A Saudi company has teamed up with Oxford University in an initiative to develop Saudi business skills and competitiveness.

Rakisa Holding, the lead developer of the Prince Abdul Aziz bin Mousaed Economic City (PABMEC) in Saudi Arabia, signed an agreement under which Oxford University’s Said Business School will launch its first executive education programme for senior executives, business leaders, entrepreneurs and public servants in Saudi Arabia.
The initiative operates under the Oxford Advanced Management Programme (OAMP).
In line with its efforts to bolster economic growth, the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (Sagia) is supporting Rakisa’s investment in the development of Saudi executives. By virtue of its agreement with Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, Rakisa will offer over 35 full scholarships to Saudi civil service officers and CEOs of public and private sector companies to create a more competitive and efficient workforce.
The agreement was signed by Abdullah Al Rakhis, chairman of Rakisa Holding, and Gay Haskins, dean of executive education at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School. 
Al Rakhis, commenting on the importance of the OAMP, said: “The Oxford programme will give our businessmen an educational experience that will allow them to push our country’s economy, both nationally and internationally, into a brighter and more successful future, and Rakisa is proud to be part of such an important endeavour.”
Lalit Johri, programme director of the OAMP and fellow in international business at the Saïd Business School, said educating talented executives around the world would not only benefit the respective countries but also the global economy
Commenting on the partnership, Amr Dabbagh, the Governor of Sagia, said: “We are supporting Rakisa and Oxford in this programme because we all share a vision of long-term collaboration to enhance competitiveness in Saudi Arabia. This programme can instill some of the methods, values and implementation strategies that our business people can use to help take our economy and society to the next level.”