Al-Bunyan: Education is a platform for national production and a sustainable economic sector
His Excellency the Minister of Education, Professor Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Bunyan, affirmed that the education and training sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is witnessing a historic transformation aimed at moving it from a mere service sector to a vital economic sector and a national production platform , which directly contributes to supporting sustainable growth and enhancing the competitiveness of the national economy.
These statements come in the context of the Kingdom’s tireless efforts to achieve the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 , specifically through the Human Capability Development Program, which seeks to align education outputs with the evolving needs of the labor market and raise the efficiency of human capital to be globally competitive.
Education and Training Investment Forum 2026
The minister's remarks came during his patronage of the opening of the second edition of the Education and Training Investment Forum 2026 , held in Riyadh under the theme "Invest for Impact." The event was attended by a number of prominent figures, including His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Talal bin Badr Al Saud, Governor of Al-Ahsa, Her Royal Highness Princess Reem bint Alwaleed bin Talal, and His Excellency the Minister of Investment, Engineer Khalid Al-Falih, reflecting the government's integrated support for this strategic sector.
Al-Bunyan explained that the strong support from the wise leadership—may God protect them—has enabled the Ministry to work on providing an attractive legislative and regulatory environment aimed at strengthening partnerships with the private and non-profit sectors. He noted that the Ministry is about to launch several initiatives, including the preparation of an “Investor Guide,” which will clarify regulatory pathways and ensure rewarding returns for investors, while maintaining the quality of educational services provided.
The economic and strategic dimensions of education
These steps are of paramount importance given the global shift towards a knowledge-based economy. From an economic perspective, transforming education into an investment sector contributes to:
- Relieving the financial burden on the state and diversifying sources of income.
- Creating new job opportunities in the education, training and support services sectors.
- Attracting foreign direct investment by attracting world-class educational institutions.
- Improving the quality of educational outcomes through competition among service providers.
The Minister of Education praised the institutional integration between government agencies, stressing that the real investment is in human beings, through the development of values, skills and knowledge, so that the Saudi citizen is able to compete in international forums.
Agreements and partnerships to promote innovation
On the sidelines of the forum, Al-Bunyan witnessed the signing of 12 strategic agreements and memoranda of understanding between the education system and several local and international entities. These agreements cover vital areas such as developing training programs, supporting innovation, and building capacity, underscoring the ministry's commitment to opening new avenues for investment.
In a gesture of appreciation for outstanding individuals, the Minister honored a number of students who won prestigious international competitions, including the Asian Skills Competition 2025 and the Seoul International Invention Fair (SIIF), stressing that these innovators are the fruit of investment in quality education.
It is worth noting that the forum will last for two days with the participation of more than 1,500 experts and investors and 40 speakers, to discuss challenges and opportunities, and to review successful public-private partnership (PPP) models, making it a pivotal platform for shaping the future of education in the region.
