The largest private media arts institute in the world will officially open a new campus in Jeddah, on 17 November this year. Through 55 campuses in 30 countries SAE Institute provides highly specialized one and two year certificate and diploma courses in Digital Animation, Film & TV Production, Audio Engineering and Multimedia. The SAE Institute in Jeddah will be the first of it's kind in Saudi Arabia but joins sister colleges in Dubai and Amman, with others planned for Doha and Bagdhad. The driving force behind SAE Institute Jeddah is 30 year old Dalia Binladin, herself an animation graduate of SAE and Middlesex University. Ms. Binladin was exposed to the animation industry in the UAE and the film industries in the UK and Lebanon – a devotee of the craft she spent the last two years negotiating with authorities to open the institute in Jeddah. The new campus in Jeddah is a purpose built facility, featuring world class audio recording consoles and studios, animation labs, motion capture, and a fully equipped TV broadcast studio and Green Screen. “What I love about the SAE approach is the emphasis on hands-on practical training,” says Dalia. “There is no better way to learn and future-proof your skills by learning on the actual equipment preferred by industry.” As an example, Dalia cites the institute's new Avid studio which features equipment that has not yet been released to the industry. Dalia thinks it's important for Arabs generally, and Saudis in particular to become masters of media. “It's our culture and our voices and vision that we want to represent. It's important that young Saudis have the tools and knowledge to create their own content so we don't leave the way we are presented in other people's hands.” But there's a very strong economical reason for the rapid growth of vocational training for the media sector.

 “If you look at the animation and gaming industry worldwide it's worth billions of dollars. More money is now spent on this than Hollywood spends on movies … and Hollywood spends a lot. Then you throw in at least 300 television stations in the region, and countless radio stations, magazines, and newspapers. It's not hard to see that this industry offers tremendous employment opportunities for Saudis.” Registrations are now open for the first intake in November. Initially the institute is providing diploma courses for men only but is hopeful in the near future to provide courses for women. Dalia says she was also motivated to provide a top quality education for Saudis at home.

 “The government spends a lot of money sending young Saudis overseas for education. I think we can invest in great facilities and programs here and provide Saudis with training without having to leave home.” SAE Institute was founded in Australia in 1976. Its parent Navitas is a publicly listed education company. There are SAE Institutes worldwide on 5 continents and diplomas are issued through the international parent company in Oxford, UK. In Saudi Arabia programs are delivered by Ms Binladin educational company Seyada for creative arts which is licensed by the TVTC.