Saudi Ministry Launches AI Research Grants

Saudi Arabia is expanding support for scientists working in artificial intelligence and advanced sciences through official research grants managed by the Ministry of Education. The programs are available via the ministry's dedicated research-grants page, giving researchers a clear channel to apply for funding.

The clearest current program in this area is the Saudi Basic Science (SBS) researchers' grants portal, which offers two main tracks. The Basic Science Grant (BSG) provides funding of up to SAR 2,000,000 over a period of 48 months, while the Basic Science Research Consortium Grant (BSRCG) offers up to SAR 4,000,000 over the same 48-month period, supporting larger collaborative research efforts.

The research-grants portal also lists an active research-office funding opportunity, with proposal submissions open until 30/07/2026. No application fee is shown for these grants in the available information, and no processing steps through government apps such as أبشر or ناجز are required — applications are handled directly through the research-grants portal itself.

Why it matters

For students, academics, and research teams across الرياض, جدة and beyond, these grants offer a practical path to fund advanced work in AI and other sciences, in line with رؤية السعودية 2030 and the country's push to build a knowledge-based economy.

Beyond the ministry's programs, the wider Saudi research-funding ecosystem includes dedicated portals such as RDIA and SNIH for other grants. A separate scholarship initiative allows Saudi students to study AI and data science at international universities, with applications handled through SDAIA's official website. Researchers are encouraged to review each program's requirements carefully before applying.

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