More than six million general school-age girls and boys in Saudi Arabia are set to begin a new and transformative educational journey. For the 2025-2026 academic year, students will study a newly approved artificial intelligence (AI) curriculum, marking the country's first truly differentiated educational experience in this field. 

The pioneering initiative, announced in August, is a collaborative effort between the National Centre for Curriculum, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). 

The new curriculum is designed to open new horizons for students, helping them understand AI's significant role in addressing modern digital challenges. It will also encourage creativity and innovation, preparing students to develop AI-based solutions for everyday problems. Ultimately, this programme will prepare them for advanced studies and careers in AI, a field that will heavily influence future job markets.

By preparing a skilled Saudi generation, the nation aims to achieve sustainable development and compete globally in advanced technologies. This move also strengthens the kingdomís global leadership in data and AI, helping to transform it into a data- and AI-driven economy. 

SDAIA and the Education and Training Evaluation Commission also launched the Saudi Academic Framework for AI Qualifications (Education Intelligence), which ensures that academic institutionsí AI curricula meet global standards, boosting employer confidence in the competence of AI graduates.

This is part of a bigger strategic roadmap to enhance the kingdom's global competitiveness by leveraging data and AI to drive economic growth and develop human capabilities. SDAIA has led efforts to digitise government services, notably through the Tawakkalna app, which serves over 34 million users with more than 1,000 services. Furthermore, SDAIA employs AI technologies to manage crowds and ensure safety during the Hajj and Umrah seasons. 

The authority's focus on knowledge development is evident in its academy, which offers specialised programmes in collaboration with international experts. The One Million Saudis in AI (SAMAI) Initiative, launched in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, has already registered more than 560,000 Saudis to learn the fundamentals of AI. 

SDAIA's projects have also yielded significant economic benefits, with Estishraf platform having generated more than SAR 51 billion in savings for more than 121 government agencies, while the Ehsan platform has facilitated over SAR 12 billion in donations.