Egyptian education technology startup eYouth has expanded into Iraq, launching what it describes as the country’s first Arabic-language digital learning platform focused on labour market-driven skills, in a move aimed at strengthening workforce readiness and employability across key sectors of the Iraqi economy.
The expansion, announced through a strategic partnership with Al-Majal Group, one of Iraq’s leading private-sector conglomerates, seeks to directly connect education with real market needs by delivering practical, future-ready skills to youth, graduates, and working professionals.
Founded in 2016 and taken online in 2018, eYouth has grown into a regional ed-tech powerhouse, reaching more than 4 million learners across 21 countries, with existing operations in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Its entry into Iraq speaks a major step in the country’s digital education landscape, as the platform prepares to roll out Arabic-first, internationally benchmarked training programmes from 2026 onward.
What You Should Know About eYouth
eYouth was founded in 2016 with a mission to make high-quality, career-focused education accessible to young people across the Middle East and beyond. By 2018, the startup transitioned fully into online learning, allowing it to scale its offerings and reach learners across borders.
Unlike many platforms that rely on third-party content, eYouth designs and builds its own online training courses, with a strong emphasis on employability and career development.
Its programmes are tailored to help learners acquire skills that are directly relevant to the labour market, positioning them for both entry-level roles and career advancement.
Over the years, this approach has helped the startup evolve into a regional leader in ed-tech, known for delivering customised, high-quality learning solutions at scale.
Why Iraq Matters in eYouth’s Regional Expansion
The move into Iraq marks a strategic milestone for eYouth, as the country represents a market with a young population, growing demand for skills, and limited access to job-oriented digital education in Arabic.
By launching the first platform of its kind in the country, eYouth aims to fill a critical gap between education and employment. According to the company, the expansion is designed to support workforce readiness in Iraq by aligning training programmes with the needs of key economic sectors.
The focus is on ensuring that learners are equipped with skills that are immediately applicable in the workplace, rather than purely academic knowledge.
“Establishing eYouth Iraq is a strategic step toward building a sustainable talent development ecosystem in the country,” said Mustafa Abd Ellatif, co-founder and CEO of eYouth.
“He added that the company’s goal is to ensure “education is directly connected to real labour market needs,” while empowering Iraqi youth with “practical, future-ready skills” that can lead to meaningful employment and active participation in the economy.
The Role of Al-Majal Group in Driving Local Impact
eYouth’s entry into Iraq is being executed through a strategic partnership with Al-Majal Group, one of the country’s most prominent private-sector players. The collaboration is central to localising the platform’s impact and ensuring its programmes are relevant to Iraq’s economic realities.
Al-Majal Group’s chairman and CEO, Ali Agha Jaffar, described human capital development as a foundation for Iraq’s long-term growth and resilience.
“Developing human capital is a cornerstone of Iraq’s long-term growth and economic resilience,” he said, noting that the partnership reflects a shared commitment to supporting Iraqi youth through education that aligns with employer needs.
By working with both public and private stakeholders, the partnership aims to create sustainable value not only for learners, but also for businesses and the national economy.
“By collaborating with both public and private stakeholders, we aim to create sustainable value for individuals, businesses, and the national economy,” Jaffar added.
Skills, Sectors, and Who the Platform is Built for
The eYouth Iraq platform is designed to serve a broad spectrum of learners, including young people entering the workforce, fresh university graduates, and experienced professionals seeking to upskill or reskill. Its courses will focus on high-demand skills across priority sectors, reflecting the evolving needs of Iraq’s labour market.
A key feature of the platform is its Arabic-first approach, which lowers barriers to access while maintaining global relevance.
All educational content will be developed in line with international quality standards, ensuring that learners gain competitive skills that can be applied both locally and regionally.
By targeting sectors with strong employment potential, eYouth aims to help Iraqi learners remain competitive in a rapidly changing economy, where digital skills and continuous learning are increasingly essential.
Connecting Education, Employment, and Economic Participation
At the core of eYouth’s expansion strategy is the belief that education should be tightly linked to employment outcomes.
The company plans to work closely with government institutions and private-sector partners to ensure that its programmes respond to real-world demands rather than theoretical frameworks.
“This platform will empower Iraqi youth with practical, future-ready skills and open new pathways to meaningful employment and active economic participation,” Abd Ellatif said, underscoring the platform’s role in strengthening Iraq’s talent pipeline.
By fostering closer ties between education providers, employers, and policymakers, the initiative aims to contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive talent development ecosystem in the country.
What to Expect Next: Phased Rollout from 2026
The eYouth Iraq platform is expected to launch in phases throughout 2026, allowing the company to gradually expand its offerings across multiple sectors and regions.
This phased approach is intended to ensure quality delivery, local relevance, and steady adoption among learners and employers alike.
As programmes roll out, eYouth plans to scale its impact by continuously adapting course content to market trends and economic priorities, reinforcing its broader mission of using technology-driven education to support employment, growth, and resilience in emerging markets.
With its entry into Iraq, eYouth is not only expanding its geographic footprint but also setting a new benchmark for Arabic-language, labour market–aligned digital education in the region.
Talking Points
eYouth’s expansion into Iraq represents a strategically sound and timely intervention in a market where youth unemployment, skills mismatch, and limited access to market-relevant digital education remain persistent challenges; however, its long-term impact will depend on execution rather than intent.
The focus on Arabic-first, labour market–aligned training directly addresses structural gaps in Iraq’s education-to-employment pipeline and reflects a clear understanding of local realities, while the partnership with Al-Majal Group provides essential institutional credibility and access to private-sector networks.
That being said, success will hinge on how effectively eYouth localises its content beyond language, by embedding Iraq-specific industry needs, regulatory contexts, and employer participation, rather than replicating regional models.
The phased rollout through 2026 is prudent, but it also exposes the platform to risks tied to political uncertainty, infrastructure limitations, and uneven digital access across regions.
However, if eYouth can translate its regional scale and experience into measurable employment outcomes and sustained employer engagement in Iraq, the initiative could become a model for workforce-driven ed-tech expansion in fragile and emerging economies; if not, it risks becoming another well-designed platform with limited real-world impact.
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