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Aug 14, 2026
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Quick answer: Top AI Courses in Riyadh for Beginners & Professionals For most people in Riyadh, start with a free non-technical primer like Google’s Introduction to Generative AI. Then move to hands-on training like Edoxi’s structured 60-hour instructor-led AI course in Riyadh is a strong local option for both beginners and professionals. Saudi nationals can also explore free government bootcamps from SDAIA or Tuwaiq Academy, while developers may add DeepLearning.AI’s Prompt Engineering and Microsoft’s AI for Beginners. No prior AI knowledge is needed; only basic Python is useful for the developer tracks. |
Riyadh is a growing hub for AI talent under Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) driving much of the national push. SDAIA has been steadily expanding its training programs: in July 2026 its Academy launched eight training programs and bootcamps as part of a summer initiative, and it followed with 18 specialised bootcamps launching in August 2026.
The AI Courses generally cover areas such as AI agent development, generative programming, data engineering, computer vision, prompt engineering, and responsible AI. Demand for AI skills is rising across government, energy, telecom, finance, and startups.
If you're completely new to the field, it can help to start with a primer on what artificial intelligence actually is before comparing courses below.
The six options below split into two groups: local, Riyadh-based AI training with instructors and cohorts, and globally available online courses that any learner in Riyadh can take remotely. Take a look;
| Course | Type | Level | Duration | Format |
| SDAIA Academy bootcamps | Local (Riyadh) | Beginner–Advanced | Varies by track (days to months) | In-person |
| Edoxi AI Course | Local (Riyadh) | Beginner–Professional | 60 hours |
Online or classroom
|
| AI for Everyone (Coursera) | Online | Beginner, non-technical | 7 hours | Self-paced |
| Introduction to Generative AI (Google) | Online | Beginner, non-technical | ~45 minutes (core course) | Self-paced |
| ChatGPT Prompt Engineering for Developers | Online | Developer | ~1.5 hours | Self-paced |
| Microsoft AI for Beginners | Online | Beginner–Intermediate, technical | 12 weeks / 24 lessons | Self-paced |
If you'd rather learn with an instructor and a cohort, these two have a genuine footprint in Saudi Arabia and are tied closely to the local job market.
SDAIA Academy exists specifically to build national data and AI capabilities. Its July 2026 summer initiative opened with eight training programs and bootcamps, then expanded to 18 specialised bootcamps launching in August, spanning AI agent development, generative programming, data engineering, computer vision, prompt engineering, and responsible AI. Programs are aimed at a mix of beginners and professionals, and registration runs through SDAIA's Athka X platform.
For a Riyadh-based or Saudi audience, this AI Certification Course is arguably the most directly relevant option here, since it's run by the national authority driving the Kingdom's AI strategy. Availability and eligibility shift with each cohort, so check SDAIA's official channels for the current schedule before planning around a specific track.
Edoxi offers a structured 60-hour Artificial Intelligence training program with 18 modules, delivered through instructor-led training with online options, designed for both beginners and experienced IT professionals.
The curriculum starts with Python fundamentals (variables, functions, loops, control structures, OOP) and core libraries such as NumPy and Pandas, then moves into data analysis and visualisation, supervised and unsupervised machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing (NLP), with hands-on projects you can add to your portfolio such as building a housing-price prediction model or an image classifier.
Pricing and exact delivery format (online vs. in-person in Riyadh) vary and should be confirmed directly with Edoxi, since AI course fees across Saudi Arabia span a wide range, from roughly SAR 1,000 to over SAR 24,000 depending on provider, depth and AI certification.
If you're not ready to write code or don't need to, these two are built for you. Both are self-paced, aimed at business leaders and curious non-engineers, and focus on building intuition for what AI can do rather than how to build it.
This non-technical overview (currently listed at 7 hours for the English version) is ideal for business leaders, managers, and anyone who wants to understand AI without coding.
