--- url: 'https://kdinternational.com.au/saudi-employment-linked-scholarship-maaden-tourism-australia/' title: 'Employment-Linked Saudi Scholarships: Ma’aden, Tourism and Al-Waaid' author: name: هند العمري url: 'https://kdinternational.com.au/author/hind-alamri/' date: '2026-09-19T10:00:00+00:00' modified: '2026-09-19T10:06:40+00:00' type: post summary: 'Saudi employment-linked scholarships under the Al-Waaid track: Ma''aden at UNSW, Ministry of Tourism diplomas, eligibility, obligations, how to apply.' categories: - Saudi scholarships tags: - Al-Waaid track - employment-linked scholarship - King Salman Scholarship Program - Ma'aden scholarship - Ministry of Tourism scholarship image: 'https://kdinternational.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/kd-10-en-art.png' published: true --- # Employment-Linked Saudi Scholarships: Ma’aden, Tourism and Al-Waaid *[اقرأ هذا المقال بالعربية](https://kdinternational.com.au/ar/?p=2421)* ### Key takeaways - Employment-linked scholarships run under the Al-Waaid track, and each programme opens for a short window that closes within days. - Ma’aden’s programme is the closest fit for Australia: an engineering bachelor’s at UNSW Sydney or the Colorado School of Mines. - Ma’aden’s conditions: 90% GPA, age 20 or under, 85% in Qudurat and Tahsili, and IELTS 5.5 for the UNSW pathway. - The Ministry of Tourism offers employment-linked hospitality diplomas through Al-Waaid, currently delivered in Switzerland and France. - Post-graduation obligations sit in the scholarship contract with the employer; read the withdrawal clause before signing. - Get a valid English test result before any announcement, and register with KD for university admission after nomination. ### In this article - [What is an employment-linked scholarship and who runs it?](#s-1) - [Which programmes are available now?](#s-2) - [Ma’aden International Scholarship Program: engineering and mining at UNSW](#s-3) - [Ministry of Tourism scholarships: the employment-linked diploma](#s-4) - [What are the general conditions of the Al-Waaid track?](#s-5) - [What is the employment commitment after graduation?](#s-6) - [How do you apply for an employment-linked scholarship?](#s-7) - [How does KD International help with admission?](#s-8) An employment-linked scholarship (الابتعاث المبتدئ بالتوظيف) means a Saudi employer selects you before you travel, you study abroad on a Ministry of Education scholarship under the Al-Waaid track (مسار واعد), and you join that employer afterwards. The programmes most relevant to Australia are Ma’aden’s engineering scholarship at UNSW Sydney and the Ministry of Tourism’s diploma programmes. Here is who qualifies, what you commit to, and how to apply. ## What is an employment-linked scholarship and who runs it? It is one form of the Al-Waaid track within the King Salman Scholarship Program (برنامج خادم الحرمين الشريفين للابتعاث الخارجي). The Ministry of Education defines the track as "training and retraining to enhance capabilities in promising sectors and fields", according to the [programme page on the Ministry of Education site](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/). What sets it apart from the other tracks is that the partner is an employer (a company or a ministry) that sets the major, the institution and the number of places, runs its own selection, and then the Ministry opens applications on the [Al-Waaid track page](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/paths/path-waaid/) for a short window per programme. So there is no general application; each programme is announced with a window that closes within days. In July, August and September 2026 alone, windows opened for Ma’aden, Riyadh Air, Flyakeed, Adira Hospitality, the National Housing Company and Al-Ittihad Club, according to the [track page](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/paths/path-waaid/) and on 11 August 2026. ## Which programmes are available now? | Employer | Programme | Institution and country | Length | Application window | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Ma’aden | Bachelor of Mining Engineering and other engineering majors | Colorado School of Mines (USA) or UNSW Sydney (Australia) | 5 years in the USA | 19 July – 2 August 2026 ([Ministry of Education](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/paths/path-waaid/maaden06-01/)) | | Flyakeed | Advanced diploma in international hospitality management | Les Roches (Switzerland) | 12 months | 2 – 6 August 2026 ([Ministry of Education](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/paths/path-waaid/flyakeed-01/)) | | Riyadh Air | Bachelor of Science in Aviation | Embry-Riddle (USA) | 4 years | 3 – 17 August 2026 ([Ministry of Education](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/paths/path-waaid/aviation-05/)) | | Al-Ittihad Club | Master’s in sports events and venue management | Leeds Beckett (UK) | 1 year | 13 – 17 September 2026 ([Ministry of Education](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/paths/path-waaid/)) | Some of these windows had closed