Saudi Arabia expands AI push as training reaches more than 1.5 million citizens

Saudi Arabia is accelerating its national artificial intelligence agenda, with more than 1.5 million citizens now having benefited from data and AI training programmes as the kingdom uses 2026, designated as the Year of Artificial Intelligence, to expand adoption and build national capabilities.

The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) said in June that the number of beneficiaries of its training programmes had exceeded 1.56 million, including more than 14,495 specialists and experts in data and AI. 

The figure is higher than the 1.2 million milestone cited in the latest national update and reflects the scale of Saudi Arabia’s focus on AI skills development alongside technology adoption.

The training drive forms part of Saudi Vision 2030 and the country’s National Strategy for Data and AI, with SDAIA leading initiatives spanning workforce development, digital infrastructure, policy, regulation and AI adoption across government and business.

AI skills become central to national strategy

Human-capital development has become a major pillar of Saudi Arabia’s AI programme. SDAIA’s Year of AI framework identifies national capability building as one of its objectives, with a focus on equipping Saudi talent with the skills needed for future demand in data and AI.

The authority’s programmes include initiatives for the wider population as well as specialised training for students, researchers, technology professionals and other specialists. In July, SDAIA also announced 18 specialised training bootcamps covering areas including generative programming, AI agent systems, data engineering, computer vision, prompt engineering and responsible AI use.

SDAIA’s own data shows that 84 per cent of the Saudi public was familiar with the concept of AI in 2025, while 73 per cent reported awareness of real-world AI applications. 

The authority also reports more than 80,300 graduates in technology-related disciplines between 2020 and 2025 and a 13.1 per cent compound annual growth rate in AI talent concentration in the Saudi job market between 2020 and 2024.

Saudi Arabia formally designated 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence in March, with the initiative aimed at increasing adoption across sectors, strengthening national capabilities and encouraging innovation and investment in advanced technologies. 

Adoption extends across government and business

The AI strategy is also focused on moving beyond training and into practical deployment.

The International Monetary Fund’s 2026 Article IV assessment said Saudi Arabia ranks highly in global AI adoption, with use expanding across sectors including government services, healthcare, education and financial technology. The IMF noted that most of the kingdom’s interim 2025 targets for AI workforce and investment had already been surpassed. 

SDAIA has introduced programmes such as the Rowad Package and AI Ethics Incentive Badges to support corporate adoption, while its wider mandate covers policymaking, infrastructure, capability building and technology enablement for government and private-sector organisations.

The IMF also noted that Saudi Arabia’s AI strategy presents potential productivity gains but could create transitional labour-market pressures, highlighting the importance of addressing constraints to adoption and managing associated risks. 

Governance runs alongside AI adoption

Saudi Arabia’s AI strategy places governance alongside deployment, with SDAIA developing frameworks around responsible and ethical AI use.

Its AI Ethics Principles focus on supporting innovation, enabling responsible adoption, governing AI models to mitigate risks, and protecting data privacy and individual rights.

The kingdom has also increased its involvement in international AI governance. SDAIA says Saudi Arabia became the first Arab country to join the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, while contributing to international discussions on responsible and reliable AI. 

The approach reflects a parallel focus on expanding AI capabilities while developing frameworks for how the technology is deployed and governed.

International cooperation is another part of Saudi Arabia’s AI strategy. The kingdom has engaged with organisations including UNESCO and the OECD on responsible technology, AI governance and capability development.

Saudi Arabia also hosted the UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of AI in Riyadh in 2026, alongside the fourth Global AI Summit, reinforcing its efforts to participate in international discussions around the responsible development and use of AI. 

As the Year of AI continues, Saudi Arabia’s AI agenda is therefore spanning three interconnected areas: expanding adoption across the economy, building a larger national talent pool and establishing governance frameworks to manage the opportunities and risks associated with wider AI use.