SDAIA Launches Three-Level Professional Badges for AI Engineers and Data Scientists

The Saudi Data and AI Authority, known as SDAIA, has launched professional AI badges in two disciplines: AI engineering and data science. Each discipline has three progressive levels, Assistant, Associate and Expert, awarded through an assessment of professional capability rather than years of experience alone. The move shifts recruitment in the sector from a CV to verified proof of competence and connects professional accreditation with governance and responsible AI principles.

Registration is open through the Athkax platform at athkax.sdaia.gov.sa/badges. The badges are designed for automated verification by employers, reducing the cost of recruitment checks and giving professionals a nationally recognised credential that speaks to competence rather than academic qualifications alone.

Core challenge:The region’s AI market is growing faster than traditional recruitment processes can filter candidates. Companies receive hundreds of applications for a single role and lack standardised tools to verify candidates’ claims about deploying models, building data pipelines or applying model governance. SDAIA’s badges provide a common standard. Passing the assessment means being able to design, develop and operate AI systems in line with professional best practice.

Three levels, one path:The Assistant level is aimed at beginners with strong fundamentals who still need supervision. The Associate level is for professionals who can carry out tasks independently and contribute to engineering decisions. The Expert level is for those who lead teams, set strategy and take responsibility for governance and risk. The progression is substantive. Each level requires candidates to pass a practical assessment of their ability to solve real problems, not memorise theoretical concepts.

Governance is a requirement, not an option:What distinguishes these badges from certifications offered by global platforms such as AWS or Google Cloud is the inclusion of governance and responsible AI principles in the mandatory assessment criteria. An AI engineer who earns the badge must demonstrate an understanding of algorithmic bias, data privacy, explainability and model lifecycle management. These requirements have become a condition in Saudi government tenders and are increasingly sought by the Gulf private sector.

What does this mean for job seekers?For machine-learning engineers and data scientists in Riyadh, Jeddah or Dammam, or those working remotely for Saudi companies, the badge becomes valuable currency in salary and promotion negotiations. The platform lets professionals build a verified profile, and the badge appears in the checks conducted by employers. Start by registering at the level that matches your current skills and prepare for the practical assessment. There is no shortcut, and the standard is designed to be credible.

The regional bet:If this model succeeds in Saudi Arabia, it could prompt regulators in the UAE, Qatar and Egypt to launch similar systems. Over time, the badges could become a common Gulf standard, as happened with engineering and professional licensing in other sectors. Professionals who establish their profiles early on the Athkax platform will gain a cumulative advantage as regional recognition expands.