Majid Al Futtaim, a shopping mall operator across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, has opened its second regional Retail Business School in Riyadh.
This investment reflects Majid Al Futtaim’s focus on supporting the social and economic transformation objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
The school is expected to deliver bespoke learning programmes that leverage almost 30 years of experience in operating Carrefour regionally.
CEO at Majid Al Futtaim Retail, Hani Weiss, said: “Launching our second retail business school in the region demonstrates our unwavering commitment to growing hand in hand with the countries where we operate, going beyond mere presence.
“Our primary focus lies in providing unparalleled opportunities to learn modern retail practices through meticulously designed programs. These programs are tailored to encompass various aspects, such as deriving valuable insights from data, adopting a customer-centric approach, and upholding the highest international standards.”
Mr Weiss further emphasises the profound impact of nurturing local talent: “The upskilling of the Saudi national workforce creates a ripple effect that reverberates widely, positively influencing both the economy and society at large.
“By fostering the development of the next generation of retail leaders, we align ourselves with the national transformation goals set by the visionary Saudi leadership.”
Courses cover retail technical skills, customer experience, leadership development and localisation programmes to equip Saudi nationals, both from within Carrefour and across the supply chain, with professional retail skills.
The school will initially offer 12 dynamic retail training programmes, with more planned.
Country manager at Carrefour Saudi at Majid Al Futtaim Retail, Mohammad Alassaf, said: “For the retail industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to reach its true potential, professional development of local talent is required to meet an increasingly complex and competitive sector.
“In 2023, we plan to complete 70,000 training hours that include skilling, upskilling, leadership development, and customer service. We are also launching 12 training programmes, including five for Saudi nationals, creating pathways to the positions of team leader, department head and even store manager.”
The Retail Business School concept was launched in the UAE in 2019, with plans to expand across the region.
A third school is under development and is set to open in Cairo later this year.
