Riyadh - Sharikat Mubasher: Coursera, a leading online learning platform, has announced a significant surge of 31% YoY in AI, and cybersecurity enrollments in the Saudi Kingdom compared to the previous year.

According to the published data in the sixth edition of its Global Skills Report, this surge reflects the growing interest among Saudi learners in developing proficiency and digital skills and illuminating AI illiteracy.

The Global Skills Report 2024 emphasizes AI literacy as a rising global imperative, with countries prioritizing investments in GenAI as a key driver to rapidly expand the AI talent pool and prepare AI-ready economies.

Cybersecurity attacks cost organizations in Saudi Arabia and the UAE $6.53 million in 2023, driving a surge in demand for cybersecurity professionals.

Coursera data shows a 65% year-over-year increase in cybersecurity course enrollments. This aligns with Saudi Arabia’s efforts to develop a skilled workforce, including the goal of training 40% of the workforce in data and AI skills by 2030.

Commenting on the data published in the report, Kais Zribi, General Manager for the Middle East and Africa at Coursera said: “Saudi Arabia already took huge steps towards empowering its citizens and enhancing its global competitive capability through improving the basic skills for the digital era we’re living right in the moment”. 

On top of skills, Saudi residents showed interest in learning Leadership Development in the first place, followed by Supply Chain systems, Resilience, People Development, and Graphic Design while skills of Adaptability and Emotional Intelligence hit the bottom of the same list.