9 months ago
Saudi Arabia Partners with Swiss Firm for Tourism Education
Saudi Arabia is teaming up with a Swiss company to build special schools for people who want to work in hotels, restaurants, and cooking.
The goal is to train talented Saudis to be the best in these jobs, following the country's big plan called Vision 2030.
This new partnership involves a lot of money to create these schools all over the country.
It's like bringing world-famous cooking and hotel schools to Saudi Arabia so young people can learn the best skills without having to go abroad.
This will help the country become a top place for tourism and create many new jobs.
Saudi Arabia and Switzerland launch a partnership to advance tourism, hospitality, and culinary arts education.
The initiative is led by Tanmeya Capital with a SAR 600 million fund and partners with Sommet Education.
A 25-year agreement aims to establish a network of academies and colleges across the Kingdom.
The partnership supports Saudi Vision 2030 by developing national talent and enhancing economic competitiveness.
A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed to explore establishing a campus in Jeddah.
- Who
- Tanmeya Capital (Saudi) and Sommet Education (Swiss)
- What
- Launch of a Saudi-Swiss partnership to establish an educational and training ecosystem for tourism, hospitality, and culinary arts.
- Where
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia during the TOURISE 2025 Summit.
- When
- November 15
- Why
- To support Saudi Vision 2030 goals of developing human capabilities, enhancing economic competitiveness, and becoming a regional center of excellence in tourism education.
Key facts
- Partnership Focus
- Advancing innovation, developing national talent, building human capital in tourism, hospitality, and culinary arts.
- Key Investors
- Tanmeya Capital (Manager of Tanmeya Hospitality & Tourism Fund - THTF)
- Investment Vehicle Size
- SAR 600 million (approx. 140 million euros)
- International Partner
- Sommet Education (parent company of Les Roches, École Ducasse, Glion Institute of Higher Education)
- Agreement Duration
- 25-year exclusive agreement
- Strategic Location
- Riyadh and Jeddah initially, with expansion to other regions of the Kingdom.
Quotes
Mr. Mohamed Musaiqer
Chairman of the Board, Tanmeya Capital
“Human-capital development in hospitality and tourism is a key pillar of Vision 2030 and the Human Capability Development Programme. At Tanmeya Capital, we are focused on building institutional strength, developing capabilities, and raising excellence standards for Saudi professionals to enable them to compete regionally and globally. This initiative demonstrates how purposeful national and international partnerships can deliver sustainable social and economic impact.”
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Marie-Claude Mathieu
member of Sommet Education board and Group General Counsel
“This partnership reflects our continued commitment to building strong, responsible, and forward-looking collaborations that create long-term value. Establishing our flagship campuses in Saudi Arabia is not only an expansion of our educational footprint but also a testament to the trust and shared vision we hold with our partners. Together, we are contributing to the Kingdom’s journey of transformation by nurturing talent and shaping the future of hospitality and service excellence.”
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Mr. Yassir Al-Sharif
Project Sponsor of the Tanmeya Hospitality & Tourism Fund
“We extend our deep appreciation to the Ministry of Tourism for its continued support of national initiatives dedicated to developing and empowering Saudi talent. This partnership reflects a national vision to localise world-class hospitality education within the Kingdom and to enable Saudi youth to acquire skills of the highest international standards. We firmly believe that investing in people is the most sustainable form of investment, and our partnerships with leading global institutions represent a practical translation of this ambitious vision.”
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Ahmad Al Sakran
Acting Chief Executive Officer, Tanmeya Capital
“The Tanmeya Hospitality & Tourism Fund is a national initiative that combines global excellence with Saudi Vision to prepare a new generation of qualified leaders for the Kingdom’s hospitality and tourism industries. Through strategic partnerships with Saudi universities and leading international institutions, we are building an integrated educational ecosystem that will equip Saudi youth with future-ready skills and prepare them to meet the evolving demands of the global marketplace.”
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Adrian Artimov
Chief Commercial Officer Sommet Education
“We are honored to contribute to the Kingdom’s transformative vision by empowering future leaders in hospitality and culinary arts. With Glion, Les Roches and École Ducasse, we bring globally respected expertise to nurture talent that will drive Saudi Arabia’s booming tourism and service industries.”
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