The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources announced the start of registration for the Employment-Focused Scholarship Program at the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma'aden), under the "Wa'ed" track of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program. The program aims to qualify national talent in specialties related to the mining and mineral industries, thereby raising the sector's efficiency and enhancing its competitiveness. The ministry's official spokesman, Jarrah bin Mohammed Al-Jarrah, explained that the program targets sponsoring male and female students to pursue bachelor's degrees at leading international universities, including the Colorado School of Mines in the United States and the University of New South Wales in Australia, within specialized academic programs in mining. He noted that registration for the program begins from July 19 to August 2, 2026. Al-Jarrah clarified that the program includes specializations in Mining Engineering, Geological Engineering, Geophysics Engineering, Mineral Science Engineering, and Electrical Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines, in addition to Mining Engineering, Geological Energy Engineering and Underground Storage, Electrical Engineering (Systems and Control), Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering, and Environmental Engineering at the University of New South Wales. Al-Jarrah pointed out that the program contributes to preparing specialized national cadres with the knowledge and skills needed to handle the latest mining technologies, raise operational efficiency in mining facilities, enhance local content and localization, thereby supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 by transforming mining into a third pillar of national industry and a key contributor to diversifying the national economy. The Employment-Focused Scholarship Program at Ma'aden is an extension of the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources' efforts to develop and qualify national talent in the industry and mining sectors, in cooperation with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program (Wa'ed track), one of the qualitative initiatives of the Human Capability Development Program, and in partnership with the private sector.