The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) announced that more than one million Saudi citizens have received training in artificial intelligence (AI) skills under the SAMAI initiative, marking a major milestone in the Kingdom’s digital transformation efforts.

The figure, representing around 9% of Saudi Arabia’s working-age population, was revealed by SDAIA spokesperson Dr. Majed Al-Shehri during a ceremony at the Ministry of Education in Riyadh on Sunday. He described the achievement as a reflection of national efforts to equip citizens with AI competencies and enhance digital literacy nationwide.

The SAMAI initiative recorded participation from all regions of the Kingdom, with women accounting for 52% of trainees and men for 48%. Employees represented 70% of the participants, while students comprised the remaining 30%.

Dr. Al-Shehri stated that the milestone was achieved through collaboration among SDAIA, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, enabling widespread access to AI training across schools and universities. He added that SDAIA will soon launch new programs for professionals and researchers, along with advanced courses in emerging AI agentic technologies to boost innovation and efficiency.

The event was attended by Minister of Education Yousef Al-Bunyan, SDAIA President Dr. Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Inas Al-Issa, President of Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University Dr. Ahmed Al-Amri, and Director of the National Information Center at SDAIA Dr. Esam Al-Wagait.

Al-Bunyan stated that the achievement reflects strong coordination among the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, and SDAIA in developing human capital under Saudi Vision 2030. He noted that the initiative has created opportunities for students to gain AI and emerging technology skills essential for future jobs.

Dr. Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, CEO of SDAIA’s Capacity Building Sector, stated that the program exceeded its target, raising awareness among Saudi youth about the importance of data and AI technologies while supporting the Kingdom’s ambition to become a global leader in AI.