Saudi Arabia Offers Free Google AI to 1M Students
Saudi Arabia is offering one million university students free access to Google AI Plus for one year, giving eligible students access to Gemini, NotebookLM, media-generation tools and 400GB of storage.
Students aged 18 and above can register until December 31, 2026, subject to verification of their university status. The initiative was announced by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and Google at LEAP 2026.
The national programme aims to give one million students at Saudi universities access to Google’s advanced AI tools for a year.
Eligible students will receive a free one-year Google AI Plus subscription, including Gemini tools for research, information analysis, idea development, academic projects and productivity.
The initiative was announced by Google Saudi Arabia and North Africa Head of Public Policy Sarah Al-Husseini during Google’s participation at LEAP 2026.
Free Google AI in Saudi Arabia
The initiative builds on Google programmes that have trained more than 600,000 people in AI and digital marketing skills in recent years, including the Maharat min Google programme.
Deputy Minister for Future Skills and Jobs at MCIT 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.”
The initiative is open to students aged 18 and above enrolled at Saudi universities.
Students must verify their university status to register for the free one-year Google AI Plus subscription. Registration is open until December 31, 2026.
Students can sign up through Google’s dedicated student page.
What does the free Google AI Plus plan include?
Google AI Plus gives students access to a range of AI-powered tools and services.
The Gemini app provides access to advanced AI models for tackling complex problems, conducting in-depth research, analysing information and supporting learning.
Students also get media-generation tools for creating images and videos for educational and creative projects across different formats.
NotebookLM offers an AI-powered assistant for organising sources and references, summarising academic content and creating interactive audio overviews.
The package also includes 400GB of storage for study materials, references and academic projects.
Saudi students to receive AI training
The initiative will also offer training programmes throughout the year through a partnership between MCIT and Google.
The programmes aim to help students use AI tools effectively and responsibly as part of their education.
The initiative is part of wider collaboration to strengthen digital skills in Saudi Arabia and prepare national talent for future jobs and skills.
Google AI Pro discounts for Saudi students
Google is also offering students additional ways to access its higher-tier AI services.
Students can get discounts of up to 75 percent on Google AI Pro, which offers advanced tools and models for programming and design.
A separate offer provides discounts of up to 70 percent on Google AI Pro and YouTube Premium.