AOU Center of Excellence - Arab Open University

Welcome Message

Dr. Bandar Al-Rami

Director, AI Centre of Excellence

Arab Open University – Saudi Arabia

Welcome Message from the Director

Artificial Intelligence is no longer simply a technological advancement; it is a transformative force redefining how we learn, innovate, conduct research, and shape the future. As AI continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, its true value lies in our ability to translate technological breakthroughs into meaningful opportunities, sustainable solutions, and lasting societal impact.

At the Arab Open University, we believe that the future of AI is not defined by technology alone, but by the people, knowledge, and innovation that drive its responsible development and application.

Guided by this vision, the AI Centre of Excellence aspires to be a catalyst for innovation, interdisciplinary research, and talent development. Our ambition is to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-world applications by advancing impactful research, developing future-ready AI competencies, fostering strategic partnerships, and accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies across education, industry, and society.

Aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s aspirations for a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy, we are committed to contributing to national priorities in digital transformation, human capability development, and technological leadership. Through responsible and human-centred AI, we seek to empower the next generation of innovators, strengthen collaboration between academia and industry, and transform research outcomes into solutions that address emerging challenges and create measurable value.

As the global AI landscape continues to evolve, our focus extends beyond adopting new technologies to shaping how they are developed, governed, and applied. We envision a future in which AI enhances human potential, advances scientific discovery, supports sustainable development, and creates opportunities for inclusive growth.

Our commitment is clear: to move beyond technological adoption towards innovation, beyond research towards impact, and beyond today’s capabilities towards shaping tomorrow’s possibilities.

Together, we aim to position the AI Centre of Excellence as a dynamic platform for knowledge, collaboration, and innovation, contributing to the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030 and the advancement of AI for the benefit of society.

About the Center of Excellence

Mission

The AOU Center of Excellence is dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence education, research, and innovation across multiple sectors. We aim to bridge the AI skills gap, promote responsible AI use, and prepare AI-ready graduates who can contribute effectively to national and global digital transformation initiatives.

Vision

To become a leading center of excellence in AI education and research, driving innovation and transformation in alignment with Vision 2030 goals and national priorities.

Strategic Alignment

AOU Mission + Vision 2030: The Center aligns with the Arab Open University's mission to provide accessible, high-quality education while supporting Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 objectives. We focus on developing AI capabilities that contribute to economic diversification, technological advancement, and human capital development.

Target Beneficiaries

Students across all AOU faculties (Computer Studies, Business Studies, Language Studies)
Faculty members and educators
Working professionals seeking AI upskilling
Industry partners and organizations
Research communities and academic institutions

Workshops

Open call

Propose a workshop

The Core Hub runs its workshop programme on ideas from across the university. If you can deliver a session on AI in your field, submit it and the Executive Committee will review it.

Open to faculty, researchers, postgraduates, and staff
Title, agenda, audience, date, and duration
Takes about ten minutes to complete
Decision sent to your institutional email

Start your proposal

Workshop categories

Upcoming workshops

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Executive Committee

Dr. Sarah Ayad

Executive Committee President

Dr. Sarah Ayad is an Assistant Professor at Arab Open University. She is the President of the Executive Committee for the Center of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence. She is an active researcher and educator working at the intersection of artificial intelligence and semantic technologies. Her academic and research contributions reflect a strong commitment to applying AI and ontologies to real-world challenges in healthcare, education, and digital transformation. She leads strategic initiatives focused on AI infrastructure, training, and innovation aligned with Saudi Vision 2030.

Dr. Nesrine Atitallah

Executive Committee Vice President

Dr. Nesrine Atitallah is a PhD holder in computer systems engineering and researcher specializing in computer science, artificial intelligence, and advanced networking. Her research focuses on AI-based solutions for healthcare security and smart agriculture, with particular interest in intelligent monitoring systems, data security, and sustainable technology applications. She actively contributes to academic program development, applied research, and innovation initiatives, and holds an HCIA-AI certification, reflecting her expertise in AI-driven digital transformation.

Dr. Dalia El Khaled

Executive Committee Member

Dalia EL Khaled, Ph.D Electronic Engineering Technologies

Dr. Dalia El Khaled is an Assistant Professor at Arab Open University (AOU), Saudi Arabia, specializing in computer engineering, digital education, and data-driven technologies. She holds a PhD in Engineering with excellence from the University of Almería, Spain, where her research focused on dielectric spectroscopy for non-destructive quality assessment of biomaterials.

Dr. El Khaled has extensive academic and teaching experience across Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, having taught core engineering and computing courses including programming, digital logic, microprocessors, databases, and embedded systems. At AOU, she serves as Branch Course Coordinator, Head of Extracurricular Activities, officer of the Research, Development and Innovation Center leading initiatives that bridge academia, innovation, and student engagement in the Entrepreneurship and Future Makers committees.

Her research interests span dielectric spectroscopy, bioimpedance sensing, renewable energy applications, electronics, and artificial intelligence in education. She has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals such as Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Journal of Cleaner Production, Sensors, Electronics, and IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics. Her work has received significant international citations and contributes to both theoretical advancements and applied engineering solutions.

In addition to her research and teaching roles, Dr. El Khaled is an active reviewer for leading MDPI journals including Materials, Sustainability, and Technologies, and a member of the Electronics, Communication, and Telemedicine Research Group at the University of Almería. She is also deeply involved in promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, and the ethical integration of generative AI in education, regularly conducting workshops and training programs for students and educators.

Dr. Fatma Masmoudi

Executive Committee Member

Dr. Fatma Masmoudi is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Computer Studies at Arab Open University. She holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Sfax, Tunisia, with a research focus on accountability management for multi-tenant cloud services. Her research interests span machine learning, data science, cloud computing, business intelligence, data governance, and security and privacy. Dr. Masmoudi has published extensively in high-impact international journals and IEEE conferences, with applications in smart cities, healthcare, cybersecurity, and intelligent systems. Dr. Masmoudi is a WiDS Ambassador for the Middle East and North Africa, actively promoting women's participation in data science in collaboration with Stanford University. She has played key academic and administrative roles at Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, including Vice Chair of the Information Systems Department, Data Science Club Supervisor, and the head of the students' activities committee. She is a Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP) and an ESG Specialist, and a member of IEEE, the Saudi Society for Data Science, and the Saudi Society for Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent Systems. Her work bridges academic research, applied AI solutions, and capacity building through hackathons, student innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Dr. Ola A. Alwesabi

Executive Committee Member

Ola A. Alwesabi received her PhD Degree in computer science especially in Distributed Multimedia and Multimedia Communication, from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in 2018. She has published research papers in International Journals and Conferences with high reputation. Her research interests lie in Distributed Multimedia and Multimedia Communication, Computer Networks, Information System, Video on Demand, Information Security, Cryptography, Web Services, Parallel and Distributed Computing, Cloud Computing, Data Structure, Artificial Intelligence, and Internet of Things.

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Contact Us

For enquiries, collaboration proposals, or workshop requests, write to the Center of Excellence office.

aicoe.office@aou.edu.sa

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