Saudi Arabia trains over one million citizens in AI through SAMAI initiative

Saudi Arabia has trained and certified over one million citizens in artificial intelligence through the national "SAMAI" (One Million Saudis in AI) initiative, a milestone achieved in under a year despite a original three-year target. Launched in September 2024 by the Saudi Data and Artificialificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) alongside the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the program saw 52% female participation and now represents roughly 9% of the country's working-age population. This rapid achievement underscores the kingdom's commitment to Saudi Vision 2030 by equipping a generation with essential AI skills to drive digital transformation and build a knowledge-based workforce. The success has prompted the launch of a follow-up program, "SMAI 2," in January 2026 to further accelerate AI adoption across the nation.