Al Yamamah University and the Institut Français de la Mode have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a strategic long term academic partnership aimed at elevating fashion management education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
This partnership serves as an extension of the enduring collaboration between the Saudi Fashion Commission and the Institut Français de la Mode following the signing of a memorandum of understanding in 2024 which announced a strategic partnership dedicated to advancing fashion education and professional development within the Kingdom. Through this collaboration the Fashion Commission has provided executive education opportunities for Saudi professionals at global standards and supported the launch of the first Institut Français de la Mode track in Riyadh within the Executive Master in Strategic Management of Fashion and Luxury program thereby expanding access to internationally recognized fashion education inside the Kingdom.
This new partnership between Al Yamamah University and the Institut Français de la Mode represents the subsequent phase of this vision by uniting one of the premier private universities in Saudi Arabia with one of the most prominent global institutions specializing in fashion education to build sustainable academic pathways that will prepare the next generation of Saudi fashion industry leaders.
Under the agreement Al Yamamah University and the Institut Français de la Mode become academic partners in Saudi Arabia to develop fashion management programs within the specified scope of the agreement.
Program Highlights and Expansion
The collaboration is slated to commence in the fall of 2026 to seamlessly integrate global fashion expertise into the Saudi academic landscape:
Academic Tracks: Launching the specialized Strategic Management of Fashion and Luxury track.
Core Integration: The track will be embedded within the Master of Business Administration and Executive Master of Business Administration programs at Al Yamamah University.
Joint Execution: The curriculum will be developed and implemented jointly by both institutions bridging internationally recognized academic excellence with the evolving demands of the rapidly growing Saudi fashion sector.
Future Scope: The partnership is structured to subsequently expand to encompass additional academic programs, executive education, and professional training.
This partnership reflects a shared ambition to cultivate Saudi talent, strengthen academic cooperation between France and Saudi Arabia, and contribute to the fashion ecosystem in the Kingdom in alignment with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
The Signing Ceremony
The official signing ceremony took place in Paris at the headquarters of the French Ministry of Culture in the presence of the French Minister of Culture Catherine Pégard alongside senior representatives from both institutions.
Representatives of Al Yamamah University:
Khalid Mohammed Alkhudair, Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Abdulrahman Alkhudair, Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Ahmed Amer
Dr. Abdullah Alhusseini
Raghad Balkhi
Representatives of the Institut Français de la Mode:
Sidney Toledano, Chairman of the Board of the Institut Français de la Mode and Advisor to the Chairman of LVMH Group
Xavier Romatet, Dean of the Institut Français de la Mode
Sylvie Ebel, Deputy Dean of the Institut Français de la Mode
Dr. Franck Delpal, Program Director at the Institut Français de la Mode
Pascal Morand, Executive President of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode
Strategic Vision and Industry Impact
The agreement builds upon the strategic partnership between the Fashion Commission and the Institut Français de la Mode which has provided new opportunities for Saudi professionals to access internationally recognized executive education alongside supporting the development of a world class fashion ecosystem in the Kingdom. Recently this collaboration contributed to the launch of the first Executive Master track for the Institut Français de la Mode in Riyadh marking a prominent step toward providing specialized global postgraduate fashion education within Saudi Arabia.
Within its mandate to develop the fashion sector in Saudi Arabia the Fashion Commission identified the need to provide internationally recognized higher education pathways in fashion management and brought together Al Yamamah University and the Institut Français de la Mode to establish this strategic collaboration. The Commission continues to offer specialized industry expertise and market insights ensuring the program aligns with the evolving needs of the fashion sector in the Kingdom and supports the preparation of future leaders in this field.
Official Statements
"Over nearly seven decades in education we have recognized that the strength of an institution lies in its ability to anticipate the needs of the future economy and prepare talent for it. This partnership with the Institut Français de la Mode represents a significant milestone for higher education in Saudi Arabia as it merges a solid academic foundation with world class international expertise. With the accelerated growth of the fashion and luxury sectors in the Kingdom the need for Saudi professionals equipped with technical skills and leadership capabilities is continuously rising. We extend our gratitude to the Fashion Commission for its role in advancing this sector."
"I am delighted by this collaboration which will enable the Institut Français de la Mode as a prestigious global fashion school headquartered in Paris the global capital of fashion to harness its resources expertise and network to support the development of the fashion and luxury sectors in Saudi Arabia. This partnership relies on the complementary strengths of both academic institutions which share the same vision for excellence and will work together to deliver a unique and highly efficient approach to fashion business management education in Saudi Arabia."
"Building a globally competitive fashion sector begins with investing in human capital. This partnership reflects the commitment of the Fashion Commission to building a world class educational ecosystem empowering Saudi talent to acquire the knowledge leadership skills and international perspectives necessary to shape the future of the fashion sector. By uniting leading academic institutions from Saudi Arabia and France we are building sustainable pathways that enhance the creative economy of the Kingdom and support the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030."
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