Page 10 - MBRF PR REPORT - JUNE 2025

Press Release

As part of its commitment to empowering 10 million Arab learners with job market skills by

2030

Future Skills Academy records wide interaction and creates tangible

knowledge impact in its first phase

Dubai, UAE, 19 June 2025 - The Future Skills Academy, one of the pioneering initiatives of the
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) and the United Nations

Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with Coursera, has recorded significant
engagement and promising results in its first phase. This marks a strong start towards its mission

to empower Arab learners with future-ready job market skills.

The wide interaction received by the academy in its first phase underscores the growing demand

for individuals to develop digital and vocational skills in the Arab world. As part of its ambitious
goal, the academy aims to enable 10 million learners in the Arab region to acquire the most in-

demand job market skills by 2030, targeting 25,000 learners in 2025. It offers curated courses in
high-demand fields such as data analysis, artificial intelligence, digital marketing, and

entrepreneurship, in addition to developing transferable skills.

Within one month of its launch, the academy witnessed a surge of interest from thousands of

learners across various Arab countries. Learners completed 4,721 courses, viewed more than
191,419 educational videos, read more than 126,136 educational materials, and completed over

108,568 assessments, totaling 45,385 hours of effective learning.

Dr. Abdullah Al Dardari, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the UNDP Regional

Bureau for Arab States (UNDP), said: “According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs
Report 2025, nearly 59% of the global workforce, including Arab graduates, young people,

women, and marginalized groups, will require training and skills development within the next five
years. With 39% of basic job market skills projected to change by 2030, the necessity to