Riyadh - Sharikat Mubasher: The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) signed a collaboration agreement with Google Cloud to establish the AlUla Skills Lab (ASL), which will equip 3,000 residents of AlUla with cutting-edge digital skills.

 AlUla Skills Lab will provide participants with courses designed to enhance their knowledge and capabilities in areas including AI, cloud computing, data analytics, as well as complementary digital fields, RCU announced in a recent statement.

This collaboration represents a significant milestone in RCU’s commitment to digital transformation and human capacity development in the region.

The courses, which will start in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, will be offered both in-person and online across three distinct learning tracks: Foundational and Professional Digital Skills, Data and Artificial Intelligence, and Cloud Computing.

The new lab will welcome students, educators, and enthusiasts from AlUla to enhance their knowledge and capabilities by immersing themselves in a range of Google Cloud’s suite of digital tools and services.

The collaboration between RCU and Google Cloud also aims to establish an official Google Innovation Lab in AlUla, serving as a center for community learning to foster innovation, and promote digital literacy.

Mohammed Alshkrah, Human Capability Development Vice President at RCU, said: “Working alongside Google Cloud, the undisputed leaders in tech and innovation, will allow RCU to leverage a network of global innovation along with cutting-edge digital tools and services that will help us to meet our long-term vision of empowering a digitally competent and globally competitive workforce, right here in AlUla.”

For his part, Bader Al Madi, General Manager of Google Cloud in Saudi Arabia, stated that the collaboration with RCU on the AlUla Skills Lab will create a hub for digital learning and development, empowering individuals and businesses in AlUla and the wider region.

“We believe this initiative will have a profound impact on the local economy, driving growth and creating new opportunities in the technology sector,” Al Madi added.

Members of the community who are eager to improve their digital knowledge and job skills can also apply for a place in the courses, which will be open to anyone with a strong interest in learning about the latest technological developments and applications offered by Google Cloud.