UNESCO Learning City Awardee 2021Jubail Industrial City, Saudi Arabia
In 2021, Jubail Industrial City received the UNESCO Learning City Award for outstanding progress in providing lifelong learning opportunities for its population of more than 209,000.
As the world’s largest petrochemical industrial city, Jubail Industrial City seeks to further promote sustainable industrial production by ensuring that its citizens are equipped with comprehensive knowledge and skills.
By focusing on sustainable development, entrepreneurship, and health and well-being, the city has succeeded in upskilling more than 168,000 citizens through evening classes. It has enhanced the literacy skills of over 5,000 beneficiaries, and helped its citizens – and women in particular – to found small and medium-sized businesses.
By focusing on sustainable development, entrepreneurship, and health and well-being, the city has succeeded in upskilling more than 168,000 citizens through evening classes. It has enhanced the literacy skills of over 5,000 beneficiaries, and helped its citizens – and women in particular – to found small and medium-sized businesses.
A comprehensive plan
The city's vision is clear: to provide educational services in a safe and stimulating environment that fosters creativity and innovation, in order to build a knowledge society that can keep pace with the requirements of the future.
To realize this vision, the city has developed a comprehensive learning city plan and clear objectives.
To realize this vision, the city has developed a comprehensive learning city plan and clear objectives.
Dr. Ahmed Zaid Al HusseinMayor of Jubail Industrial City
Industrial center
The city has founded an industrial development centre that hosts 45 business incubators and providers. To date, nearly 100 projects have been implemented.
Hussein Ali Al Ali
Evening activities for citizens
Jubail is committed to capacity and talent development. Through the city’s evening activities programme, 168,189 citizens have been able to develop their skills in a range of fields.
Promoting innovation
Innovation is central to sustainable development in Jubail. In 2020, the Prince Saud bin Abdullah Al Thunayan Centre for Research and Training published 40 scientific papers in international journals, and registered a patent in the field of artificial intelligence to minimize energy consumption in buildings.
Raising scientific awareness early in life
A youth centre increases scientific awareness through a wide range of activities that enable children and young people to learn through play. This fosters a spirit of innovation and creativity, as well as a love of knowledge.
The centre aims to keep the local community connected to the latest scientific developments and innovations.
The centre aims to keep the local community connected to the latest scientific developments and innovations.
Access for everyone
The city’s strategy focuses on enabling all of Jubail’s citizens to learn and develop their capacities regardless of their individual background.
In response to the learning needs of people with disabilities and those on low incomes, the city has supported three schools and more than 18 associations and specialized centres in providing integrated services that enable these groups to continue their lifelong learning journey.
More than 18 associations and specialized centers and three schools were supported to play their role in providing integrated care for these groups and enabling them to continue their lifelong learning journey.
In response to the learning needs of people with disabilities and those on low incomes, the city has supported three schools and more than 18 associations and specialized centres in providing integrated services that enable these groups to continue their lifelong learning journey.
More than 18 associations and specialized centers and three schools were supported to play their role in providing integrated care for these groups and enabling them to continue their lifelong learning journey.
‘JUBAIL is Reading’ programme
To encourage reading among its citizens, the city has successfully implemented the ‘JUBAIL is Reading’ programme, in which 5,346 beneficiaries participated. As a result, Jubail was highly ranked among Saudi Arabian participants in the national ‘iRead’ competition.
Health and well-being
To ensure high-quality health care for all of its citizens, Jubail has invested in health education campaigns. It organizes school programmes, community activities and other initiatives in order to empower its inhabitants to lead a healthy life.
Entrepreneurship education
Jubail has invested strongly in enhancing entrepreneurial and investment opportunities for young men and particularly women.
It has supported and empowered women in the field of small and medium-sized businesses, and created an environment that fosters successful investments and supports expansion in the areas of innovation and entrepreneurship.
It has supported and empowered women in the field of small and medium-sized businesses, and created an environment that fosters successful investments and supports expansion in the areas of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Sawsan Khaled Al Masoud
Towards a knowledge society
Jubail only joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2020, but has already made great strides with respect to learning opportunities for young and old. With its focus on sustainable development, health and entrepreneurship, it has provided many examples of good practice to partners throughout the world.
The UNESCO Learning Cities Award 2021 recognizes this achievement.
The UNESCO Learning Cities Award 2021 recognizes this achievement.
Further information aboutJubail Industrial City
The UNESCO Learning City Awards
The UNESCO Learning City Award was established to further promote lifelong learning for all and showcase good practices in building learning cities. It is conferred on cities that have achieved outstanding progress in this regard. All awardee cities have demonstrated best practices that lay the foundation for sustainable development.
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) supports and improves the practice of lifelong learning in member cities by promoting policy dialogue and peer learning, documenting effective strategies and good practice, fostering partnerships, providing capacity development, and developing tools and instruments to design, implement and monitor learning cities strategies.
UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
Credits: © Getty Images / AFZALKHAN; City of Jubail; Getty Images / golfcphoto; Getty Images / Rami Sadi
UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
Credits: © Getty Images / AFZALKHAN; City of Jubail; Getty Images / golfcphoto; Getty Images / Rami Sadi
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Jubail Industrial City, Saudi Arabia
A comprehensive plan
Dr. Ahmed Zaid Al Hussein
Industrial center
Hussein Ali Al Ali
Evening activities for citizens
Promoting innovation
Raising scientific awareness early in life
Access for everyone
‘JUBAIL is Reading’ programme
Health and well-being
Entrepreneurship education
Sawsan Khaled Al Masoud
Towards a knowledge society
The UNESCO Learning City Awards
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities