what makes it unique in preparing graduates for the challenges of a project as significant as Red Sea Global?
Fadi Alasseri: Our vocational programs are structured to blend theoretical knowledge with practical, hands-on experience based on the very well-studied labour market requirements within our destinations. One of the program’s key strengths is its tailored tracks in new fields of study, including airport services, tourism security, health and wellness tourism, luxury hospitality, and renewable energy. These tracks are tailored to the specific needs of Red Sea Global, ensuring that participants are prepared for the distinct challenges of a project of this scale.
Moreover, the program integrates local culture with global best practices. Practical learning is emphasized through internships and real-world experiences, ensuring that graduates can seamlessly transition from the classroom to roles within the project.
Saudi Projects: How do you see the contributions of these graduates impacting the long-term development and sustainability of the assets within the Red Sea project?
Fadi Alasseri: These graduates are essential to the long-term development and sustainability of Red Sea Global’s assets. They are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to drive innovation in sustainable tourism practices, ensuring that our destination remains a global leader in this field. Their contributions will go beyond day-to-day operations, helping preserve and enhance our natural assets’ integrity for years to come.
Moreover, with over 30% of our program participants coming from local communities near the project site, we are building a workforce that serves the Red Sea Project’s needs and strengthens the region. This local involvement will help sustain the project’s success as knowledge is passed down through generations of Saudi citizens, further embedding sustainability into the core of our operations.
Cross-cultural understanding and language skills are key to our workforce
Saudi Projects: What specific skills and knowledge do you believe were most critical for these graduates to acquire to meet the high standards expected at Red Sea Global?
Fadi Alasseri: To meet the high standards at Red Sea Global, graduates must acquire a blend of technical skills and soft skills that align with the needs of a world-class destination. English proficiency is critical, as it enables graduates to communicate effectively. In addition, cross-cultural understanding plays a key role, allowing them to engage with diverse guests and colleagues from around the world.
Beyond language and cultural awareness, the program also focused on developing behaviors and attitudes that are essential in luxury hospitality and service environments. Professionalism, adaptability, and attention to detail were emphasized, as these traits are vital in maintaining the exceptional guest experiences we strive for. These graduates are equipped not only with technical knowledge but also the interpersonal skills needed to excel in a highly demanding, world-class setting.
Saudi Projects: How does this program align with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, particularly in terms of workforce development in the tourism and hospitality sectors?
Fadi Alasseri: Our program fully aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 on multiple levels, supporting the overarching objectives of increasing employment, growing and diversifying the economy. By preparing a highly skilled workforce for the tourism and hospitality sectors, we are directly contributing to these national goals.
At the branch level, the program is instrumental in developing human capital to meet labor market needs and reinforces the Public Investment Fund’s role as a growth engine. We are creating an empowering environment for Saudis by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and experience to thrive in a competitive, global market.
At the strategic level, our partnership with our training providers helps expand vocational training, which is crucial in addressing labor market demands. The program builds a lifelong learning journey for our participants, focusing on improving access to education, especially for those from remote areas. By ensuring that our graduates’ educational outcomes are directly aligned with the labor market needs, we are supporting both the national agenda and the growth of the tourism and hospitality sectors in Saudi Arabia.
Local involvement strengthens the sustainability of the Red Sea Project
Saudi Projects: What challenges did Red Sea Global face in implementing this program, and how did you overcome them?
Fadi Alasseri: One of the key challenges we faced was addressing the varying levels of English proficiency and cultural barriers among participants. Since the training required proficiency in English, this posed an obstacle for some local talent. To overcome this, we implemented a language training program and cultural orientation sessions to ensure all participants could fully engage with the content.
Saudi Projects: How important are international partnerships, such as the one with Albunyan Academy, in shaping the future of Saudi Arabia’s workforce, and are there plans for similar collaborations in the future?
Fadi Alasseri: International partnerships are crucial for shaping the future of Saudi Arabia’s workforce. Collaborations with organizations like EHL and Hong Kong Polytechnic University (by which our hospitality programs are accredited) provide us access to global expertise and best practices, essential in building a workforce that can meet international standards in tourism and hospitality.
These partnerships also facilitate knowledge transfer, allowing Saudi talent to gain insights from global leaders while incorporating local cultural values and objectives.
Saudi Projects: Looking ahead, how do you plan to support these graduates in their professional growth as they continue to contribute to Red Sea Global’s projects?
Fadi Alasseri: Our commitment to supporting our graduates continues after their training. We have ongoing professional development programs (new beginnings) in place that allow them to continue growing within Red Sea Global. This includes mentorship opportunities, advanced training, and clear career progression pathways within the organization.
We also maintain close relationships with our graduates to ensure their continued alignment with the evolving needs of the Red Sea Project.
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