Education for Saudi Arabia’s evolving technology landscape.

Saudi Arabia

Nora Al Shaikh, executive director of the National Information Technology Academy (NITA), talks to The Energy Year about preparing Saudi nationals for skilled energy industry jobs and collaborating with international companies and institutions to design training programmes in advanced technologies. NITA is a non-profit educational institution that offers advanced and accelerated training programmes for Saudi nationals.

How do NITA’s training programmes help support the Saudi energy industry?
NITA was established by Saudi Aramco, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) and the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation. Each of the four stakeholders helps NITA target different domains, including energy.
NITA’s support for the energy sector is multifaceted. Through strategic partnerships with industry giants such as Aramco, SABIC, Ma’aden and other key energy companies, NITA focuses on identifying skill gaps and designing customised training programmes. Our initiatives extend to emerging fields such as AI, quantum computing and cybersecurity, and we equip professionals with the latest skills and knowledge to be competitive in a rapidly evolving industry landscape.
In addition to our work with Aramco, NITA signed an MoU with King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy to develop specialised programmes targeting energy companies to facilitate their digital transformation journey.
By addressing industry-specific challenges and skill shortages, we aim to upskill Saudi talent and boost local content, bridging the existing gaps in expertise through high-quality partnerships and impactful training initiatives that foster the growth and sustainability of Saudi Arabia’s energy industry. NITA’s dedication to excellence and innovation helps ensure that the Saudi workforce is equipped to meet the evolving demands of the energy sector and contribute to the country’s economic prosperity.

Can you provide an overview of your development strategy?
NITA’s strategy has evolved while maintaining its core focus on local job creation. Over the years, we have developed partnerships with companies that sponsor students before they join the programme. The students receive training through NITA, and when they complete their coursework, they join the sponsoring company. This model is supported by HRDF [Human Resources Development Fund], which encourages companies to hire domestic talent.
When I joined, I brought a new vision. We kept the institution’s foundations intact, and the employment programmes continued, but we introduced skills accelerators that focus on emerging technologies. After conducting market research and benchmarking with other academies in the region, we identified key opportunities to differentiate ourselves.
We launched a Quantum Academy to address the growing demand for quantum technology and a Space Academy aimed at giving students skills for the downstream segment, with strong support from CST and Aramco. The Space Academy is particularly promising, and Aramco will be our first customer. Additionally, we have developed units in OT [operational technology] cybersecurity and are forging partnerships with international entities to help us stay at the forefront of the field.

How does NITA ensure its courses provide the best preparation for future careers?
At NITA, we are committed to staying ahead of industry trends. We regularly review our training catalogue, reassessing it every 3-4 months to make sure our offerings align with market trends. Currently, we are focusing on high-growth fields such as AI, cybersecurity and quantum technologies.
We collaborate with top global institutions to ensure our programmes provide world-class training. For example, we recently partnered with AI enterprise solutions company Beyond Limits and CalTech [California Institute of Technology] to create a two-month AI programme. The collaboration will ensure our students receive top-tier training designed by leaders in the field. We have also signed an MoU with Beyond Limits to work with CalTech in developing curriculums that meet our domestic needs, with plans to launch the programme by Q3 2025.
In addition, we have completed with Nvidia the design of an AI boot camp that will be launched in Q2 2025 and our Quantum Academy, in collaboration with quantum computing company Pasqal, had its first cohort graduate in February 2025.

What does NITA’s recently signed MoU with Microsoft cover?
Our discussions with Microsoft and the MCIT started with a general conversation about training and support for Saudi Arabia. As the meetings continued, the focus shifted to Microsoft’s interest in Saudi Arabia’s growth and its social responsibility efforts. Microsoft has several collaborations with MCIT, and one of the key goals that emerged was to address talent shortages in anticipation of the planned launch of their new data centre in 2026.
Other hyperscalers had similar difficulties finding qualified Saudi talent when it launched its data centre in 2024, so we understand that the region may not yet have the workforce required to support such initiatives. We decided to create an academy dedicated to training data centre workers, agreeing that NITA would provide high-quality training programmes in skills necessary for data centre jobs.
The ministry was particularly supportive of this initiative, as it opens up valuable opportunities for Saudi Arabia. Currently, most data centres in the region are staffed by expats, but with the backing of the MCIT and HRDF, we are on track to train a new generation of Saudi professionals to participate in these critical infrastructure projects.

What is your vision for the future of NITA?
Looking ahead, NITA will continue its core mission of creating job opportunities within Saudi Arabia, especially as we expand our programmes to meet the evolving demands of the market. The tech landscape is constantly changing and new technologies emerge rapidly, and we want to remain agile to adapt to upcoming shifts.
We plan to further strengthen our offerings for the energy industry with programmes that align with the latest trends. Additionally, we are growing the number of hosted programmes delivered by international companies and educational institutions. Ultimately, I envision NITA becoming a leading academy in the region. Graduating from NITA should be synonymous with the achievement of excellence. I want NITA to be recognised as the Silicon Valley of the Middle East.

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