Riyadh: The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and Google announced, during LEAP 2026, the launch of a national initiative providing one million students at Saudi universities with free access to Google's advanced AI technologies for one year. The initiative aims to develop future skills and enhance the readiness of national talent to compete and innovate in the Intelligence Age.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the initiative was announced by Head of Public Policy at Google for Saudi Arabia and North Africa Sarah Al-Husseini, as part of the company's participation in the conference. She reaffirmed Google's commitment to expanding access to AI technologies and supporting students in using them responsibly and effectively for learning, research, and innovation.
The initiative provides students aged 18 and above with a free one-year subscription to the Google AI Plus plan, enabling them to use Gemini tools for research, information analysis, developing ideas and academic projects, and enhancing productivity.
This initiative builds on ongoing collaboration to develop digital capabilities in the Kingdom, following Google programs that have trained more than 600,000 people in AI and digital marketing skills over recent years, including the Maharat min Google program.
Deputy Minister for Future Skills and Jobs at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Mohammed Alrubayan said: "This partnership stems from a national priority to build human capital capable of leading the digital economy and competing in the Intelligence Age. Providing one million university students with access to AI technologies goes beyond expanding access to advanced tools; it aims to integrate these technologies responsibly and effectively into the learning journey, enhance productivity and innovation, and align education outcomes with the skills and jobs of the future. This will enable national talent to move from using technology to developing its applications and creating meaningful impact."
Students can register for the initiative until December 31, 2026, following verification of their university status through the following page.
The Google AI Plus plan offers a range of features, including the Gemini app, which provides access to advanced AI models for understanding complex problems, conducting in-depth research, analyzing information, and supporting learning. It also includes media generation tools for creating images and videos and supporting educational and creative projects in various formats. NotebookLM serves as an AI-powered assistant for organizing sources and references, summarizing academic content, and creating interactive audio overviews. The plan also provides 400 GB of storage for study materials, references, and academic projects.
The initiative also includes a series of training programs delivered throughout the year in collaboration between MCIT and Google, aimed at enabling students to use AI tools efficiently and responsibly throughout their educational journey.
Google is also offering additional options for students, including a discount of up to 75% on the Google AI Pro plan, which provides advanced tools and models for those interested in programming and design, as well as a special package offering up to 70% off Google AI Pro and YouTube Premium.
The initiative builds on MCIT's efforts to develop national capabilities and strengthen partnerships with leading global technology companies, expanding opportunities for learning and innovation and helping prepare a generation capable of leveraging AI and developing its applications from the Kingdom to the world.
