Latest news with #SDAIA
Leaders
2 days ago
- Leaders
Royal Commission for Makkah Unveils Interactive Geospatial Map Service
The Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites has introduced a new interactive geospatial map service on its digital platform. This advanced tool offers users smart, interactive, and user-friendly maps featuring up-to-date and comprehensive data about Makkah. Developed using cutting-edge technologies and verified sources—including detailed aerial imagery and field surveys—the service integrates accurate information into a unified digital system. The initiative supports the commission's efforts to create a robust digital environment for decision-makers and further advance Makkah's digital transformation. The public are urged to explore the maps here: Related Topics: Al-Makkatain Museum Offers Vivid Images of Makkah & Madinah History Saudi Arabia Installs Flexible Rubber Asphalt, Increases Comfort during Hajj 2024 SDAIA President Reviews Smart Makkah Center Operations to Enhance Pilgrim Services Al-Mashaer Metro Line Starts Journeys for Hajj 2024 Short link : Post Views: 7 Related Stories
Time of India
4 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Saudi Arabia to teach AI in schools from 2025, aiming for a future-ready workforce
Saudi Arabia to introduce AI curriculum in schools from 2025 onwards/Representative Image TL;DR: Saudi Arabia will introduce a comprehensive AI curriculum across all public schools starting in the 2025–2026 academic year. Earlier pilot 'Introduction to Artificial Intelligence' elective targeted over 50,000 grade‑12 students this year. Designed by NCCD, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Communications & IT, and SDAIA, blending age‑appropriate modules with practical, ethical learning. Part of Vision 2030's Human Capability Development Program, driving digital literacy, innovation, and education reform. In a landmark educational reform aligned with its Vision 2030 goals, Saudi Arabia has announced the integration of artificial intelligence education across all public school levels, beginning with the 2025–2026 academic year. The curriculum, created jointly by the National Curriculum Center, Ministry of Education, Communications & IT Ministry, and the Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) is designed to build progressive AI literacy from early primary stages to secondary education, equipping youth with foundational digital skills, ethical awareness, and innovation capacity for the future workforce and digital economy. Official Framework & Strategic Partners Saudi Arabia's Human Capability Development Program, a core pillar of Vision 2030, frames this initiative as part of a broader agenda to modernize education and prepare the next generation for global competitiveness. The curriculum was developed through a collaborative effort involving: National Curriculum Centre Ministry of Education Ministry of Communications & IT SDAIA These institutions contributed to curriculum design, platform infrastructure, and national deployment strategy. Pilot Phase: Testing the Waters Earlier in 2025, Saudi Arabia piloted an 'Introduction to Artificial Intelligence' elective for third-year high school students, engaging over 50,000 students across the Kingdom. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Live Comfortably: 60m2 prefabricated bungalow for the elderly in Kapuk Pre Fabricated Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo The elective features a digital learning platform with interactive multimedia modules, teacher-supervised projects, and real-world applications in sectors such as healthcare, transportation, and cybersecurity. Curriculum Design & Learning Pathway The AI curriculum spans all school cycles with age-appropriate progression: Primary (Grades 1–3): Interactive stories and games to introduce basic technology and AI ideas. Middle School (Cycle 1–2): Digital thinking, algorithm awareness, comparison of human vs machine decision-making. High School (Cycle 3): Command engineering, ethical AI design, bias evaluation, problem-solving simulations. Curriculum integrates AI ethics, policy, innovation, and community impact, alongside key technical concepts like data analysis and algorithms. It ensures continuity through the national student performance evaluation framework without adding teaching hours. Why It Matters Empowering Future Generations: By embedding AI literacy into school education, the Kingdom is future‑proofing its youth for high-growth digital sectors. Closing Skills Gaps: The move directly addresses workforce needs around AI, data science, and innovation. Vision 2030 Alignment: Supports Saudi Arabia's strategic shift toward a knowledge-based economy with a technologically savvy citizenry. Inclusive Innovation: Interactive and ethical modules plus teacher training and national assessment frameworks ensure equitable access and consistent delivery. This educational overhaul is part of a strategic pivot under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030, which prioritizes AI as a central pillar of the digital economy. Saudi Arabia has already launched the National Strategy for Data and Artificial Intelligence (NSDAI), with aims to become a global AI leader by 2030. By embedding AI awareness from an early age, the government hopes to create a pipeline of local talent capable of contributing to sectors like healthcare, finance, logistics, and energy using home-grown innovation. Saudi Arabia's decision to launch a full-scale AI curriculum in public schools marks a transformational shift in national education. By progressively layering AI education from grade one through secondary levels, and institutionalizing AI-based competencies in assessment systems, the Kingdom is redefining how young citizens learn, think, and innovate. Anchored by Vision 2030's strategic goals, this initiative is positioning Saudi Arabia at the forefront of global education reform, cultivating digital fluency, critical thinking, and future-ready leadership from an early age.
