Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense on Friday launched the Career Transition Program, an initiative designed to prepare, qualify and empower military personnel approaching retirement to transition into civilian career paths, supporting their long-term stability and continued contribution to national development.

The launch ceremony, held in Riyadh, was attended by Assistant Minister of Defense for Executive Affairs Dr. Khalid Al-Biyari, along with senior military and civilian officials from the ministry.

During the event, a visual presentation outlined the program’s objectives, which focus on strengthening the scientific and professional capabilities of military personnel nearing retirement, aligning their skills with labor market needs, expanding access to training and employment opportunities, and supporting empowerment in entrepreneurship.

Executive Director General of Human Resources at the Ministry of Defense’s Agency for Excellence Services, Engineer Sami Al-Badnah, said the program represents an extension of military service through a structured and secure professional transition for retirees. He noted that the initiative aims to transform military experience into sustainable economic value within the labor market.

Al-Badnah explained that the program is built around four main tracks: awareness, training and reskilling through skills development and accredited professional certifications; employment by providing job opportunities aligned with military expertise; and entrepreneurship, which enables retired military personnel to establish their own ventures and convert their experience into productive and sustainable economic activity.

Dr. Al-Biyari said the program was launched under the guidance and follow-up of Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, describing it as a clear expression of loyalty to those who have served the Kingdom through the armed forces, and a reflection of the leadership’s commitment to empowering its citizens.

He added that the program embodies a message of appreciation and a practical application of a national vision that invests in people and believes in their capabilities, marking a transition “from one field to another, and from one form of service to another,” with the shared goal of serving the nation and contributing to its development.

Dr. Al-Biyari noted that international experience has shown investing in retired military personnel is an investment in efficiency, discipline and trust, stressing that Saudi Arabia does not merely replicate global models but adapts them within an ambitious national framework that places citizens at the heart of development.

The launch event also witnessed the signing of several memoranda of cooperation between the Ministry of Defense and public and private sector entities in the fields of training, employment and entrepreneurship, aimed at enabling military personnel approaching retirement to integrate into the labor market and entrepreneurial sectors.