{
  "id": 7916149,
  "title": "SDAIA honors 52 recipients of AI professional badges at UNESCO forum",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/sdaia-honors-52-recipients-of-ai-professional-badges-at-unesco-forum",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-17T01:14:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ajel English",
    "slug": "ajel-english",
    "url": "https://english.ajel.sa/lifestyle/te6ir57yo"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) celebrated 52 distinguished professionals who achieved professional badges in data and artificial intelligence during a UNESCO forum in Riyadh. The recognition ceremony, part of the UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, took place in Riyadh and was attended by SDAIA Deputy President Sami bin Abdullah Muqeem along with officials, experts, and specialists in the field. SDAIA Deputy President Sami bin Abdullah Muqeem praised the recipients for their significant contributions to the field, emphasizing the crucial role of specialized talent in driving professional and scientific advancement. The badges, awarded based on stringent global standards, require participants to pass rigorous exams demonstrating their knowledge, skills, and practical experience. The awards come in two career tracks: Data Scientist and AI Engineer, each with three levels of progression—from Associate to Expert—signifying the individual's growing expertise. By offering these credentials, organizations can more easily identify and leverage qualified professionals, thereby aligning skills with labor market demands and fostering a culture of continuous innovation and contribution to impactful projects. This marks the inaugural hosting of such an international recognition platform within the Arab world, underscoring Saudi Arabia's commitment to nurturing top-tier human capabilities in data and AI technologies.",
  "summary": "The Saudi Data and AI Authority recognized 52 experts for earning professional badges in data and artificial intelligence during a UNESCO forum in Riyadh.",
  "key_points": [
    "SDAIA honors 52 AI professionals at UNESCO forum in Riyadh.",
    "Recipients awarded for expertise in Data Scientist and AI Engineer tracks.",
    "Badges signify progression from Associate to Expert level."
  ],
  "editors_take": "This recognition of AI and data professionals aligns skills with labor market demands, fostering innovation and contribution to impactful projects, and underscores Saudi Arabia's commitment to nurturing top-tier human capabilities.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}