Skillup Mena
Skillup MENA is a Riyadh-based corporate learning and development provider serving enterprise and government clients across the MENA region with AI-powered training, academy design, content production, and consulting services delivered through customized multi-year contracts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersSharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Skillup Mena does
Skillup MENA, Inc. is a corporate learning and development (L&D) provider headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with a regional office in Sharjah, UAE and additional operations across the MENA region including Egypt, Jordan, Oman, and Qatar. The company delivers end-to-end workforce capability solutions to enterprise and government clients, structured around seven core service areas: Learning & Development Solutions, Academy Design & Capability Building, Content Creation and Media Production, a Digital Learning Ecosystem, Immersive and Emerging Technologies (VR, AI, gamification), Consulting & Organizational Development, and an Assessment & Evaluation Center. Its customer base spans large and mid-size corporations as well as government agencies aligned with national talent development priorities such as Saudi Vision 2030, Emiratization, and Saudization programs, alongside a secondary segment of individual professional learners.
The platform is anchored by an AI-Powered Learning Platform that delivers personalized content recommendations, adaptive pacing, continuous performance tracking, and AI-enhanced knowledge retrieval, and is built on Totara TXP as the underlying learning experience technology. The offering is augmented by Content Digitization, Enterprise Content Management, and Certified Training Solutions (in partnership with certification bodies such as PMI, AWS, Microsoft, Cisco, and CompTIA), with access to more than 100,000 online courses combined with localized MENA content. The company has reported 500,000+ learners empowered and 16M+ training hours delivered since inception, with 70+ academies launched across 8 countries.
Skillup MENA generates revenue primarily through customized corporate training programs delivered under multi-year contracts on a quote-based pricing model, with annual recurring revenue of $6.6M reported as of 2025. The go-to-market motion is enterprise field sales targeting B2B and B2G buyers in the MENA region, complemented by a direct-to-consumer course catalog and a partnership channel including strategic relationships with Saudi Lime Company and Omantel. The company operates with approximately 60 employees and is led by CEO Talal Al-Afghani.
Skillup Mena firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Skillup Mena
- Legal name
- SkillUp MENA, Inc.
- Website
- https://skillupmena.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Skillup MENA is a Riyadh-based corporate learning and development provider serving enterprise and government clients across the MENA region with AI-powered training, academy design, content production, and consulting services delivered through customized multi-year contracts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Skillup Mena industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Corporate Learning & Development Services
- NAICS
- Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)
- akta.pro primary industry
- AI Tutoring Systems (Conversational Tutors, Homework Helpers) (EDAFAFAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Skills Assessment & Talent/Employability Testing Platforms (EDAFADAM), Interactive Practice & Skill-Building (Drills, Games, Mastery Practice) (EDAFACAC)
Keywords
Where Skillup Mena is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sharjah
- HQ country
- United Arab Emirates
- HQ region
- Middle East
Offices7 records
Markets served
Skillup Mena business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Customized Corporate Training Programs: The Company provides customized learning solutions and training programs primarily for businesses and government entities. All services are delivered based on formal proposals and agreements, with payments processed via bank transfer as agreed within individual contracts.
- Annual Recurring Revenue: The company generates $6.6 million in annual recurring revenue from its learning and development services, indicating a subscription/professional services model with ongoing client relationships.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom corporate training programs tailored to organizational needs |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
Skillup Mena product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Skillup MENA is a corporate learning and development provider delivering customized training programs, academy design, content production, and an AI-powered learning platform to enterprises and government entities across the MENA region. The company combines AI-personalized learning, immersive VR/AI/gamification experiences, consulting, and assessment services to build workforce capabilities. It provides access to 100,000+ courses and operates across 8 countries with 70+ academies launched since 2019.
Product overview
Skillup MENA operates as a unified corporate learning and development platform serving corporate and government sectors across the MENA region. The offering comprises a portfolio of seven core service areas: Learning & Development Solutions, Academy Design & Capability Building, Content Creation and Media Production, Digital Learning Ecosystem, Immersive and Emerging Technologies (VR/AI/Gamification), Consulting & Organizational Development, and Assessment & Evaluation Center. Central to the platform is an AI-Powered Learning Platform that delivers personalized content with continuous performance tracking. The portfolio is augmented by specialized services including Content Digitization Services, Enterprise Content Management (ECM) Services, and Certified Training Solutions. The company provides access to over 100,000 online courses and serves government and corporate clients with tailored L&D programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Learning & Development Solutions Comprehensive L&D solutions designed to build real skills, strengthen leadership, and improve team performance through active learning, practical application, and measurable outcomes, targeted at corporate and government clients in the MENA region.
- Academy Design & Capability Building Strategic learning infrastructure development that systematically builds organizational capability, from competency frameworks to certification pathways, turning learning into measurable talent growth.
- Content Creation and Media Production Creative content and professional media production solutions designed to strengthen brand communication, increase audience engagement, and support impactful learning experiences across digital and corporate platforms.
- Digital Learning Ecosystem End-to-end eLearning solutions including instructional design, interactive content, video production, and learning experience management to enhance training outcomes.
- Immersive and Emerging Technologies Cutting-edge learning experiences using VR, AI, and gamification that make training realistic, engaging, and highly effective, enabling practice of complex procedures risk-free with personalized AI coaching.
