{
  "id": 1276853,
  "title": "Saudi student funds cybersecurity studies through gig work",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/saudi-student-funds-cybersecurity-studies-through-gig-work",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-16T13:21:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ajel English",
    "slug": "ajel-english",
    "url": "https://english.ajel.sa/saudi-arabia/u8u3pe6dn"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Abdulmajeed Al-Qahtani, a Saudi student pursuing a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity, finances his education through gig work. The Saudi youth's determination and self-reliance are evident in Al-Qahtani's journey, as he balances his studies with a gig economy job as a driver for delivery app platforms. He told Ajel news outlet that securing a diploma in cybersecurity marked the beginning of his path, emphasizing the dynamic nature of the field that drives him to continuously learn and enhance his skills for a robust career. The financial burden of his studies posed a significant challenge, but Al-Qahtani chose to assume responsibility by working as an Uber driver, which not only provides him with income but also offers flexible hours that align with his academic commitments. He meticulously plans his schedule, rising early and organizing his time to accommodate lectures and coursework while making optimal use of available intervals to drive. Al-Qahtani believes that self-reliance does not entail establishing a large enterprise, but rather maximizing the potential of available opportunities to attain one's objectives. He highlights that his experience has instilled discipline, time management, responsibility, and intercultural communication skills. Al-Qahtani offers advice to young people: \"Don't wait for the perfect opportunity. Start with what you have, even if it's small, and use it as a stepping stone toward your bigger ambitions.\" Upon graduation, he aspires to embark on a professional career in cybersecurity, continue refining his abilities, and acquire further qualifications and experience. He stresses that the most crucial lesson learned is not to await perfect conditions, but to initiate with the resources at hand and persistently advance.",
  "summary": "Abdulmajeed Al-Qahtani supports his cybersecurity degree by working as a ride-hailing driver, reflecting Saudi youth’s initiative and self-reliance.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}