SDAIA Opens Registration for Artificial Intelligence Professional Badges in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH — The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) has officially opened registration for the Artificial Intelligence Professional Badges program in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Initially unveiled earlier this year during the International Conference on Data and AI Capacity Building (ICAN 2026), the initiative establishes a national benchmark for certifying technical expertise across emerging technology fields.

The current phase introduces certification pathways across two specialized tracks:

• AI Engineer: Focused on practical engineering skills, architecture design, and deployment of artificial intelligence models and enterprise systems.

• Data Scientist: Centered on advanced algorithm development, data modeling, statistical inference, and predictive analytics capabilities.

To attain professional certification, candidates will undergo a rigorous three-level standardized assessment framework. The evaluation process is governed by an independent scientific committee comprising academics, research fellows, and industry experts drawn from both the public and private sectors to ensure objective assessment of practical competence, analytical prowess, and scientific mastery.

Through the badge framework, SDAIA aims to upskill national human capital, address critical tech skills gaps, and offer public and enterprise entities a standardized metric for identifying top-tier technical talent. Registration is managed digitally via SDAIA's Athka X national capacity building platform