It explains what AI can and cannot do, covers key terminology (machine learning, deep learning, neural networks, data science), outlines typical project workflows, and discusses how to spot opportunities to apply AI in an organisation, along with societal impacts, ethics, and building an AI strategy.
No technical background is required. It's available on Coursera; check the platform for current access and subscription terms, since these change.
Google's beginner-friendly Introduction to Generative AI, part of the broader Generative AI learning path on Google Cloud Skills Boost, provides a non-technical foundation. The core introductory course itself runs around 45 minutes with no prerequisites; the wider learning path (including related courses on large language models and responsible AI) takes longer if you're working toward a skill badge.
It covers what generative AI is and how it works, how it differs from traditional machine learning, common use cases, large language models, and responsible AI principles.
Course materials are generally free to access, but some hands-on AI Training labs within the broader path may require credits or a subscription, so completing everything needed for a badge can involve some cost.
Once you're comfortable writing code, these two take you further, from prompting large language models to building and training your own models. Both are self-paced and designed for developers who want to put AI Skills and tools to work directly.
This short, practical course (around 1.5 hours, 9 video lessons and 7 code examples) is taught by Isa Fulford (OpenAI) and Andrew Ng. It focuses on writing effective prompts for large language models and using the OpenAI API to build applications.
Key topics include structured instructions, reducing hallucinations, iterative prompt development, and common tasks such as summarising, inferring sentiment/topics, transforming text, and expanding content. Learners also build a custom chatbot.
It requires basic Python knowledge. Access is currently offered free for a limited time as part of DeepLearning.AI's platform beta, though the course page also shows a graded assignment gated behind a paid tier; check current terms on the platform before assuming full free access.
Microsoft's open-source "AI for Beginners" curriculum is a free, project-based 12-week / 24-lesson program available on GitHub, designed for learners with little to no prior AI experience (though basic programming helps).
It covers classical AI approaches (symbolic AI, knowledge representation), neural networks and deep learning using TensorFlow and PyTorch, computer vision, natural language processing, and ethics. Lessons include written materials, Jupyter notebooks, quizzes, labs, and challenges. Note that this is a general AI/ML curriculum rather than a generative-AI-specific one; Microsoft's separate "Generative AI for Beginners" course (21 lessons) is the better fit if generative AI is specifically what you're after.
Pricing varies widely by provider, depth, and certification. Across AI courses listed in Saudi Arabia, fees have ranged from roughly SAR 1,000 on the low end to over SAR 24,000 for longer, certification-heavy programs. Government-run options, SDAIA Academy and Tuwaiq Academy bootcamps, are free. Global online courses (Coursera, DeepLearning.AI, Google, Microsoft) are largely free or low-cost, though some graded assignments or lab credits may sit behind a paywall.
Because prices, promotions, and fee structures change, confirm the current cost, including VAT, exam fees, and any payment plans directly with the provider before enrolling.
Not for the beginner and executive-level courses on this list (AI for Everyone, Google's Introduction to Generative AI, SDAIA's beginner tracks). The developer-focused options, ChatGPT Prompt Engineering for Developers, Edoxi's AI course, and Microsoft's AI for Beginners- either require or strongly benefit from basic Python knowledge, along with some familiarity with data analysis.
Not every AI course ends in the same kind of credential. Before enrolling, check whether what you'll receive is:
Riyadh's AI training ecosystem continues to grow, anchored by SDAIA's and Tuwaiq's academy and bootcamp programs. Combining a local option like Edoxi, SDAIA, or Tuwaiq with globally recognised online resources gives a solid foundation for careers in AI engineering, data science, product management, or applying AI within an existing role.
A certificate alone won't guarantee a job; practical projects, programming ability, and communication skills matter just as much. Always check official platforms directly for the latest schedules, enrollment windows, and funding programs, since availability changes frequently.
Read and Find out: How to Start a Career in Artificial Intelligence in Riyadh
Here is the list of other major locations where Edoxi offers Artificial Intelligence Course
Artificial Intelligence Course in Dubai | Artificial Intelligence Course in Qatar
