A CONVENTION training certificate delivered by organisers association ICCA has been officially approved by authorities in Saudi Arabia.
The Certified International Convention Specialist (CICS) programme has been given the green light by National Center for Strategic Partnerships, operating under the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC).
This enables the course to be taught across the kingdom with SEEMA, the Saudi Entertainment and Event Management Academy, facilitating the ICCA CICS programme delivery
A spokesperson for ICCA – the International Convention and Congress Association – said the move reinforced its commitment to developing skilled national talent to work in the field of international meetings and events.
Senthil Gopinath, ICCA chief executive, said: “This approval represents a significant milestone for ICCA and for the development of the business events industry in Saudi Arabia.
“By bringing the CICS programme to the kingdom, we are investing directly in people – equipping the next generation of professionals with globally relevant skills while supporting Saudi Vision 2030’s focus on knowledge, talent development, and sustainable economic growth.”
Aligned with ICCA’s globally recognised education framework, core areas of study in the CICS programme include international association meetings and congress management, destination management and competitive bidding, strategic marketing and operational planning, and the measurement of economic and social impacts of events.
Eihab Abou Rokbah, CEO of Saudi Entertainment and Event Management Academy said: “In line with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s vision to grow the MICE sector to USD4.6 billion by 2030, SEEMA and ICCA are proud to announce the launch of the Certified International Convention Specialist certification in Saudi Arabia.
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“This strategic collaboration aims to professionalise the local MICE workforce by equipping talent with internationally recognised expertise to plan, manage, and deliver global conventions – strengthening the kingdom’s capacity as a leading international meetings and events destination.”
The course combines theoretical instruction with applied, real-world training to supports the development of a future-ready workforce that helps strengthen Saudi Arabia’s competitiveness as a global meetings destination.
The Saudi Vision 2030 policy includes plans for tourism and events alongside knowledge-based economic development.
