Soudah Development, a Public Investment Fund company, has launched a new scholarship offering the youth of Soudah and Rijal Almaa an opportunity to study at Switzerland’s best culinary, hospitality and business management schools.

Members of the local community will be offered scholarships to complete diploma, undergraduate or postgraduate courses at four of Switzerland’s most prestigious institutions: The Swiss Hotel Management School, Cesar Ritz Colleges Switzerland, the Culinary Arts Academy, and the Hotel Institute Montreux.

Soudah Development’s initiative to upskill and empower the local community reflects its commitment to create more than 8,000 jobs by 2030. It falls under Vision 2030’s Human Capability Development Program, which was created to develop citizens’ capabilities, prepare them for the future and ensure they compete for the best jobs locally, regionally and globally.

Husameddin Al-Madani, CEO of Soudah Development, said: “We are proud to announce this phase one of our scholarship program that will create a new generation of tourism and hospitality leaders in Soudah and Rijal Almaa. We believe that people are the foundation of sustainable development. They are the key that will unlock our ability to create a luxury mountain tourism destination high above the clouds that welcomes millions of people every year. This announcement is a milestone in our ongoing efforts to empower local communities.”

Al-Madani added: “Our initiative to upskill youth demonstrates the importance we place in building partnerships with the local community. They will be the first people to benefit from our work and we are committed to creating new opportunities to improve lives and livelihoods. Offering world-class training and scholarship programs is one of many ways in which we aim to ensure young people have every opportunity to compete for the best jobs in the future.”