AI
SAMAI initiative: what it offers, who it is for, and the certificate
What SDAIA's SAMAI initiative ("One Million Saudis in AI") offers as of October 2026: two free Arabic programs for non-specialists, who can join, registration through Nafath, how the per-program certificate works, the numbers so far, and how companies can use it.
Key takeaways
- SAMAI, launched in September 2024 by SDAIA with the Ministries of Education and Human Resources, offers free online AI training in Arabic to Saudi citizens.
- As of 14 October 2026 the platform lists two programs for non-specialists: Principles of AI (with Microsoft) and AI Concepts and Advanced Applications (with IBM).
- Registration runs through Nafath on samai.futurex.sa; the public pages do not say whether non-Saudi residents can enrol.
- Each program completed successfully earns its own SDAIA-accredited certificate; there is no single certificate covering all programs.
- The Saudi Press Agency reported more than one million citizens trained and certified by 9 November 2025, and 1.2 million participants in under a year.
On this page
The SAMAI initiative, "One Million Saudis in AI", is SDAIA's free online AI training for Saudi citizens, run with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. It offers two Arabic programs for non-specialists, and each program completed successfully earns its own SDAIA-accredited certificate. Registration is through Nafath on samai.futurex.sa.
This guide describes SAMAI as its official platform and SDAIA's announcements present it on 14 October 2026: the two programs and their units, who can join, how to register, how the certificate works, and how a company can use it for its team. Where the public pages do not say something, such as the number of hours, we say so rather than guess.
What the SAMAI initiative is
SAMAI was launched in September 2024 by the Minister of Education and the President of the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, during the third Global AI Summit in Riyadh [1]. Its stated aim is to let one million Saudi men and women understand AI, its uses and its ethics, and train on the skills and tools needed to use AI effectively and safely at work and in daily life [1].
The platform lists three goals: raising awareness of AI, supporting lifelong learning for all age and professional groups, and keeping national talent in step with the labour market [2]. Its partners on the site are the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development and the National eLearning Center [2]. Questions go to the initiative's support line, 8001221111, or to samai@sdaia.gov.sa [2].
What SAMAI offers: two programs and a digital library
As of 14 October 2026 the platform lists two training programs [2]. Both are aimed at beginners who do not work in a technical field [3][4]. The table compares them from their public summary pages.
| Principles of AI (مبادئ الذكاء الاصطناعي) | AI Concepts and Advanced Applications (مفاهيم الذكاء الاصطناعي وتطبيقاته المتقدمة) | |
|---|---|---|
| Aim | Understand AI's basics, history and applications, and use tools such as Microsoft Copilot to improve productivity [3] | A fuller grasp of AI concepts and types and the techniques used to analyse data, find patterns and make predictions [4] |
| Units listed | Introduction; Generative AI; The evolution of web search; Responsible AI; Boost your productivity with Copilot; AI for everyone [3] | Introduction; Natural language processing and computer vision; Machine learning and deep learning; AI ethics; Your future in the AI job market [4] |
| Selected objectives | Search the web effectively with new tools, use AI responsibly, manage time and tasks with Copilot [3] | Describe structured and unstructured data, explain how neural networks make predictions, describe ways to reduce bias in AI systems [4] |
| Content partner shown | Microsoft [3] | IBM [4] |
| Audience | Beginners, non-specialists [3] | Beginners, non-specialists [4] |
| Certificate | Its own SDAIA-accredited certificate [2] | Its own SDAIA-accredited certificate [2] |
The Saudi Press Agency describes the training as remote, in simplified Arabic, with flexible timing and free access [5]. O AI is not affiliated with SDAIA, Microsoft, IBM or any other entity named here.
Beyond the programs, the platform has a digital library of SDAIA publications [2]. On 14 October 2026 it featured a study on agentic AI and listed titles including more than 100 AI tools for business productivity, generative AI, an AI newsletter, AI strategy, generative AI principles for responsible use and a data and AI glossary [2].
Who SAMAI is for
The platform's answer is short: the initiative is aimed at all Saudis interested in learning AI [2]. SDAIA's announcements say the same in other words. It is open to all male and female citizens across the Kingdom [5], and SDAIA and the two ministries invited citizens of all ages and professional backgrounds to register [6]. The Ministry of Education opened it to university and school students [7].
The first million participants give a picture of who actually joined: 52% women and 48% men, with employees making up 70% and students 30% [8].
The public pages do not say whether non-Saudi residents can enrol; they address Saudis throughout. If you are a resident, ask the support line before you plan around it.
Which program to start with depends on what you need. Illustrative example, based on the two programs' stated aims:
| You are | Start with | Then |
|---|---|---|
| An employee who wants to use AI tools at work | Principles of AI | Apply one tool to one task at work |
| A manager who needs the vocabulary to judge AI proposals | Principles of AI | AI Concepts and Advanced Applications |
| A student considering a career in AI | AI Concepts and Advanced Applications | Its unit on the AI job market |
| An HR or training lead planning for a team | Both, to judge the content | Assign the right program to each group |
How to register for SAMAI, step by step
Registration takes a few minutes if you have an active Nafath account.
