Education & Scholarships
Are we building skills for the next decade?
Ambitious Nation pillar16 sources7 metricsLast reviewed 2026-05-16
What this means for citizens
AI is no longer a closed conversation among specialists. A teacher in Tabuk, a small-business owner in Abha, a final-year student in Dammam — all have a recognized, free path into the technology that will define the next decade of work.
The Story
Before
AI was reshaping work globally — but for most Saudis, it was a headline, not a skill. There was no nationwide path to AI literacy, no certification recognized across employers, no Arabic-language curriculum at population scale.
Initiative
SDAIA, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Human Resources & Social Development launched SAMAI ('One Million Saudis in AI') in September 2024 at the GAIN Summit. Free, fully online, Arabic-language curriculum covering AI concepts, applications, ethics, and practical tools — with official SDAIA certification at no cost.
Outcome
By November 2025, the program had certified over 1.1 million Saudis — a target originally set for three years, achieved in under one. 52% of trainees were women; 48% men. 70% were already employed; 30% were students. SAMAI 2, launched in 2026, now focuses on the entire ~1.2M-strong government workforce.
For citizens
AI is no longer a closed conversation among specialists. A teacher in Tabuk, a small-business owner in Abha, a final-year student in Dammam — all have a recognized, free path into the technology that will define the next decade of work.
Supporting metrics
Female participation
52%
Cohort 1
Male participation
48%
Cohort 1
Employees
70%
Cohort 1
Students
30%
Cohort 1
Share of Saudi labor force trained in 5 years
~10%
unprecedented in international comparison
Female participation in SAMAI
~35%
of all SAMAI participants are women
Saudis studying at the world's best universities
23,400
70,000 students abroad by 2030 — 23,400 already at top-200 institutions
6 million students on one school platform
6M+
98% of K-12 reached — equal access from Riyadh to remote villages
King's scholarship — cumulative since 2005
250K+
250,000+ Saudis funded to study abroad over two decades
Active Madrasati teachers
525K+
525,000+ Saudi teachers operating in the unified digital platform
KAUST in CS globally
Top 50
Top 50 universities worldwide for computer science
Working-age Saudis with AI certification
9%
9% of working-age Saudis hold AI training certifications
Timeline of Milestones
2024
SAMAI launched at GAIN Summit (Sept)
2025· milestone
1.1M+ Saudis trained — 3-year target met in <1 year
2026
SAMAI 2 launches, focused on government workforce
Recent milestones in this sector
All milestones →6 medals at North African Olympiad in Informatics 2026
The Saudi national team wins 2 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze at the North African Olympiad in Informatics 2026.
Saudi Arabia 2nd globally at ISEF (third consecutive year)
24 awards at the 2026 International Science and Engineering Fair (12 grand, 12 special), among 1,700+ students from 70 countries. Third straight 2nd-place finish.
KAUST ranks top 50 globally in computer science
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology — top 50 globally in computer science and top 200 across most disciplines.
KACST launches special awards at ISEF for the first time
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology institutes special awards at the world's largest pre-university science competition.
Programs delivering these outcomes · 3
SAMAI
programSaudi AI initiative
The national AI training program, delivered through SDAIA (Saudi Data & AI Authority). Has trained over 1.1 million Saudis in AI and adjacent fields between 2020 and 2025 — roughly 10% of the Saudi labor force. One of the largest national upskilling programs by volume globally.
Custodian Scholarship Program
programThe kingdom's flagship overseas study program (formerly the King Abdullah Scholarship Program). At its peak in the 2010s, it placed over 200,000 Saudi students at foreign universities simultaneously. Currently maintains ~23,400 students abroad, concentrated in fields prioritized by Vision 2030 (STEM, healthcare, AI). One of the largest scholarship programs by funding scale in the world.
Madrasati
programThe national digital learning platform for K-12 education, launched in August 2020 in response to COVID school closures. Reached 6M+ Saudi students and over 500,000 teachers during peak pandemic use. Has remained as the official supplementary digital infrastructure for Saudi schools since.
Evidence library · 8 sources
Filter coming in 2.1
National Celebration: Over One Million Citizens Empowered in AI
Ministry of Education1 million+ Saudis trained in AI
More than 1 million Saudis trained in AI via SAMAI initiative
Arab News1 million+ Saudis trained in AI
Saudi Arabia Launches SAMAI 2 Workforce AI Initiative
Education Saudi1 million+ Saudis trained in AI
Updated Saudi scholarship programme will send 70,000 students abroad by 2030
ICEF MonitorSaudis studying at the world's best universities
Study in Saudi Arabia platform
Ministry of EducationSaudis studying at the world's best universities
Madrasati: A Saudi Digital Education Model Shaping the Future of Learning
Education Saudi6 million students on one school platform
Madrasati Reaches Millions as Kingdom's Digital Education Platform Continues to Expand
The Saudi Times6 million students on one school platform
Madrasati Learning Management System — WSIS Prizes 2025
ITU / WSIS Prizes 20256 million students on one school platform