- Consulting & Organizational Development Strategic advisory services focused on improving organizational health, defining culture, transforming HR functions, and planning for future workforce needs.
- Assessment & Evaluation Center Professional measurement of individual potential, current skills, development needs, and organizational talent readiness using validated assessment tools including psychometric testing and assessment centers.
- AI-Powered Learning Platform Advanced learning platform powered by AI that delivers personalized content, enables faster skill development, and provides continuous performance tracking with measurable results, accessible to corporate and individual learners.
- Content Digitization Services End-to-end support to convert legacy materials into dynamic, scalable digital assets including content audit, digitization and enhancement, platform integration, and analytics and optimization.
- Certified Training Solutions Programs that deliver globally recognized certifications including skills gap analysis, vendor partnerships with certification bodies (PMI, AWS, Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA), LMS integration, and ROI measurement.
Quantifiable outcome
- 500,000+ learners empowered since 2019
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Skillup Mena
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Skillup Mena technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability6 records
Feature4 records
Skillup Mena partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Saudi Lime Company (الشركة السعودية للصناعات الجيرية)coreSkillUp MENA announced a strategic partnership with the Saudi Lime Company aimed at supporting learning and development initiatives, investing in human capital, and empowering competencies to build a more sustainable and innovative future.
- Omantel (عُمانتل)coreOmantel launched an 'AI for Non-Technical Roles' program in partnership with SkillUp MENA to enable employees to acquire essential AI skills and enhance their ability to leverage modern technologies in the workplace.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Skillup Mena competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Coursera for Business: Global leader in enterprise L&D with a curated catalog of courses, certificates, and degree content from top universities and companies. Directly comparable to Skillup MENA on AI-powered personalized learning, enterprise deployment, and academy-style programs, though Coursera's content is global rather than MENA-localized.
- Udemy Business: Enterprise subscription platform offering on-demand courses across technical, business, and soft-skills categories. Competes head-to-head with Skillup MENA on large course libraries (similar 100K+ scale), AI-driven recommendations, and enterprise LMS integrations.
- Pluralsight: Enterprise technology-skills platform with skill assessments, learning paths, and AI-driven recommendations. Closely comparable to Skillup MENA's tech-skills and certification offerings (PMI, AWS, Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA partnerships) and AI-powered personalization.
- KnowledgeHut: Global professional training and certification provider with strong presence in India and emerging markets. Comparable to Skillup MENA on certified training programs (PMI, AWS, Scrum), corporate workshops, and AI upskilling offerings.
- edX for Business: Enterprise arm of edX offering university-backed courses, boot camps, and executive education. Comparable to Skillup MENA on academy design, executive learning, and certified training, with strong academic content but limited MENA regional customization.
Broad incumbents
- Skillsoft: Long-standing enterprise L&D provider offering compliance training, leadership development, and IT certification content. Comparable to Skillup MENA on enterprise-wide academy-style deployments and multi-year contracts, with deeper global brand but weaker MENA presence.
- Cegos: Global training and consulting firm delivering leadership, management, and organizational development programs. Comparable to Skillup MENA on consulting + training bundles, multi-country enterprise deployments, and blended learning delivery.
- LinkedIn Learning: LinkedIn's enterprise learning platform bundled with talent insights and a vast professional network. Overlaps with Skillup MENA on corporate upskilling and leadership development, with broader distribution via LinkedIn's professional graph but less MENA-specific localization.
Regional players
- LEORON Professional Development Institute: MENA-headquartered corporate training provider focused on energy, finance, and management programs across the GCC. Most directly comparable regional competitor to Skillup MENA on B2B/B2G training, certified courses, and enterprise academy rollouts.
- Zabeel Institute: UAE-based professional training institute offering certified courses and corporate training across the GCC. Comparable to Skillup MENA on certified training solutions, enterprise programs, and a UAE operational footprint.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Skillup Mena social profiles
Digital presenceSkillup Mena financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Skillup Mena leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Skillup Mena funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Skillup Mena M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Skillup Mena
What does Skillup Mena do?
Skillup MENA is a corporate learning and development provider delivering customized training programs, academy design, content production, and an AI-powered learning platform to enterprises and government entities across the MENA region. The company combines AI-personalized learning, immersive VR/AI/gamification experiences, consulting, and assessment services to build workforce capabilities. It provides access to 100,000+ courses and operates across 8 countries with 70+ academies launched since 2019.
Is Skillup Mena a public or private company?
Skillup Mena is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Skillup Mena founded?
Skillup Mena was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Skillup Mena based?
Skillup Mena is headquartered in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, in the Middle East region.
How does Skillup Mena make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Customized Corporate Training Programs are the primary driver. The others are annual Recurring Revenue.
Who are Skillup Mena's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Coursera for Business, Udemy Business, Pluralsight, KnowledgeHut and edX for Business. Broad incumbents are Skillsoft, Cegos and LinkedIn Learning. Regional players are LEORON Professional Development Institute and Zabeel Institute.
Does Skillup Mena have an API?
No public API is recorded for Skillup Mena.
What industry is Skillup Mena in?
Skillup Mena's product category is Corporate Learning & Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFAFAC, AI Tutoring Systems (Conversational Tutors, Homework Helpers), with a secondary code of EDAFADAM, Skills Assessment & Talent/Employability Testing Platforms. Its NAICS code is 61143.