Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Only one month after the launch of its educational programmes, in collaboration with Coursera, the Future Skills Academy, a flagship programme under the Knowledge Project — a strategic partnership between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) — is off to a strong start, underscoring the growing demand for digital and professional skill development across the Arab States region.

Since 17 March 2025, thousands of learners from across the region have embarked on their learning journeys as part of the Academy’s inaugural cohort. In just one month, participants have demonstrated remarkable engagement, viewing nearly 49,000 videos, reading over 31,700 materials, and completing approximately 27,000 assessments, totalling around 16,500 hours of learning.

The Academy seeks to empower 10 million individuals across Arab States with the most in-demand skills in today’s fast-evolving labour market by 2030. It also aims to reach 25,000 learners in 2025 alone. Offering a variety of learning tracks focused on both technical and professional skills, the Academy covers key subjects, including data analysis, artificial intelligence, digital marketing, entrepreneurship, and transferable skills applicable across multiple sectors.

This initiative builds on the success of the “FutureSkills4All”, which empowered 10,000 learners through 114,000 hours of learning across 15,000 educational programmes. The Future Skills Academy now expands these efforts to create a broader and more sustainable impact.

Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States (RBAS), Dr. Abdallah Al Dardari, said: “According to the WEF’s Future of Jobs 2025 Report, 59% of the global workforce—including Arab graduates, youth, women, and marginalized communities—will require training and upskilling within the next five years. Employers also anticipate that 39% of core job skills will change by 2030, reinforcing the urgent need for learning, upskilling, and reskilling programmes to prepare the next generation for evolving job demands.”

He added: “The Future Skills Academy is a strategic initiative tailored to the Arab region’s evolving economic needs, catalysing prosperity and enabling recovery by working to equip 10 million Arab learners that include young graduates with future skills by 2030. By prioritizing continuous learning, we are working to close critical skill gaps and unlock the potential of Arab talent to lead innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development.”

Dr. Al Dardari continued: “This isn’t just upskilling; it’s a transformative push to strengthen the competitiveness and resilience of the Arab workforce and economies.”

H.E. Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of MBRF, said: “The remarkable success of the Academy since its launch is reflected by the growing number of Arab enrolees seeking digital and professional skills required in the evolving job market. The strong engagement with the Academy’s educational content also

underscores individuals’ passion for continuous learning and their readiness to contribute to building a more prosperous and sustainable future for their countries.”

He added: “At MBRF, we believe that investing in developing minds and honing skills is the cornerstone of achieving knowledge, economic, and social advancement. Through this Academy, we aim to empower 10 million Arab learners by 2030, inspired by the vision of our wise leadership, which places human development and the promotion of knowledge at the forefront of its priorities. We will continue, in collaboration with our strategic partners, to expand the scope of this initiative to reach the widest possible segment of Arab youth and talent, ensuring their ability to compete and lead in the knowledge economy and sustainable development across all fields.”

"As technology rapidly reshapes industries and job markets, access to high-quality education is more critical than ever,” said Kais Zribi, Coursera’s General Manager for the Middle East and Africa. "Through the Future Skills Academy, we are expanding opportunities for individuals across the Arab States to develop capabilities essential for a skills-based economy. By equipping learners with in-demand technical and professional competencies, we’re enabling them to adapt to shifting workforce demands and drive sustainable economic progress. We’re proud to continue our collaboration with UNDP and MBRF to drive this shared mission forward."

The Academy provides learners with access to a wide catalogue of world-class content from top universities and industry leaders on Coursera. Having played a key role in the success of the FutureSkills4All initiative, Coursera remains a strategic partner in this effort, while the Academy also expands its collaborations to further enrich its offerings. For more information on the Future Skills Academy and upcoming intakes, visit https://knowledge4all.org.