- Open the official platform at samai.futurex.sa and choose "تسجيل" (register) or "سجل الآن" (register now) [2].
- Sign in with Nafath. When we checked on 14 October 2026, the registration link opened the Nafath national single sign-on page for the National eLearning Center's platform [2].
- Choose a program from "البرامج التدريبية" (training programs) and open its details page [2].
- Enrol and study online at your own pace; the training is remote and flexible in timing [5].
- Complete the program's requirements to receive its certificate [2].
The platform also has a trainee guide, presented as an interactive walkthrough, and a form for reporting problems [2]. Use only the official address. The 2024 launch announcement and SDAIA's 2025 invitation both point to samai.futurex.sa [1][6].
How to get the SAMAI certificate
The platform's answers on certificates are clear [2]:
- Is a certificate awarded? Yes. Certificates accredited by SDAIA are granted when the training program is completed successfully.
- Is there one certificate for all programs? No. Each program has its own certificate, earned when its requirements are met, and you do not need to finish every program to receive one.
SDAIA's announcement presents the official certification as part of SAMAI's academic and market value [5]. According to the Saudi Press Agency, 9% of working-age Saudis had earned an AI skills certificate through SAMAI by November 2025 [5].
What the public pages do not show is the detail of the requirements: the number of hours, how many assessments there are, or the pass mark. Those appear inside the program after you sign in. If the exact requirement matters to you, for example for an employer's training plan, check it inside the program or ask the support line.
Keep the certificate in perspective. Both programs are introductory and aimed at non-specialists [3][4]. A SAMAI certificate shows that someone has completed a structured, SDAIA-accredited AI training; it is not a degree or a professional licence, and an employer will judge it as such.
SAMAI in numbers
The initiative's growth has been reported in several steps.
| Date | Milestone | Source |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | Launched at the third Global AI Summit in Riyadh | SPA [1] |
| 7 May 2025 | SDAIA and two ministries invite citizens to register | SPA [6] |
| 2 July 2025 | 334,000 citizens had benefited | SPA [9] |
| 9 November 2025 | Over one million citizens trained and certified; more than 1.2 million participants in under a year, against a target set for three years | SPA [8][5] |
| 2025 | More than 3.6 million beneficiaries of SAMAI and SDAIA Talks combined | SDAIA [10] |
The figures count different things: registrants, participants, certified trainees, and in the last row a combined total with another program. Quote the one that matches your point, with its date.
SAMAI within Saudi AI and the Year of AI
SAMAI is part of the wider national picture of Saudi AI. In its summary of the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026, SDAIA listed SAMAI among the efforts behind Saudi Arabia's fourth place globally for societal access to AI and seventh place for AI skills in business [11].
The Cabinet's designation of 2026 as the Year of AI came after SAMAI had passed its first million. SDAIA's page for the Year of AI counts SAMAI's beneficiaries among the national AI figures it highlights [10]. For anyone looking for a concrete way to take part in the year, completing a SAMAI program is the most direct one.
How a company can use SAMAI for its team
SAMAI is individual training, but it suits a company plan well. Use this checklist as-is.
- Ask each employee to register personally. Sign-in is through each person's own Nafath account, so the company cannot enrol people on their behalf.
- Start non-technical staff with Principles of AI. It covers generative AI, responsible use and productivity with Copilot [3].
- Send those who will own AI tools on to the second program. It adds machine learning, ethics and bias [4].
- Set a completion window, for example four weeks, and ask for a copy of each certificate for the training file.
- Pair the training with a company rule on what data never goes into AI tools, so new skills meet clear limits.
- Apply it to one task. After the course, have the team try AI on one routine job and measure the time saved. Our guide on how AI can help your business shows how to pick and measure that first task.
Illustrative example: a 12-person office in Dammam
Illustrative example. An accounting office in Dammam has 12 staff, eight of them Saudi. The manager wants everyone comfortable with AI tools before the office tries one on client emails.
| Week | What happens | What the manager checks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The eight Saudi staff register through Nafath and start Principles of AI | Everyone has signed in |
| 2–3 | They work through the units on generative AI, responsible AI and Copilot | Questions raised in a short weekly huddle |
| 4 | Certificates go into the training file; the two staff who will run the pilot start AI Concepts and Advanced Applications | Eight certificates on file |
| 5–6 | The office tries AI on drafting replies to routine client emails, with a person reviewing every reply before it goes out | Minutes per reply before and after, and errors caught in review |
The four non-Saudi staff fall outside the audience SAMAI's pages address, so the manager plans another route for them, such as an internal session where the trained staff pass on what they learned.
