Saudi Arabia is implementing significant changes across all levels of public education with the introduction of a national artificial intelligence (AI) curriculum, starting from the 2025–2026 academic year.

The AI curriculum in Saudi public schools is being introduced by the National Curriculum Center in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA).

Aligning with the Human Capability Development Program under Vision 2030, this AI curriculum initiative aims to “build a comprehensive educational system that reinforces national values while boosting the Kingdom’s global competitiveness and leadership in AI,” officials stated.

The new AI curriculum, designed to empower students with specialised skills from an early stage, will equip them to engage with the digital age and contribute to innovative solutions throughout their academic journey—from primary school to university—as well as through vocational training and lifelong learning.

Explaining the subject, officials said, “The new curriculum includes specialized AI study units tailored to different age groups and delivered through interactive and practical methods. The plans also include mechanisms to ensure knowledge continuity between stages, helping to build and accumulate skills progressively. Learning outcomes will be integrated into the comprehensive student assessment system.”

This step coincides with the recent launch by SDAIA, in collaboration with the National Curriculum Center and the Ministry of Education, of an educational course titled “Introduction to Artificial Intelligence” for third-year high school students in the general track.

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This course was introduced during the Human Capability Initiative Conference held in April 2025, marking the first phase of curriculum development and representing a foundational move toward embedding AI concepts in school programs to nurture a knowledgeable and capable generation in this advanced technological field,” officials added.

Recently, the United Arab Emirates also introduced AI lessons in schools, starting from the kindergarten level, where children engage in visual and interactive activities to explore AI and other digital technologies through stories and play.