In a move that underscores Saudi Arabia’s growing investment in homegrown innovation, the Secretary-General of the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), Abdulaziz Al-Kraidis, met with Dr Mohammed Al-Moqbel, Director-General of the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States, at Mawhiba’s headquarters in Riyadh on Wednesday.

The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration between the two institutions to develop high-quality programmes aimed at identifying and nurturing gifted students across the region. Discussions centred around creating strategic initiatives that cater to the development needs of exceptional learners, both locally and across the Gulf.

Mawhiba, a flagship institution under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 reform agenda, has spent over two decades building a national ecosystem to discover, train, and support exceptionally talented youth, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The foundation aims to equip future generations with the skills needed to compete in a knowledge-based economy.

The Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States, which coordinates education policy among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries, brings a regional lens to this collaboration. The Bureau’s partnership with Mawhiba reflects a broader regional push to modernise education systems and elevate academic excellence in line with global standards.

According to Mawhiba, the meeting is part of a wider effort to expand partnerships with Gulf, Arab, and international organisations focused on education, innovation, and talent development. As countries in the region aim to diversify their economies beyond oil, initiatives like these signal a shared commitment to investing in young talent and fostering a culture of creativity and scientific excellence.

Source: SPA