Chalhoub Retail Academy KSA offers internationally recognized training programmes designed to upskill and train frontline employees in Saudi Arabia and enhance their careers in the retail sector

Chalhoub Group announced that its Retail Academy in KSA, one of four specialised Academies under the Chalhoub University, has been officially recognized as an accredited training centre by the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC), the government agency concerned with technical and vocational training in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Chalhoub Group’s Retail Academy KSA was established back in 2009 to offer training programmes to Chalhoub Group frontline employees in Saudi Arabia. Today, the academy is one of the few internationally accredited retail academies in the Middle East, operating across three branches located in Jeddah (since 2009), Riyadh (since 2014) and Khobar (since 2016).

By equipping retail frontliners with industry knowledge and skills, the Chalhoub Retail Academy KSA is actively supporting the growth and development of the sector and boosting its overall performance. Well trained frontliners drive higher levels of performance, are more capable of identifying valuable data and insights that can help form successful business strategies and can contribute to business and industry growth through creativity, fast decision-making, and innovation. According to a recent study by Havas, 78% of young Saudis say they are tired of dead-end jobs and crave work that will have a real impact.

Bachar Sabbagh, Managing Director KSA at Chalhoub Group said: “The Kingdom’s vision to provide career opportunities for Saudis in a growing economy includes a variety of possibilities in the retail sector. As one of the key players in the Saudi retail industry, we wanted to support the development of young Saudi talent. This accreditation gives our Academy and our programmes a recognition of quality and standards, which is also a testament to the learning experiences and opportunities our employees are receiving. We prioritize capitalizing on the Group’s human, intellectual and physical resources, and data in offering state-of-the art, experiential, and innovative learning experiences.”

Chalhoub Retail Academies welcome participants from across the Kingdom, offering them globally recognized training courses by retail trainers and experts.
The Academy aims to upskill retail frontline communities on all aspects of fashion, beauty and gifting to deliver outstanding customer experience and empower them for a career in retail.

The announcement coincides with Chalhoub Group reaffirming its commitment to creating a great workplace for all with the introduction of a phased pilot project in KSA and the UAE to give its retail frontliners a 5-day work week.
Moving away from the traditional 6-day work week for retail frontliners, the move is designed to enhance wellbeing and work-life balance while increasing business productivity. Chalhoub Group’s reputation as a great place to work was further cemented when it was ranked first in the Best Workplaces in Saudi Arabia list and fourth in the Best Workplaces in Asia list by Great Place to Work ®

For more information on the Chalhoub Retail Academy KSA and its training programmes please visit https://chalhoubuniversity.com

ABOUT CHALHOUB GROUP – INSPIRE, EXHILARATE, DELIGHT

With a legacy of 65 years, Chalhoub Group is a leading partner, curator and creator of luxury products and services in the Middle East. An expert in hybrid retail, distribution and marketing services, the Group is the foremost player in the luxury beauty, fashion, and art de vivre categories regionally with a portfolio of 6 own brands and over 300 global brands.

Chalhoub Group embraces an innovation mindset, coupled with a desire to constantly redefine luxury in the region. Chalhoub Group caters to its customers across multiple channels, including 680 experiential retail stores, online and through mobile apps. Headquartered in Dubai, the Group has a strong workforce of more than 14,000 skilled, talented, and passionate people in 7 countries. As a people-centric and responsible employer, Chalhoub Group is ranked third in the Middle East and second in Saudi Arabia as a Great Place to Work®.

Alongside business and people priorities, Chalhoub Group is also a sustainability champion. The Group is a member of the United Nations Global Compact Community and signatory of the Women's Empowerment Principles. Chalhoub Group was awarded its seventh CSR Label from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry and has its own incubator space for innovation and entrepreneurship, “The Greenhouse”.