Umm Al-Qura University and Sommet Education Unite to Transform Tourism and Hospitality Training in Saudi Arabia

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – At the prestigious Global Labour Market Conference, held under the patronage of His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Umm Al-Qura University, the Ministry of Tourism’s Project Management Office (PMO), and Sommet Education officially announce a strategic partnership to transform human capital development in Saudi Arabia’s tourism and hospitality sectors.

The partnership focuses on designing and delivering a wide range of cutting-edge training programs under Sommet Education’s renowned brands Les Roches, Glion and École Ducasse. The joint efforts will facilitate over 50,000 trainings directly supporting Vision 2030, driving innovation, economic diversification, and the creation of 1 million new jobs in the tourism sector by 2030.

These programs will cover critical areas such as hospitality, tourism, and culinary arts and will be offered both online and in person to equip the Kingdom’s workforce with world-class skills. This initiative directly supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to position the country as a global leader in the tourism and hospitality industries while driving economic diversification and sustainable development. With tourism identified as a cornerstone of the Kingdom’s economic transformation, Saudi Arabia is targeting 100 million annual visitors.

Benoît-Etienne Domenget, CEO of Sommet Education, shares his excitement about the collaboration: “This partnership is a milestone for human capital development in Saudi Arabia. Together with Umm Al-Qura University and the Ministry of Tourism, we are committed to empowering a new generation of professionals with the knowledge, skills, and global perspectives required to drive innovation and excellence in tourism and hospitality. Our shared goal is to make a meaningful contribution to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.”

Representing Umm Al-Qura University, Dr. Muhammed Naif Zamil Al-Shareef, Dean of the Institute of Research, Consulting Services, and Studies, expresses his enthusiasm for the agreement:
“This collaboration with Sommet Education brings world-class expertise and resources to Saudi Arabia, allowing us to provide innovative training and development programs tailored to the needs of our industries. By equipping our workforce with top-tier skills and knowledge, we are enabling our students and professionals to meet the demands of a dynamic global market.”

Dr. Naif Alawi, Head of Special Projects Management at Umm Al-Qura University, also emphasizes the transformative potential of the partnership: “This initiative aligns with our commitment to excellence and positions Saudi Arabia as a center of expertise in tourism and hospitality education, both regionally and globally.”

The agreement is signed during the Global Labour Market Conference in Riyadh, underscoring the significance of the partnership in advancing global labor market priorities.

About École Ducasse

École Ducasse is a network of schools founded in 1999 by multi-starred chef Alain Ducasse, dedicated to the transmission of outstanding French expertise and excellence in culinary and pastry arts.

École Ducasse runs three schools in France – Paris Studio, Paris Campus and École Nationale Supérieure de Pâtisserie as well as international schools and studios in the Philippines, India, Thailand and UAE.

All are united by a desire to share a passion for gastronomy, the broad portfolio of programs aims to meet all training needs: from short programs for experts or food enthusiasts to intensive two-, four-or six-month programs for career changers, to three-year undergraduate programs and bachelor’s degree in culinary and pastry arts.

École Ducasse is part of Sommet Education, worldwide leader in hospitality education. École Ducasse was awarded the title of World’s Best Culinary Education Institution in 2023 and in 2024.

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