At the LEAP 2026 conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and Google announced a national initiative that provides one million university students—aged 18 and above—with free access to advanced Google AI technologies for one year. The program aims to develop future-ready skills and prepare national talent for the digital economy.
What the Initiative Includes
Eligible students will receive a free one-year subscription to Google AI Plus, which offers a suite of advanced tools designed to support academic work and innovation:
- Gemini for research preparation, information analysis, and learning assistance.
- Image and video generation tools for creative projects.
- NotebookLM to organize sources and references, and summarize academic content.
- 400 GB of cloud storage.
Official Statements and Goals
Sarah Al-Husseini, Head of Public Policy at Google in Saudi Arabia and North Africa, announced the initiative, emphasizing Google’s commitment to expanding access to AI technologies and enabling students to use them responsibly and effectively in learning, research, and innovation.
Engineer Mohammed Al-Rabian, Deputy Minister of Communications and Information Technology for Future Capabilities and Jobs, stated that the partnership aims to build human capital capable of leading the digital economy and competing in the intelligent age. He noted that the initiative goes beyond providing technical tools—it integrates AI into the learning journey, boosts productivity and innovation, and aligns educational outcomes with future skills and job requirements.
Training Programs and Additional Offers
The initiative includes year-long training programs developed jointly by MCIT and Google to help students use AI tools efficiently and responsibly. Additionally, Google offers students:
- A discount of up to 75% on the Google AI Pro plan.
- A discount of up to 70% on a bundle that combines Google AI Pro with YouTube Premium.
How to Register
Students can register for the initiative until December 31, 2026, after verifying their university status through the provided link.
Building on Past Success
This step extends Saudi Arabia’s broader digital capacity-building efforts. Over the past few years, Google’s programs have trained more than 600,000 individuals in AI and digital marketing skills, reinforcing the Kingdom’s commitment to preparing national talent to leverage AI technologies and develop their applications.