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Learning AI in Saudi Arabia

Free AI courses in Saudi Arabia

Quick answer

Yes, there are free government AI courses in Saudi Arabia. SDAIA's SAMAI initiative (One Million Saudis in AI) runs free, remote AI training in Arabic for Saudi citizens, and each programme you finish earns a certificate accredited by SDAIA. SDAIA says the initiative has trained more than one million citizens. For short, practical courses in English with no signup, start with LearnWithZavi's Prompt Engineering. Checked 23 October 2026.

If you are a Saudi citizen, the free government route into AI is SAMAI, the One Million Saudis in AI initiative from the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). It runs two self-paced online programmes in Arabic, AI Principles and Advanced AI Concepts and Applications, and each one ends in a certificate accredited by SDAIA. If you are not a citizen, or you would rather learn in English, the free LearnWithZavi courses below need no signup and give a free certificate for each course you finish.

Every fact about government schemes on this page is taken from the official page it links to. LearnWithZavi is independent and is not affiliated with the Government of Saudi Arabia, SDAIA or any scheme listed here.

Start free with Prompt Engineering โ†’See government options

Free and funded government options in Saudi Arabia

Checked against official pages on . Schemes change, so confirm current details on the official page before you apply.

SAMAI: One Million Saudis in AI

Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development

  • A national initiative to train one million citizens in AI skills and knowledge, in support of Saudi Vision 2030.
  • SDAIA says the initiative is open to all citizens interested in learning about AI.
  • Training is delivered remotely and is self-paced, so you study on your own schedule.
  • Trainees who complete a programme successfully receive a certificate accredited by SDAIA.

Worth knowing: It is for Saudi citizens. SDAIA's page gives no start or end date and no enrolment deadline.

Source: SAMAI on the SDAIA website โ†—

SAMAI programmes: AI Principles, and Advanced AI Concepts and Applications

SDAIA, on the SAMAI learning platform

  • AI Principles covers the basics, history and uses of AI, and using tools such as Microsoft Copilot to work more productively.
  • Advanced AI Concepts and Applications covers the types of AI and how it analyses data, finds patterns and makes predictions.
  • Each programme has its own certificate. You do not need to finish both to get one.
  • The platform also has a free digital library of SDAIA guides, including a list of more than 100 AI productivity tools.

Worth knowing: The platform is in Arabic, and you sign in through Nafath, the national single sign-on. There is no English version.

Source: SAMAI training programmes โ†—

SAMAI progress and the second phase

SDAIA, reported by the Saudi Press Agency

  • The Saudi Press Agency describes SAMAI as a free, remote programme in Arabic.
  • It says the initiative met its target, training more than one million citizens and awarding them accredited certificates.
  • A second phase has been launched with 11 ministries, to help government employees use AI in their work.

Worth knowing: The second phase is for government employees through their ministries, not for the general public.

Source: Saudi Press Agency, 14 June 2026 โ†—

How they fit together: If you are a Saudi citizen, take SAMAI's AI Principles for an Arabic foundation and an SDAIA certificate, then Advanced AI Concepts and Applications if you want to know how AI works underneath. Use the courses below to practise in English on your own work, with nothing to apply for.

6 free courses to start today, in the order we would take them

No signup, no card and no coding. Each course ends with a free certificate of completion.

Foundations

Prompt Engineering

Talk to robots. Get better answers.

Learn to write prompts that get you exactly what you want from AI, from your first 'hello' to advanced techniques like few-shot examples and chain-of-thought. No coding required, wit strongly encouraged.

Beginner ยท 12 lessons ยท ~33 min reading

Foundations

Getting Started with ChatGPT

Your first hour, properly spent.

A complete beginner's tour: what the screen is showing you, how to ask for things, what the different modes do, what it costs, and the settings worth changing on day one.

Beginner ยท 6 lessons ยท ~16 min reading

AI at Work

AI Productivity at Work

Get your evenings back.

Use AI for the work that eats your week: email, meeting notes, research, reports and planning. Every lesson gives you something you can use the same afternoon, and the course ends with a weekly routine you can actually keep.

Beginner ยท 6 lessons ยท ~13 min reading

Foundations

Introduction to Generative AI

How the magic works (spoiler: it's math).

What generative AI actually is, how large language models really work, why they sometimes lie with confidence, and how to pick the right model for the job. Real-world examples, zero jargon-gatekeeping.

Beginner ยท 12 lessons ยท ~37 min reading

Stay Safe

AI Safety, Privacy and Verification

Trust nothing. Check everything.

Spot fakes and scams, work out what is safe to paste into an AI tool, verify what you are told, and set sensible rules for yourself and the people you work with.

Beginner ยท 6 lessons ยท ~18 min reading

Run a Business

AI for Small Businesses

Run leaner without cutting corners.

Practical AI for people who do everything themselves: proposals and quotes, customer messages, product descriptions, pricing research, and writing down how your business actually works.

Beginner ยท 6 lessons ยท ~16 min reading

Worth reading alongside

Questions from learners in Saudi Arabia

Is there a free government AI course in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. SDAIA's SAMAI initiative offers free, remote AI training in Arabic, with two programmes: AI Principles, and Advanced AI Concepts and Applications.
Does SAMAI give a certificate?
Yes. SDAIA says a certificate accredited by SDAIA is issued when you successfully complete a training programme. Each programme has its own certificate, so you do not need to finish both.
Who can join SAMAI?
SDAIA says the initiative is open to all citizens interested in learning about AI, and you sign in with Nafath. Check the SAMAI page for current eligibility before you register.
Is SAMAI in English?
No. The Saudi Press Agency describes SAMAI as a programme in Arabic, and the learning platform is in Arabic. LearnWithZavi courses are in English and need no signup.
Which free AI course should I start with in Saudi Arabia?
If you are a citizen, take SAMAI's AI Principles for the SDAIA certificate. For everyday practical use in English, start LearnWithZavi's Prompt Engineering today.
Are the LearnWithZavi courses free in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Every LearnWithZavi course is free to read in full with no signup and no card, and finishing one lets you print a free certificate of completion or add it to your LinkedIn profile. LearnWithZavi is not accredited, so the certificate records that you completed the lessons rather than acting as a formal qualification.

Know someone in Saudi Arabia who wants to learn AI?

The free government options and free courses in one place, with every scheme linked to its official page.

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