Saudi Arabia steps up AI governance and national capacity building

Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, President of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), said the Kingdom is moving forward in strengthening AI governance and expanding national capacity in the field by launching initiatives aimed at regulating the use of AI technologies, managing associated risks, and raising awareness and specialized skills to ensure responsible utilization of AI’s potential.

He made these remarks during his speech at the fourth edition of the UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, held in Riyadh and hosted by the Kingdom. The event is organized by SDAIA in partnership with UNESCO and in cooperation with the International Center for AI Research and Ethics (ICAIRE), taking place from September 14 to 17, 2026, with the participation of UNESCO Deputy Director-General Asa Renier and ICAIRE Acting Director-General Majid Al-Shehri.

Al-Ghamdi explained that the initiatives launched by the Kingdom this year in AI governance include an AI risk management framework, a responsible AI use policy, and AI badges for individuals, along with several other initiatives.

The SDAIA chief also highlighted the launch of a range of initiatives in the sector, including the Global Conference for Capacity Building in Data and AI, which introduced more than 40 academic programs in the field.

Al-Ghamdi noted that the Kingdom celebrated the graduation of over 1.2 million participants from the national “SMAI” program, which aims to train one million Saudis in AI. In parallel, the “SMAI 2” program was launched to develop specialized capabilities across sectors such as energy, health, industry, education, and agriculture.

Al-Ghamdi pointed out that in 2024, a tripartite agreement was signed between the Kingdom, UNESCO, and ICAIRE. He added that Saudi Arabia will host the Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in 2026, following previous editions in the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Thailand.

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