Saudi Arabia’s Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) has opened registration for its AI Professional Badges programme, a national accreditation framework for AI and data specialists.
The first phase covers two specialisations: AI Engineer, focused on developing AI models and systems, and Data Scientist, focused on algorithm development and data analysis.
Applicants will complete a standardised three-level assessment supervised by an independent scientific committee made up of researchers, academics and public- and private-sector experts. According to the announcement, the framework is designed to assess scientific competence, analytical ability and practical skills, giving employers a consistent benchmark for evaluating talent.
The programme is being delivered in partnership with Saudi digital solutions company elm, King Saud University and the Human Capability Development Program.
SDAIA first announced the initiative in January 2026 at the International Conference on Data and AI Capacity Building in Riyadh. The broader framework includes AI Researchers, AI Engineers and Data Scientists, each with Assistant, Associate and Expert tiers.
The initiative is part of SDAIA’s wider effort to build data and AI capabilities in Saudi Arabia. In June, the authority said it had begun training 215 students from 28 Saudi universities.
Source: Middle East AI News
