CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice in Saudi Arabia

The CMI Level 7 Diploma is a UK-awarded qualification for senior managers, directors and experienced professionals in Saudi Arabia. Delivered over 18 sessions, our L7 course covers strategic leadership, organisational strategy, people management, and corporate responsibility and sustainability.

Assessment takes the form of written assignments that allow learners to apply their knowledge to organisational challenges. Completing the qualification can also enable eligible candidates to take a streamlined route towards Chartered Manager (CMgr) status, subject to the relevant eligibility requirements.

Yes, if your role encompasses shaping organisational direction, whether as a director, general manager or member of the executive committee, typically with a decade or more of experience. The CMI Level 7 Diploma advances strategic leadership, corporate strategy, executive people leadership and ESG stewardship, with assessments grounded in your own organisation. Leaders whose accountability centres on team and project delivery are better suited to CMI Level 5.

Yes, CMI Level 7 is highly recognised by employers in Saudi Arabia and across the GCC. As a globally recognised credential, it validates advanced strategic leadership and management expertise to multinational corporations, government entities, and local businesses. Achieving this certification demonstrates your capability to drive organisational strategy, which makes you a competitive candidate for senior executive and director-level roles in the region.

The CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice covers four core areas:

1. Strategic leadership
2. Organisational strategy
3. People and performance leadership
4. Strategic corporate responsibility and sustainability

These topics help senior professionals strengthen strategic decision-making, lead people effectively, improve organisational performance and address wider organisational responsibilities.

The CMI Level 7 Award, Certificate and Diploma differ in the range of topics and depth of learning they cover:

• Award: A focused qualification covering one qualifying Group A unit
• Certificate: A broader qualification covering multiple qualifying Group A units across strategic management and leadership
• Diploma: The complete Level 7 qualification pathway, covering strategic leadership, organisational strategy, people and performance, and strategic corporate responsibility and sustainability

Yes. The Award and Certificate are designed as exit points within the CMI Level 7 Diploma pathway. Learners can complete the qualification requirements for an Award or Certificate and continue with the remaining units if they wish to complete the full Diploma.

• Award: Any one qualifying Group A unit can meet the Award requirement
• Certificate: Any two qualifying Group A units can meet the Certificate requirement
• Diploma: To achieve the full Diploma, learners must complete the complete four-unit program, including the Group B sustainability unit

Important distinction: The Award or Certificate does not automatically convert into a Diploma. Learners must complete the additional units required for the full Diploma pathway.

This structure allows candidates to gain an intermediate qualification at a defined exit point while continuing their learning towards the complete Level 7 Diploma.

ESG and sustainability are part of the core CMI Level 7 Diploma because senior professionals often have responsibilities that extend beyond immediate business performance. The Diploma includes strategic corporate responsibility and sustainability to help leaders consider wider organisational impacts when making decisions. This reflects the broader scope of senior strategic roles, while keeping the sustainability component within the full Diploma rather than the Award or Certificate.

There are no formal academic entry requirements for the CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice. It is designed for senior managers, directors and executives; your suitability is solely assessed on management experience and current role.

The CMI Level 7 Diploma runs for about 18 Saturdays, roughly 4.5 months, with one live online session each week, totalling 120 guided learning hours.

The Diploma's four units map onto the capabilities Vision 2030 leadership roles demand:

• Strategic leadership: Set direction and lead through the scale of national transformation programs
• Organisational strategy: Build and monitor strategy for giga-project and privatisation initiatives
• People leadership: Drive performance and engagement in support of Saudisation and workforce nationalisation
• ESG and sustainability: Direct alignment with the Saudi Green Initiative and national sustainability disclosure expectations

Every unit is assessed through a written assignment based on a workplace scenario. The assignment brief is built into the live session (30 minutes within that unit's GLH). You then submit through the CMI portal in the window that follows. Your work goes through Learners Point's internal assessor first, then on to CMI's moderation team for final sign-off.

You get one resit per unit, on top of the initial attempt. The Diploma's total hours also run a bit above CMI's minimum (410 TUT against a 370 minimum, 41 credits against 37), so there's some buffer built in. That means a single failed or exempted unit generally doesn't put your ability to complete the Diploma at risk.

Only completing the Diploma provides the Fast-Track benefit, which exempts you from the standard written assessment in the Chartered Manager application route. You may then follow the streamlined process, which requires a professional discussion instead. To apply for Chartered Manager (CMgr) status after completing the Diploma, you will also need at least 3 years of management experience.

Learners Point takes a distinct approach to CMI delivery in Saudi Arabia, combining flexibility, senior-level relevance and a broader strategic focus:

• 100% live online delivery: The program is delivered live on Saturdays, making it suitable for senior professionals balancing work commitments
• Sustainability within the core Diploma: ESG and sustainability are integrated into the full L7 Diploma rather than positioned only as an optional area
• Chartered Manager Fast-Track positioning: The Diploma provides an exemption from the standard written assessment for the Chartered Manager application route, subject to the relevant requirements
• Senior professional focus: The L7 Diploma is built around strategic leadership, organisational strategy, people and performance, and wider organisational responsibility
• Clear qualification pathway: Award, Certificate and Diploma are structured as defined exit points within one connected pathway