Rula Maayah

Jordanian tech pioneer creating youth employment solutions

Rula Maayah is a Jordanian social entrepreneur born in 1972 who founded Silatech in 2007, a groundbreaking platform connecting youth with job opportunities in the Arab world. Growing up in Amman, she observed the high unemployment rates among young people and the lack of career development resources. After studying computer science at the University of Jordan and working in tech startups, she realized the potential of digital platforms to bridge this gap.

In 2007, with support from the King Abdullah II Foundation, she launched Silatech, which has since become a regional leader in youth employment. The platform uses AI-driven matching algorithms to connect over 10 million job seekers with employers across 20 countries. Silatech's innovative apprenticeship programs and skills training have enabled 500,000+ successful job placements, with a focus on marginalized groups like women and refugees.

Rula's approach combines traditional vocational training with modern digital tools, creating scalable solutions to address youth unemployment - a critical issue in the Arab world where 28% of youth are unemployed. Her work has been recognized by the World Economic Forum, which named her a Young Global Leader in 2010. Silatech's impact has expanded beyond employment to include initiatives like the Youth Mentorship Program and Social Enterprise Incubator.

Key innovations include the Remote Work Hub, enabling cross-border employment opportunities, and the Future Skills Initiative addressing emerging industry needs. Her vision of an interconnected Arab workforce has inspired similar models in东南亚 and非洲.