King’s Academy has launched the “Investment and Markets” Competition in exclusive partnership with Bank al Etihad, introducing a new educational initiative aimed at strengthening financial literacy among youth in Jordan and equipping students with a deeper understanding of investment and financial markets through a hands-on experience that simulates real-world trading environments.

The initiative reflects the shared commitment of King’s Academy and Bank al Etihad to supporting quality education and empowering Jordanian youth through an applied academic platform that enables students to develop key skills in financial analysis, decision-making, risk management, and strategic thinking — preparing a new generation to better navigate the demands of today’s evolving economy.

The partnership was officially announced during a signing ceremony held on the King’s Academy campus, attended by members of the school’s administrative and academic leadership alongside Bank al Etihad CEO Montaser Dawwas. The initiative aims to connect students with real financial market concepts within a structured and professionally guided educational framework that contributes to their academic and personal development.

Set to launch at the beginning of the next academic year, the competition is expected to engage more than 300 private upper school students from across Jordan in its first year. The program is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of investing and financial markets at an early stage while strengthening their understanding of financial decision-making and risk management through an environment centered on practical application and analytical thinking.

The competition is powered by an advanced simulation platform developed by the Canadian educational software company Stock-Trak, which specializes in virtual trading solutions for educational institutions and organizations. Through the platform, students will be able to build and manage virtual investment portfolios while tracking their performance in line with real market movements, providing an immersive learning experience that supports the development of essential skills including investment analysis, decision-making, risk management, teamwork, and effective communication.

Commenting on the initiative, King’s Academy Head of School Penny Townsend said that the program — inspired by ideas developed by King’s Academy students — reflects His Majesty King Abdullah II’s vision of empowering Jordanian youth and preparing them to play an active role in the national economy by introducing them to investment concepts and financial responsibility at an early age.

Townsend added that the competition aligns with national priorities related to skills development, leadership, and economic participation, underscoring the importance of creating applied educational opportunities that provide students with practical exposure to the realities of modern financial markets.

For his part, Bank al Etihad CEO Montaser Dawwas described the partnership as a long-term investment in building a generation equipped with financial awareness and knowledge, capable of understanding economic shifts and navigating the dynamics of modern markets. He emphasized the importance of educational platforms that bridge academic learning with practical experience.

Dawwas further noted that the competition extends beyond its competitive aspect by offering a comprehensive educational experience that strengthens students’ critical thinking and financial analysis skills while providing them with direct exposure to experts and professionals from the financial and investment sectors.

The competition will conclude with a final round hosted at King’s Academy, where a judging panel comprising representatives from Bank al Etihad and experts from the investment and entrepreneurship sectors will evaluate qualifying teams and projects based on rigorous professional and practical criteria.

The initiative was originally conceived by King’s Academy students Sami AlAtout ’26 and Soliman Arabeyyat ’27 and is envisioned as a long-term academic program with future plans for expansion across Jordan and the wider region, further reinforcing Jordan’s role as a hub for developing young talent in investment, economics, and entrepreneurship.