Saudi to deploy nationwide AI education in schools
Kingdom to integrate AI across all school levels for the new academic year
#SaudiArabia #education - Saudi Arabia will integrate artificial intelligence education throughout its public school system beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year, creating the first comprehensive national AI curriculum spanning from elementary school through university level. The initiative supports the Kingdom's Human Capability Development Program under Vision 2030, aiming to strengthen global competitiveness and establish AI leadership. The new AI curriculum was announced by the National Curriculum Center, the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA).
SO WHAT? - The ambitious implementation of AI education across Saudi Arabia’s entire public school system is one of the world's first. Already a pioneer in AI education across multiple level in government, business and society, the plan to integrate AI education into all school curricula could represent another leap forward. SDAIA recently announced that the "One Million Saudis in AI" initiative, SAMAI has successfully trained 334,000 Saudi citizens in AI skills.
Here are some key points about the groundbreaking education initiative:
The National Curriculum Center, the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) have announced that AI education will be integrated throughout Saudi Arabia’s public school system beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year.
The groundbreaking initiative will create the first comprehensive national AI curriculum spanning from elementary school through university level.
Students will learn to develop innovative technology solutions through age-appropriate AI modules featuring interactive and hands-on teaching
The programme builds upon April's announcement of "Introduction to Artificial Intelligence" course for third-year high school students during the Human Capability Initiative conference in Riyadh.
Curriculum design ensures progressive skill development with comprehensive student evaluation systems connecting learning across grade levels.
The initiative directly supports Saudi Arabia's Human Capability Development Program, a cornerstone element of the Vision 2030 national development and diversification strategy.
Teaching modules are specifically designed to be age-appropriate whilst maintaining continuity from elementary education through technical training and lifelong learning programmes.
The new AI curriculum aims to equip students with essential digital and analytical skills from early childhood, empowering engagement with emerging technologies.
ZOOM OUT - Saudi Arabia's AI education initiative follows a similar announcement by neighbouring UAE in May, when the UAE Cabinet approved nationwide AI education for all government school students from kindergarten to grade 12. Both Gulf nations are now leading a regional transformation in AI education, with only China having announced comparably extensive AI curriculum policies. This reflects intensifying competition between Gulf Cooperation Council countries to establish AI leadership and diversify their economies beyond oil dependency through comprehensive human capital development strategies.
[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]