Saudi Gazette
6 days ago
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Over 424,000 Saudis enroll in AI training as SDAIA scales national transformation
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — More than 424,000 Saudi citizens have enrolled in the "SAMAI" initiative — an artificial intelligence (AI) awareness and training program led by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) — as part of the Kingdom's ambitious plan to equip 1 million Saudis with foundational AI knowledge. The initiative reflects the nation's broader efforts to build a digitally empowered society aligned with Vision 2030. SDAIA highlighted the growing global impact of data and AI technologies, which it said are driving transformative change across sectors such as education, healthcare, industry, cybersecurity, agriculture, energy, and national security. These technologies are not only enhancing productivity and innovation, but also helping solve complex developmental challenges to create a more inclusive, sustainable, and peaceful world. Since its establishment in 2019, SDAIA has become the Kingdom's national reference in the regulation and advancement of data and AI. The authority focuses on maximizing the economic value of data, ensuring ethical AI practices, and developing local capabilities through specialized courses and certifications. SDAIA also issued a comprehensive set of AI regulatory frameworks and ethical guidelines for both government entities and the public, including principles on generative AI, deepfake content, national data governance, and academic standards for AI-related disciplines. These guidelines aim to ensure safe, responsible, and culturally aligned adoption of AI technologies. To raise trust in AI systems, SDAIA launched an AI service provider certification program for the private sector. Certified providers are evaluated across five maturity levels—from 'Aware' to 'Leader'—and are granted a validity period of one year, encouraging higher quality AI applications and services. The authority further introduced a self-assessment tool on AI ethics via the National Data Governance Platform. This tool supports public and private institutions in evaluating their ethical compliance during AI development and deployment phases. In a move to address global concerns, SDAIA released a specialized report on AI bias, highlighting risks that emerge as AI adoption grows across critical sectors worldwide. The report emphasizes the need for fairness and inclusivity in algorithmic decision-making. SDAIA has also advanced personal data protection by introducing the Kingdom's 'Personal Data Protection Law,' which regulates how personal data—such as names, addresses, ID numbers, images, and financial information—is processed and shared. The law seeks to preserve privacy and prevent misuse of data in both public and private sectors. One of SDAIA's most impactful projects to date is its partnership with the Expenditure and Project Efficiency Authority, which resulted in over SR5 billion in financial impact through the 'DEEM Cloud' platform. The platform consolidated 230 data centers and now offers 49 services to more than 180 government entities. Looking ahead, AI is projected to play a major role in global employment shifts. According to the World Economic Forum's latest 'Future of Jobs' report, AI will contribute to the creation of 69 million new jobs over the coming years. Complementary research by the International Labour Organization suggests generative AI will support human roles rather than eliminate them by automating selected tasks. In terms of efficiency, consulting firms Deloitte and McKinsey estimate that generative AI can reduce operational costs by up to 30%. McKinsey's study of over 1,300 companies revealed significant cost savings in HR departments (10–37%) and profit growth in supply chain divisions, in some cases exceeding 6%.
Arab News
23-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
New Arabic data governance platform to ‘elevate local talent,' says Governata co-founder
RIYADH: A newly launched platform will allow Saudi companies to align their data regulations with national AI policies, supporting local talent, according to the company's co-founder. Governata enables companies to coordinate with the Kingdom's National Data Management Office, or NDMO, and Saudi Data and AI Authority, or SDAIA, guidelines. All data remains hosted domestically to ensure compliance and cost control. Governata co-founder, Djamel Mohand, spoke to Arab News about the company's localization strategy. Mohand emphasized three advantages for Saudi businesses. First, on talent development: 'They can leverage local talents better,' he said, through locally built software that used government initiatives such as MISK and SDAIA. This enabled 'thousands of homegrown data engineers, data specialists and other experts to be involved in improvement of these technologies, not only distribute global tech.' Second, on organizational adoption: 'The localization aspect enables businesses to use this technology across the whole organization,' which Mohand said required a high level of cultural understanding to engage multiple business owners for full impact. Third, addressing data sovereignty, Mohand said the 'local closed-loop setup protects standard solutions, as hosting the data on-premises or in the local cloud has become the norm. However, this is not enough if local businesses want to ensure full data protection.' Mohand added that the Kingdom was leading in AI through big investments in GPU imports, local data centers and computing power capabilities. However, he warned: 'A bottleneck to enablement will occur if data infrastructure and company management are not aligned.' Governata claims to address this challenge. Mohand said: 'Our mission is to prepare Saudi organizations to leverage all this AI power being created by the country's leadership. 'As we elevate organizational maturity in data management, we elevate local talent,' he added. Mohand said that the platform activated 'thousands of data scientists, software engineers, integration specialists, domain experts and business managers from Saudi Arabia's outstanding talent pool' while developing skills internally.
Gulf Business
23-07-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
How Saudi Arabia is measuring AI readiness across government
Image: Getty Images The The index aims to evaluate institutional preparedness, monitor progress on an ongoing basis, and offer tailored recommendations to accelerate AI development efforts and generate national-level impact. It is designed to align government actions with Saudi Arabia's strategic priorities in AI and support the realisation of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. Three pillars Structured around three main pillars, seven core dimensions, and 23 subcategories, the Read: The index is part of SDAIA's wider mandate as the national authority for data and AI, responsible for regulating, developing, and overseeing their application across the Kingdom. Through this initiative, SDAIA aims to empower public sector organisations to improve performance and embrace digital transformation, ultimately contributing to a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy. By serving as both a benchmarking and capacity-building tool, the National AI Index supports the Kingdom's long-term ambitions to become a global leader in AI deployment and digital governance.
