Riyadh: Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan confirmed that more than 66% of Saudi scholarship recipients are studying at the world's top 50 universities, noting that over 100,000 talented students have earned a total of 335 local, regional, and international awards.

According to Saudi Press Agency, speaking during his participation at the Budget Forum 2026, Al-Benyan said that more than SAR200 billion has been allocated to general, university, and vocational education in the 2026 budget. He added that over SAR30 billion have been earmarked for new projects to enhance the educational environment, SAR4 billion for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program, and more than SAR2 billion to strengthen digital infrastructure.

He highlighted the sector's growing reliance on digital platforms, noting that the Madrasati platform now serves more than seven million beneficiaries. Meanwhile, the National eLearning Platform hosts more than 2,000 local, regional, and international educational entities, benefiting more than two million learners across the public and private sectors.

Al-Benyan underscored that investment in education is strategic and will no longer be approached as a traditional service sector. He added that artificial intelligence is set to play a pivotal role in transforming the education system and shaping its future direction.