SDAIA President: Over 330,000 Saudis Empowered by AI Through ‘SAMAI’ Initiative
Dr. Abdullah Alghamdi, President of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), highlighted that Saudi Arabia now ranks first globally in empowering women in artificial intelligence and second in community awareness, according to the Stanford Index. This achievement stems from SDAIA’s extensive initiatives and collaborations with various government entities.
Strategic Partnership with the Ministry of Education
Dr. Alghamdi praised SDAIA’s strategic collaboration with the Ministry of Education, which has helped build an AI-driven educational environment aimed at enhancing Saudi Arabia’s global competitiveness in advanced technologies. He stressed the importance of proactively integrating AI into educational tools to prepare for future challenges.
Dr. Alghamdi emphasized that SDAIA’s initiatives are guided by the National Strategy for Data and Artificial Intelligence, launched in 2020 by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. One standout collaboration with the Ministry of Education led to the launch of several national programs:
- National Olympiad for Programming and AI (ATHKA Competition): Over 260,000 students participated, with 10,000 reaching the final stage.
- Road to ATHKA: Trained more than 570,000 students on foundational AI concepts.
- Future Intelligence Programmers: Trained over 10,000 teachers to support adaptive and intelligent learning environments.
‘SAMAI’ Initiative
A key achievement shared by Dr. Alghamdi was the progress of the “SAMAI” initiative, launched in partnership with the Ministries of Education and Human Resources and Social Development. The initiative aims to equip one million Saudis with AI capabilities. To date, it has already trained 334,000 citizens.
To institutionalize technological advancement in education, SDAIA and the Ministry of Education have established the Center for Excellence in Education. The center focuses on sustaining future-focused initiatives and optimizing learning outcomes through AI integration.
Ehsan: Model for Tech-Driven Social Impact
Dr. Alghamdi also spotlighted the role of technology in social development through the National Platform for Charitable Work, Ehsan. Over four years, Ehsan has raised more than SAR12 billion, channeling funds into impactful initiatives, including:
- Over 2,000 educational opportunities
- SAR450 million in projects supporting 955,000 students
- Provision of school equipment, university sponsorships, and career-aligned training
The Ehsan Endowment Fund has attracted more than SAR370 million in donations. It supports scholarships and grants aligned with both Vision 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting equitable access to education.
Building a Nonprofit AI Ecosystem
SDAIA is also nurturing a nonprofit ecosystem centered on data and AI. It oversees nine nonprofit organizations dedicated to education, public awareness, capacity building, and AI literacy. These organizations have logged over 8,100 volunteer hours with participation from more than 300 Saudi volunteers.
“SDAIA is committed to shaping a future-ready knowledge society,” Dr. Alghamdi said. “Through sustainable models and partnerships, we’re ensuring that national development is inclusive, innovative, and aligned with Saudi Vision 2030.”
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