at the time of writing; the page is updated whenever a new programme opens, so bookmark it. Other partners on the page include Schneider Electric Arabia, flynas, Sarb Business Holding and Jathr, according to the [Ministry of Education](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/paths/path-waaid/). ## Ma’aden International Scholarship Program: engineering and mining at UNSW This is the closest fit for Australia. states that students earn a bachelor’s degree from the Colorado School of Mines (USA) or UNSW Sydney, Australia’s top-ranked university at 19th in the world in QS 2027, according to [ABC News](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-18/global-university-rankings-unsw-top-performer/106808096) on 18 June 2026. ### Eligibility According to as at the 2 August 2026 closing date: - Saudi national and a recent high-school graduate (General Track, Computer and Engineering Track, International Track or equivalent). - Cumulative high-school GPA of at least 90%, and aged 20 or under . - At least 85% in both the Qudurat (aptitude) and Tahsili (achievement) tests . - English for the UNSW pathway: IELTS 5.5 overall (writing 5.5, no band below 5) or TOEFL iBT 65; the Colorado pathway requires IELTS 6.5 . ### Majors Mining Engineering, Geoenergy and Geostorage Engineering, Geological Engineering, Geophysical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering, and Environmental Engineering, according to. ### What the programme covers Full tuition, a monthly stipend, a housing allowance, medical insurance, annual travel tickets, high-achiever rewards, a books allowance and structured mentoring, according to. Selection runs in three stages: shortlisting on GPA, Qudurat/Tahsili and English scores; an aptitude assessment; then a medical examination. ## Ministry of Tourism scholarships: the employment-linked diploma The Ministry of Tourism runs the Tourism Scholarship Program (برنامج الابتعاث السياحي) to develop national talent for the tourism labour market at diploma, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. It targets recent graduates and career changers, and requires Saudi nationality, a minimum age of 17 and English proficiency, according to. The employment-linked part is offered through the Al-Waaid track: on 19 July 2026 the Ministry opened applications for employment-linked programmes including culinary arts, closing 23 July, according to. The hospitality programmes on the [track page](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/paths/path-waaid/) are currently delivered in Switzerland and France (Les Roches and École Ducasse) over 8 to 12 months. In December 2024 KD announced free services for students applying to diploma majors under the Ministry of Tourism’s employment-linked scholarships, in a [post on X](https://x.com/kdiaus/status/1872364613028974926); in May 2020 it addressed Ministry of Health scholarship holders studying nursing in Australia in [another post](https://x.com/kdiaus/status/1257459771839569920). Check which programmes are open now with the relevant ministry before relying on either. ## What are the general conditions of the Al-Waaid track? The same fixed conditions repeat on every programme on the [track page](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/paths/path-waaid/): - Saudi nationality. - Good conduct. - Full-time study with residence in the host country. - Passing the employer’s own selection policies and criteria. - A student already on an active scholarship cannot be sponsored again, but may apply. - Academic and English conditions vary by programme; for example, the Al-Ittihad master’s requires a bachelor’s with a GPA of 2.5/4 or 3/5 and IELTS 6.0, and a degree from outside Saudi Arabia must be recognised by the competent authority. ## What is the employment commitment after graduation? Employment comes before the scholarship: you are the employer’s candidate from selection, and you return to it after graduation. The details, such as length of service, the consequences of withdrawing or failing, and whether a salary is paid during study, are not published in a uniform form on the Ministry or Ma’aden pages. Check them in the scholarship contract and in the guidance manual (الدليل الاسترشادي) that the [programme pages](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/paths/path-waaid/maaden06-01/) refer to. Do not sign a contract whose withdrawal clause you do not understand. ## How do you apply for an employment-linked scholarship? - Follow the [Al-Waaid track page](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/paths/path-waaid/) and the programme’s X account; windows open for days only. - Prepare before any announcement: your high-school or bachelor’s certificate, Qudurat and Tahsili scores if you are a school leaver, and a valid IELTS or TOEFL result. - Confirm you meet the employer’s specific conditions (GPA, age, English) before the window closes. - Click "Apply now" on the programme page within the Ministry site and complete the Ministry platform details through Nafath national single sign-on. - Prepare