Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Etihad Salam Telecom Company, a leading telecommunications provider in Saudi Arabia, has been honoured with two Silver Awards at the 2025 Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards. The company received recognition for “Innovation in Human Resources Management, Planning & Practice – Telecommunications Industries” for its Salam Pioneers Program (SPP), and for “Innovative Achievement in Corporate Social Responsibility” for its Creative and Innovation Center for Girls in Riyadh.
Samar Abdullah AlSalem, Chief Human Capital Officer at Etihad Salam Telecom, stated, “These awards reflect our ongoing commitment to empowering youth and advancing Saudi Arabia’s technological landscape. The success of the Salam Pioneers Program and the Creative and Innovation Center for Girls embodies our dedication to innovation and social responsibility, aligned with Saudi Vision 2030.”
The Salam Pioneers Program addresses skills gaps in cybersecurity, product development, applications, and IT by providing three months of academic training followed by hands-on industry experience. This initiative has boosted Saudization rates from 41% to 82%, significantly supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. The program also fosters strong industry-academia collaboration, leading to high employment rates across cohorts.
Etihad Salam’s Creative and Innovation Center for Girls in Riyadh nurtures future female tech leaders, promoting creativity and excellence among Saudi youth. The centre has gained global recognition and the company plans to expand similar centres across the kingdom to further empower young women in technology.
These awards underscore Etihad Salam Telecom’s leadership in human capital innovation and corporate social responsibility, reflecting its vital role in Saudi Arabia’s national development, workforce skill enhancement, and promotion of gender diversity in the tech sector.