Your next step
If you are a Saudi citizen, open samai.futurex.sa, sign in with Nafath and start Principles of AI this week; it is the shortest route into the SAMAI initiative and its first certificate. If you manage a team, send the link to your Saudi staff with a four-week completion window and plan one AI task to try once they finish. And if you are weighing what AI could do in your company's own systems, you can read about O AI, a software and AI company in Al Khobar, on our home page.
Frequently asked questions
Is SAMAI free?
Yes. The Saudi Press Agency describes SAMAI as free to access, with official certification from SDAIA. The training is online, in Arabic and flexible in timing, so participants can study around work or school. Registration is through a Nafath sign-in. If a website or a person asks you to pay for SAMAI registration or its certificate, use only the official address, samai.futurex.sa, and check with the support line.
Who can register for SAMAI?
The platform says the initiative is aimed at all Saudis interested in learning AI, and SDAIA describes it as open to all male and female citizens across the Kingdom, of all ages and professional backgrounds. The Ministry of Education opened it to university and school students. The public pages do not mention non-Saudi residents, so a resident should ask the support line at 8001221111 or samai@sdaia.gov.sa before planning on it.
How do I register for SAMAI?
Go to samai.futurex.sa and choose register. You sign in through Nafath, the national single sign-on, which the platform uses for the National eLearning Center's services. Then choose one of the training programs, open its details page and enrol. The training is online and self-paced. Keep your Nafath account active, since the platform's sign-in runs through it.
Do I get one certificate for all SAMAI programs?
No. Each SAMAI program has its own certificate, accredited by SDAIA, which you receive when you meet that program's requirements. You do not have to complete every program to get a certificate. With two programs listed on 14 October 2026, Principles of AI and AI Concepts and Advanced Applications, a participant who finishes both would hold two separate certificates.
How long does a SAMAI program take?
The public pages do not state the number of hours for either program. The training is self-paced and remote, so the time depends on the learner. The units are listed on each program's summary page: six for Principles of AI and five for AI Concepts and Advanced Applications. The detailed requirements, including any assessments, appear inside the program after you sign in with Nafath.
Is the SAMAI certificate useful for a job?
It shows that you completed a structured AI training accredited by SDAIA, and SDAIA describes the certification as adding academic and market value. Both programs are introductory and aimed at non-specialists, so employers will read it as evidence of AI literacy, not as a technical qualification or a professional licence. It is most useful alongside a concrete example of how you used AI in your work.
Is SAMAI part of the Year of AI 2026?
SAMAI started in September 2024, before the Cabinet named 2026 the Year of AI, so it is not a program created for the year. It does fit the year's goal of building national capabilities, and SDAIA's Year of AI page counts SAMAI's beneficiaries among the national AI figures it publishes. For individuals and companies, completing a SAMAI program is a simple, visible way to take part in the year.
How this article was made: Researched from the sources listed below, opened on 14 October 2026. Drafted with AI assistance, then checked against those sources. General information, not professional advice. Images are AI-generated illustrations.
Sources
- Saudi Arabia Launches SAMAI Initiative to Empower 1 Million Citizens in AI (13 September 2024) (opens in a new tab)Saudi Press Agency · spa.gov.sa
- One Million Saudis in AI (SAMAI): programs, library and FAQ (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab)SDAIA, SAMAI initiative · samai.futurex.sa
- Principles of AI: program summary (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab)SDAIA, SAMAI platform · learn.samai.futurex.sa
- AI Concepts and Advanced Applications: program summary (in Arabic) (opens in a new tab)SDAIA, SAMAI platform · learn.samai.futurex.sa
- 9% of Working-Age Saudis Among Over One Million Trained in AI via SAMAI Initiative (9 November 2025) (opens in a new tab)Saudi Press Agency · spa.gov.sa
- SDAIA, Education and Human Resources Ministries Urge Citizens to Enroll in AI Training Program (7 May 2025) (opens in a new tab)Saudi Press Agency · spa.gov.sa
- National celebration of one million citizens trained in AI under the SAMAI initiative (in Arabic, November 2025) (opens in a new tab)Ministry of Education · moe.gov.sa
- Saudi Arabia Reaches One Million Citizens Trained in AI Through 'SAMAI' Initiative (9 November 2025) (opens in a new tab)Saudi Press Agency · spa.gov.sa
- SDAIA President: 'SAMAI' Initiative Has Enabled Over 330,000 Citizens with AI to Date (2 July 2025) (opens in a new tab)Saudi Press Agency · spa.gov.sa
- The Year of AI 2026 (opens in a new tab)Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) · sdaia.gov.sa
- SDAIA Drives Saudi Arabia's Rise in Global AI Rankings in IMD Competitiveness Yearbook 2026 (18 June 2026) (opens in a new tab)Saudi Press Agency · spa.gov.sa
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