Crescent Petroleum and Edraak launch AI training for Arab youth

November 16, 2025 / 7:50 PM

Sharjah 24: Crescent Petroleum, the region’s oldest and largest private oil and gas company, has partnered with Edraak, the Arab World’s leading non-profit online education platform, to launch a unique AI training specialisation enabling young people to become proficient at using AI tools to enhance their workplace skills. The programme builds on the Career Compass Pathway, launched last year, which has already trained 1.3 million young people across the Arab World in business skills, including IT and English language, enhancing their employment prospects.

Programme structure and key skills

The AI for Employment specialisation will offer four online courses that teach practical skills and provide hands-on experience in applying AI across different industries. The courses will include lectures and coursework in AI training, application, and skills development, all hosted on Edraak’s online platform. Participants will learn how to leverage AI productivity tools, write effective AI prompts, and use real-world AI applications across various job functions, with instruction delivered in Arabic by expert practitioners.

Preparing youth for the future of work

Majid Jafar, CEO of Crescent Petroleum, said that artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of work and that this programme will prepare young people to compete in the workplace and build better careers. Bassem Saad, CEO of the Queen Rania Foundation and Chairman of Edraak, added that AI has become a core competency for career success, and that Edraak’s mission is to provide accessible, high-quality education that meets today’s market needs. With 78 million jobs projected to evolve by 2030 and youth unemployment in the MENA region exceeding 25 percent, practical AI training is critical to equipping Arab youth with future-ready skills.

Integration with career compass pathway

The programme advances the Career Compass Pathway, which continues to offer modules in English-language communication, digital literacy, business and workplace communication, CV writing, and interview preparation. Participants who complete all four AI courses will earn a certificate, signaling their newly acquired skills and ability to innovate in a changing job market.

Driving inclusive growth in the Arab World

Edraak continues to lead in Arabic-language online education, offering free, high-quality resources that foster innovation, bridge the skills gap, and prepare youth for the future of work. AI for Employment, the Career Compass Pathway, and Edraak’s broader initiatives are key tools for driving inclusive growth and opportunity across the Arab World.