for the employer’s selection stages: aptitude tests or interviews, then a medical, as in the. - After nomination comes university admission, and that is where an admissions office helps. ## How does KD International help with admission? KD states that it works on employment-linked programmes (Ma’aden and the Ministry of Tourism) alongside the King Salman Scholarship Program tracks, and that its admission service is free for scholarship-programme majors at universities recognised by the Saudi Ministry of Education. In practice, KD helps you compare admissions at recognised Australian universities, prepare documents, obtain NAATI-certified translation, and arrange the visa and housing. See our [step-by-step process](https://kdinternational.com.au/ar/%d8%ae%d8%b7%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d8%b9%d9%85%d9%84%d9%8a%d8%a9/), and if your track is academic rather than employment-linked, the [guide to all Saudi scholarship tracks](https://kdinternational.com.au/ar/?p=2318). Your next step: bookmark the Al-Waaid track page, get a valid English test result, then [register your application](https://kdinternational.com.au/applynow/) so a KD adviser can contact you when a window opens that fits your major. ## Frequently asked questions What is an employment-linked Saudi scholarship? An employer (a company or ministry) selects you before you travel and sets the major and institution; you study on a Ministry of Education scholarship under the Al-Waaid track and then work for that employer. In other tracks you obtain a university offer first and the Ministry approves it with no employer attached. What are the requirements for the Ma’aden scholarship? According to Ma’aden: Saudi national and recent high-school graduate with a GPA of at least 90%, aged 20 or under, at least 85% in Qudurat and Tahsili, and IELTS 5.5 for the UNSW pathway or 6.5 for Colorado. Applications closed on 2 August 2026 and reopen when the company announces. Can I study in Australia on an employment-linked scholarship? Yes, through Ma’aden’s programme, which offers a bachelor’s degree at UNSW Sydney. The hospitality and aviation programmes currently listed on the Al-Waaid track are delivered in Switzerland, France, the USA and the UK, and the list changes with every announcement. What is the employment obligation after graduation? You return to work for the employer that nominated you. The length of service and withdrawal terms are not published in a uniform form on the Ministry or Ma’aden pages, so check them in the scholarship contract and the guidance manual before signing. When do Al-Waaid applications open? There is no fixed annual date; each programme is announced with a short window. In 2026, windows opened in July, August and September for Ma’aden, Riyadh Air, Flyakeed, Al-Ittihad Club and others. Follow the track page on the Ministry of Education website. What scholarships does the Saudi Ministry of Tourism offer? The Tourism Scholarship Program covers diploma, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels and requires Saudi nationality, a minimum age of 17 and English proficiency. Its employment-linked programmes are offered through the Al-Waaid track, such as the hospitality and culinary diplomas announced in July and August 2026. How does KD International help with employment-linked scholarships? KD helps with admission to recognised Australian universities after nomination, prepares documents and NAATI-certified translations, and guides the visa and housing. KD states that its admission service is free for scholarship-programme majors at universities recognised by the Saudi Ministry of Education. ## Official sources - [برنامج خادم الحرمين الشريفين للابتعاث: المسارات](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/) — وزارة التعليم السعودية - [مسار واعد: برامج الابتعاث المبتدئ بالتوظيف](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/paths/path-waaid/) — وزارة التعليم السعودية - [بكالوريوس في هندسة التعدين — برنامج معادن](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/paths/path-waaid/maaden06-01/) — وزارة التعليم السعودية - [دبلوم في الدراسات المتقدمة في إدارة الضيافة الدولية — أكيد](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/paths/path-waaid/flyakeed-01/) — وزارة التعليم السعودية - [بكالوريوس العلوم في علوم الطيران — طيران الرياض](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/paths/path-waaid/aviation-05/) — وزارة التعليم السعودية - [Australian universities make ‘historic’ global rankings (QS 2027)](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-18/global-university-rankings-unsw-top-performer/106808096) — ABC News ### Ready to start? KD International helps you choose a university, prepare your admission and visa file, and answers your questions about Saudi scholarships and studying in Australia. [Apply now](https://kdinternational.com.au/applynow/) or [message us on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/966582357717). *Last updated: 14 September 2026. Fees and requirements change; always confirm with the official source before deciding.*