Google launches free program to develop digital skills in Arab world

DUBAI – 16 April 2018: Google announced today the launch of Maharat min Google', a free digital skills-building program in Arabic, in an effort to help people in the MENA region to find jobs, advance their careers or grow their businesses. Based on a blended learning model, ‘Maharat min Google’ provides free courses, tools, and in-person digital skills training to students, educators, job seekers and businesses.


Events of the launch of ‘Maharat min Google’ - press photo/ Dubai/ Yousef Ayoub

The online platform – g.co/Maharat – has 100 lessons across 26 core topics in digital marketing, including: search engine marketing, social media, video, e-Commerce, geo-targeting, and data analytics, among others. Google will provide a certificate upon completion of the full course, which takes about nine hours to complete.

“We’re delighted to be bringing ‘Maharat Min Google’ to the Middle East and North Africa – our contribution to the future of the workforce in MENA. This program is free of charge, available in Arabic and accessible on any platform. ‘Maharat Min Google’ draws on our 20-year history of building products, platforms, and services that connect people and businesses, helping them grow and succeed online. We know how valuable digital tools are to MENA’s future and we at Google are proud to be an engine supporting their growth,” said Matt Brittin, Google’s president of business operations across Europe, Middle East and Africa.


Events of the launch of ‘Maharat min Google’ - press photo/ Dubai/ Yousef Ayoub

Google also announced at the launch event that Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, is granting $1 million to INJAZ Al-Arab, a regional nonprofit organization, which will roll out in-person training to 100,000 students across 14 countries in the MENA region. The program will focus on youth development in underprivileged and rural areas.


Events of the launch of ‘Maharat min Google’ - press photo/ Dubai/ Yousef Ayoub

Akef Aqrabawi, CEO of INJAZ Al-Arab, said: “We are very happy with Google’s support to offer digital literacy skills across the MENA region and to expand the reach of a program like ‘Maharat min Google’. We share a common vision with Google and want to support the Arab youth, especially those in rural areas and underprivileged communities, in preparing them for future job opportunities and in empowering them to become successful entrepreneurs.”

Google also signed an agreement with the Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Foundation (MiSK), which will conduct in-person training with more than 100,000 students across Saudi Arabia. Both collaborations, with Injaz and MISK, will target 50 percent female participation. Google is looking for further local partnerships across the region with governments, universities, private-sector businesses and nonprofits to expand the reach of its ‘Maharat min Google’ program.

In a recent study by the World Economic Forum, 1 in 5 jobs in the Arab world will require digital skills that aren’t widely available today. 51% of the youth consider unemployment their biggest concern and only 38% believe their education gives them the skills they need to enter the workforce. In the MENA region, there are 30 million women educated, connected and of working age, which represents the largest economic opportunity in the region today. More than 50% of university graduates are female, yet only 25% participate in the workforce.


Events of the launch of ‘Maharat min Google’ - press photo/ Dubai/ Yousef Ayoub


Events of the launch of ‘Maharat min Google’ - press photo/ Dubai/ Yousef Ayoub


Events of the launch of ‘Maharat min Google’ - press photo/ Dubai/ Yousef Ayoub