A guide for Riyadh students considering a bachelor’s degree in business with a specialty in Artificial Intelligence, delivered by Kingdom University and powered by Arizona State University (ASU).
Last updated: June 2026 Last
By: The Kingdom University Team
When Saudi Aramco deployed AI to analyze seismic data and cut exploration costs by hundreds of millions of riyals, it needed business professionals who understood both the technology and what to do with it. That combination, AI knowledge applied to real business problems, is exactly what employers across the Kingdom are now struggling to find.
Across banking, government, healthcare, and retail, organizations are racing to hire people who can work with AI systems, interpret what they produce, and make better decisions because of them. The gap between demand for AI-capable business graduates and the number of qualified candidates is widening every year.
The bachelor’s in business with artificial intelligence at Kingdom University is powered by Arizona State University ,one of the world’s most innovative universities and the first in the world to partner with OpenAI. The curriculum is identical to the program taught at ASU in the United States, and graduates
leave with two degrees: one from Kingdom University and one from Arizona State University. This guide covers the careers the program leads to, what they pay in Saudi Arabia, and the university you graduate from matters to employers.
Saudi Arabia declared 2026 the Year of Artificial Intelligence, signaling the highest level of government commitment to AI development. The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) has set a target of 20,000 trained AI and data specialists by 2030, and the government is actively creating the conditions for AI to contribute over SAR 507 billion to the Saudi economy by that year. (SDAIA National
Strategy for Data and AI; House of Saud, 2026.)
In May 2025, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched Humain, a Public Investment Fund company dedicated to developing and managing AI solutions across the Kingdom. Every major sector, banking, healthcare, government, retail, and energy, is now competing for graduates who can bridge AI capability with business strategy.
Graduates entering the workforce over the next four years will be among the first locally trained AI business leaders in the Kingdom. The window to be early in this field is open now.
Collect, analyze, and translate data into insights that guide business decisions. BI analysts work across banking, retail, government, and technology which are sectors all investing heavily in data infrastructure under Vision 2030.
Salary: Average SAR 229,974 per year; entry level around SAR 159,832. (ERI SalaryExpert, 2026)
Build and deploy machine learning models that solve complex business problems. Data scientists are among the most sought-after professionals in Saudi Arabia, commanding premium salaries across finance, healthcare, and the giga-projects.
Salary: Average SAR 262,769 per year; entry level around SAR 181,574. (ERI SalaryExpert, 2026)
Identify business needs and design solutions that improve performance, often working at the intersection of technology teams and business leadership. A core role in digital transformation programs across the public and private sectors.
Salary: Average SAR 205,135 per year; entry level around SAR 144,918. (ERI SalaryExpert, 2025)
Lead technology projects from planning through delivery, managing teams, timelines, and budgets. With large-scale digital transformation programs underway across government and industry, demand for IT Project Managers is strong.
Salary: Average SAR 240,000 per year; entry level around SAR 140,000. (PayScale, 2026)
Protect organizations’ data and systems from cyber threats. As Saudi Arabia accelerates its digital economy, cybersecurity has become a national priority, with demand for qualified analysts growing rapidly across every sector.
Salary: Average SAR 218,900 per year; entry level around SAR 115,220. (WorldSalaries, 2025)
Oversee an organization’s entire technology function, aligning IT strategy with business goals. A senior leadership role with strong demand across banking, government, healthcare, and the growing technology sector.
Salary: Average SAR 238,377 per year; senior roles reaching SAR 380,000 and above. (ERI SalaryExpert, 2025)
Evaluate an organization’s systems and processes, then design technology solutions to improve efficiency. Particularly valuable in industries undergoing rapid digitization, including government, healthcare, and logistics.
Salary: Average SAR 195,000-240,000 per year depending on sector and experience. (PayScale Saudi Arabia, 2025)
Use advanced analytical methods and AI tools to help organizations solve problems and make better decisions. A growing role in supply chain, logistics, and government planning as data-driven decision making becomes standard practice.
Salary: Average SAR 170,000-210,000 per year. (PayScale Saudi Arabia, 2025)
Kingdom University is powered by Arizona State University (ASU). That means this program at Kingdom University is the same program taught at Arizona State University in the United States, including identical curriculum, learning outcomes, and academic standards.
On graduation, students will receive two bachelor’s degrees: a Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence in Business from Kingdom University and a Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence in Business from Arizona State University.
ASU has been named the most innovative university in the United States for eleven consecutive years by U.S. News and World Report (2016 to 2026), ahead of Stanford and MIT. The degree program is designed by the W. P. Carey School of Business, whose Department of Information Systems is consistently ranked among the nation’s top 20, and in 2026 was ranked #11 according to the U.S. News and World Report.
Faculty research through the Center for AI and Data Analytics for Business and Society keeps the curriculum at the forefront of how AI is transforming organizations and society. ASU was also the first university in the world to partner with OpenAI, giving students access to the latest AI tools as part of their studies. For a hiring manager at a bank, a government ministry, or a global technology company,
that combination signals training against world-leading standards alongside deep local knowledge.
Learning about AI in a classroom is one thing. Knowing how to deploy it inside a real business is what employers are hiring for.
At Kingdom University, the program is built around hands-on learning and real-world applications, so students graduate with practical experience, not just theory. You will work on projects that reflect the kinds of AI challenges businesses in Saudi Arabia are facing right now, guided by faculty and industry leaders who bring the realities of the workplace into every course.
The program is taught entirely in English, the working language of the global technology and business industry, giving graduates a critical advantage when competing for roles with international companies operating in the Kingdom, or pursuing opportunities abroad.
That applied approach means graduates are ready to drive responsible and effective AI integration from their first role, across sectors including finance, healthcare, government, retail, and technology, wherever the Kingdom’s digital transformation is taking shape.
Kingdom Holding Company’s portfolio, which spans Four Seasons, Fairmont Raffles, Rotana, Flynas, Saks Fifth Avenue, Kingdom Hospital, and global investments including Amazon and Apple, gives students direct access to some of the region’s most prominent employers, opening doors locally and internationally before graduation.
Saudi Arabia’s AI and technology sector is hiring graduates now. Starting your degree at Kingdom University means graduating into one of the strongest job markets in the region, with the qualifications, skills, and network to compete for the most sought-after roles.
