Educational reforms in Saudi Arabia will see the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) as part of the national curriculum across all public schools, starting in the 2025–2026 academic year. This step is critical to the country’s Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to transform its economy through innovation and digital empowerment.
The objective is to ensure that students are equipped with digital literacy, problem-solving skills, and awareness, all of which are required to thrive in a rapidly- evolving global economy.
The new AI curriculum has been developed to gradually build knowledge from the early primary level through to high school. It focuses not only on technical understanding but also on ethical use and real-world application.
This is integral to Saudi Arabia’s Human Capability Development Programme, which is central to Vision 2030’s broader mission of modernising the nation’s education system. The curriculum was jointly developed by key government institutions, including the National Curriculum Centre, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and the Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA).
Saudi Arabia’s move follows a growing international trend. In India, for instance, the state of Kerala has already introduced AI education in public schools as part of its broader efforts to build digital competencies among students. Kerala’s program includes AI labs, teacher training, and coding lessons, showcasing a regional model for integrating emerging technologies into mainstream education.
Earlier this year, the Kingdom launched a pilot programme offering an elective course titled ‘Introduction to Artificial Intelligence’ for third-year high school students. The pilot reached over 50,000 students across various regions, laying the groundwork for a full-scale rollout.
The plan also includes infrastructure support and a national strategy to ensure smooth implementation across all levels of public schooling. By embedding AI education into its core learning pathways, Saudi Arabia aims to cultivate a digitally-fluent generation capable of contributing to the country in terms of AI innovation and economic diversification.
