Saudi Arabia’s Samai AI program trains 1.2m people as UNESCO forum opens

More than 1.2 million people in Saudi Arabia have completed training through the national Samai initiative, exceeding its original target of one million participants.

SDAIA president Dr Abdullah Al-Ghamdi announced the figure during a press conference held alongside the fourth UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Riyadh.

The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority is hosting the four-day forum in partnership with UNESCO.

Dr Al-Ghamdi said Saudi Arabia had introduced more than 40 academic programmes in artificial intelligence since the beginning of 2026.

The programs form part of wider efforts to develop national expertise in data and AI, including international summits focused on skills and capacity development.

The Samai initiative was established to give Saudi citizens the knowledge and skills needed to work with artificial intelligence.

Following the first programme’s results, the next phase, Samai 2, will provide specialist training for selected sectors.

The training will focus on the use of AI in energy, healthcare, industry, education and agriculture, to develop experts in each field.

Saudi Arabia has also introduced an AI Risk Framework and a Responsible AI Use Policy to guide the development and use of the technology.

A high-level ministerial meeting involving ministers and senior officials from 60 countries was held in Riyadh during the forum.

The international gathering focuses on the ethical questions and governance challenges created by the development and growing use of artificial intelligence.

Participants are examining ways to expand international co-operation and ensure AI is developed and used safely and responsibly.

The forum also seeks to ensure that the technology supports human well-being, benefits society and contributes to sustainable development.