1.3 million Arab youth are enrolled in a program to develop their professional skills with artificial intelligence

Crescent Petroleum announced its partnership with Edraak, the Arab non-profit platform for online education, to launch a new specialization in the field of artificial intelligence, which aims to enable young people to use artificial intelligence tools effectively, to enhance their skills in the work environment.

This program comes as a continuation of the “Career Compass Path” initiative, which was launched by the two partners last year, which trained more than 1.3 million young men and women from all over the Arab world in the basic skills required in the workplace, including information technology skills and the English language, to enhance their employment opportunities and lay strong foundations to launch their careers. Edraak is one of the initiatives of the Queen Rania Foundation in Jordan, and it is the first platform for online learning in the Arabic language.

The “Artificial Intelligence for Employment” specialization will include four online educational courses, focusing on practical skills and real-world applications of artificial intelligence in various sectors. The program offers lectures and interactive training lessons on the Edraak platform, covering the areas of artificial intelligence training, its applications, and developing the skills required in the labor market. The basic skills that the program will provide include how to benefit from productivity tools enhanced by artificial intelligence, write text commands effectively, and use artificial intelligence applications in various jobs, all in Arabic, at the hands of specialized experts and practitioners.

Majeed Hamid Jaafar, CEO of Crescent Petroleum and Vice President of Crescent Group, said: “Today, artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of work, and this program will prepare young people to compete in the labor market and build more successful career paths. For more than fifty years, Crescent Petroleum has been committed to building the capabilities of youth in the region, providing them with the skills necessary to succeed and excel, and achieve their full potential.”

Bassem Saad, CEO of the Queen Rania Foundation and Chairman of Edraak’s Board of Directors, added: “Today, artificial intelligence has become an essential skill for professional success, and from this standpoint, Edraak intends to provide high-quality education for all, keeping pace with market requirements. With the rapid changes witnessed by the labor market in the Arab world, it has become necessary to provide such programs, which enable young people to succeed, and emphasize the importance of innovation in e-learning to meet the needs of the region.”

In light of the radical transformations that the world is witnessing due to artificial intelligence, initiatives such as “Artificial Intelligence for Employment” are an essential step to prepare Arab youth for the future of work. Estimates indicate that 78 million jobs will change and develop by 2030, in addition to expectations that the youth unemployment rate in the Middle East and North Africa will exceed 25%, which is the highest in the world, which makes practical and readily available training for everyone on the use of artificial intelligence an urgent necessity to prepare an entire generation that possesses the skills of the future.

It is worth noting that Edraak adopts an approach that has proven successful in enabling learners to acquire practical skills and keep pace with market requirements in the Arabic language, through a free platform, specifically designed to help young people in the Arab world succeed in the modern work environment. Participants who complete the four specialization courses receive a certificate of completion confirming their possession of new skills and their ability to innovate in the regional labor market using the latest technologies.

This program is an extension of the “Career Compass Path” initiative, which was launched in 2024, with the aim of developing personal skills and success in the modern work environment. The initiative is still open for registration, and includes training modules in English communication skills, digital culture, professional communication, preparing CVs, and interviewing skills. This initiative enhances other vocational rehabilitation programs, which Crescent Petroleum and Edraak have cooperated in implementing since 2017.

The Edraak platform continues its leadership in e-learning in the Arabic language, by providing free, high-quality resources to young people across the region, which contribute to promoting innovation, bridging the skills shortage, and preparing the next generation for the labor market. Programs such as “Artificial Intelligence for Employment,” “Career Compass Path,” and other Edraak initiatives are key tools for achieving comprehensive growth and providing opportunities for success on the broadest scale in the Arab world.