Saudi Arabia has officially launched the SAMAI 2 initiative, a targeted program designed to empower the Kingdom’s public sector workforce with critical artificial intelligence skills. The announcement was made by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) in collaboation with the Ministry of Education, marking a significant new phase in the nation’s ambitious AI strategy.
The initiative aims to enhance productivity and operational efficiency across government entities by equipping employees with the knowledge to responsibly adopt and utilize AI technologies.
Building on National Success
SAMAI 2 is the successor to the highly successful SAMAI 1 program, which provided AI training and accredited certifications to over 1.1 million Saudi citizens in 2025. That initial phase achieved an unprecedented national milestone, with notable 52% female participation, reflecting a whole-of-society approach to AI literacy.
While SAMAI 1 focused on broad public education, SAMAI 2 shifts the focus to a strategic and specialized upskilling of the government’s own workforce, which numbers approximately 1.2 million people.
A Strategic Government-Wide Partnership
The initiative was unveiled during the International Conference on Data and AI Capacity Building (ICAN 2026) at King Saud University in Riyadh. Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan and SDAIA President Dr. Abdullah Alghamdi presented the SAMAI 2 charter to representatives from 11 participating government ministries.
The partnership includes the ministries of Health, Finance, Media, Justice, Industry and Mineral Resources, Transport and Logistics, Education, Human Resources and Social Development, Municipalities and Housing, Sport, and Energy. This broad collaboration underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to integrating AI capabilities across all facets of its public services.
The Vision for a Future-Ready Workforce
Through specialized training modules and awareness programs tailored to sector-specific applications, SAMAI 2 seeks to build a robust pipeline of qualified talent capable of navigating rapid technological advancements. The program is a cornerstone of the Kingdom’s ongoing digital transformation, directly supporting its goal of creating a diversified, knowledge-based economy driven by innovation and efficiency.
About SAMAI
SAMAI is a national AI literacy and capacity-building initiative led by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). Its mission is to empower the Saudi workforce to adopt AI technologies, increase productivity, and enhance workplace efficiency through specialized training and awareness programs. Established by Royal Order in 2019, SDAIA is the competent authority for data and AI in the Kingdom.
Source: Middle East AI News
