The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) launched a National Cross-Disciplinary Curriculum for University Students in Data and AI at ICAN 2026 (International Conference on Data and AI Capacity Building), held on 28–29 January 2026 at King Saud University in Riyadh. SDAIA signed memoranda of understanding with 14 public and private universities to deliver the programme across the Kingdom.
What the curriculum covers: The curriculum provides foundational knowledge in data literacy and responsible AI use, enabling non-specialist students to apply AI tools in their own fields of study. It is designed for all academic disciplines, not only computer science — targeting law, medicine, business, humanities, and other fields equally.
Mandatory for all undergraduates: The curriculum is described as mandatory for all undergraduates across disciplines at Saudi universities, giving all graduates a minimum baseline of AI literacy and responsible AI application skills before entering the labour market.
Educator component: SDAIA’s rollout involves training university staff to deliver the curriculum across campuses, adding to Saudi Arabia’s existing teacher-training infrastructure (previously scored for K-12). The scale and mandatory nature of educator preparation for this programme provides additional evidence for the teacher-training dimension.
What is notably missing: The MoU framework covers 14 institutions initially; full national coverage across all Saudi universities is a stated goal rather than a confirmed outcome. Enforcement mechanisms for student completion and quality standards are not detailed in the public announcement.