Saudi Arabia Trains Over 1 Million People in AI

Saudi Arabia has surpassed its national goal of training one million people in artificial intelligence, with reported totals for 2026 reaching over one million — around 1.2 million beneficiaries — through the SAMAI initiative delivered by government programs.

The training was led by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), in coordination with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. The milestone reflects completed training and the number of beneficiaries rather than a fee-based public service, and no fixed price applies to the achievement.

More AI training programs in 2026

Alongside this milestone, a separate government program in 2026 — the EY Microsoft AI Skills Passport — is offered through the FutureX national e-learning platform and is open to learners aged 16 and above.

Another ministry-led initiative, the AI and Cloud Kingdom Tour, is running across 10 regions in 2026: Medina, Buraidah, Al-Jawf, Abha, Tabuk, Dammam, Jeddah, Arar, Hail, and Najran, bringing hands-on training closer to communities nationwide.

For residents and expats alike, the expansion of these programs means broader access to skills that are increasingly in demand across the job market. As the Kingdom advances its digital transformation goals, reaching and exceeding the one-million target signals wider opportunities for students, jobseekers, and professionals to build practical AI and digital capabilities.

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