Saudi Arabia has launched the second phase of its national data and artificial intelligence capacity-building program, SMAI 2, as part of its broader push to strengthen human capital and accelerate digital transformation across government institutions.
The initiative was unveiled at the International Conference on Capacity Building in Data and Artificial Intelligence (ICAN2026) at King Saud University in Riyadh by Minister of Education and Chairman of the University’s Board Yousef Al-Bunyan, alongside Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) President Abdullah Al-Ghamdi.
Implemented in partnership with 11 government ministries, SMAI 2 is designed to enable public sector employees to adopt artificial intelligence technologies responsibly while improving productivity and operational efficiency across government entities. Participating ministries include Health, Finance, Media, Justice, Industry and Mineral Resources, Transport and Logistics Services, Education, Human Resources and Social Development, Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, Sports, and Energy.
The program will deliver specialized training and awareness initiatives aimed at building national AI and data capabilities, equipping government employees with skills aligned to fast-evolving technologies and labor market needs.
SMAI 2 builds on the first phase of the initiative, SMAI 1, which provided accredited AI education and training to more than 1.1 million Saudi citizens, reinforcing the Kingdom’s commitment to developing a future-ready digital workforce.
