Global tech giant SAP has announced the expansion of its investments in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, one of its key global markets, to foster joint innovation with current and potential customers and partners. The company has launched its first regional Innovation Center in the Kingdom, along with the SAP Experience Center in Khobar earlier this month. Additionally, SAP’s aim is to extend its high-level training program in advanced tech skills until 2020 and beyond.
Ahmed Al-Faifi, Senior Vice President of SAP for the Middle East North and Africa, stated, “We are dedicated to supporting the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s role in driving regional digital transformation and the responsible use of modern technologies for the benefit of the entire region. Our investments in the Customer Experience Center, Innovation Center, and SAP Engineering Academy align with our four-axis strategy to support the rapid development of the Kingdom’s digital market, accelerate the adoption of new technologies, and establish a solid partnership ecosystem.”
Al-Faifi explained that the Innovation Center serves as a crucial platform to enhance the vibrant community of collaborative innovation in Saudi Arabia. The center is designed to empower individuals and organizations to tackle operational challenges and create rising commercial value across various sectors, specifically catering to the Saudi market’s needs. The center will bring together SAP’s global and regional experts, local enterprises, startups, and partners within a cooperative environment.
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SAP has established a network of Customer Experience Centers worldwide, with its latest in Khobar uniquely positioned to foster collaboration between SAP, its customers, and partners. The center aims to spread awareness of digital trends across global industries by focusing on creating commercial value through engagement, cooperation, and shared innovation.
SAP Engineering Academy Program
Since 2023, SAP has trained over 200 IT graduates through the SAP Engineering Academy Program in San Roman, California. The program targets top Saudi tech talents to enhance their skills in IT, application development, and artificial intelligence, along with leadership abilities. SAP aims to graduate a total of 300 talents from the academy by the end of 2024.
Applications for the program will undergo a rigorous five-stage review process, starting with a coding challenge to gauge current skill levels, followed by an orientation phase, virtual and personal learning, and a graduation ceremony. This program complements other skill-based strategies launched by SAP in Saudi Arabia, including the SAP University Alliance, the SAP Dual Study Program, and the SAP Young Professionals Program, all aimed at developing the knowledge economy and improving professional employment opportunities for Saudi citizens in the tech sector.
Al-Faifi concluded, “Technology will drive a significant portion of Saudi Arabia’s growth, and SAP’s programs, such as the Engineering Academy, are preparing a long-term human resource pool of executives and decision-makers to leverage emerging technologies, address practical challenges, and seize the opportunities presented by the Kingdom. SAP will continue to organize innovation programs to meet the demand for skilled national workforce teams and provide job opportunities in technical fields like cloud computing and artificial intelligence.”
