MBS College for Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technologies

MBS College for Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technologies is a Saudi higher-education technology institution based in Riyadh. The college was established in 2018 as a specialist academic institution for cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and related advanced technologies, making it one of the earliest dedicated Saudi initiatives in these fields. Its creation reflected the country's broader effort to develop domestic digital capabilities, strengthen cybersecurity expertise and prepare technically trained personnel for a rapidly expanding technology economy. The institution was created in March 2018 through a decision issued by Saud al-Qahtani, who at the time was president and chairman of the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones. Before its official inauguration in April 2018, the college was renamed after Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's crown prince, following approval of a renaming proposal put forward through the federation. Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Dahlawi served as its inaugural and acting dean. Rather than operating as a conventional broad-based university, the college's stated identity has centered on specialized technical education and collaboration with international institutions and technology organizations. During its early development, it entered into agreements or partnerships involving Chiron Technology Services, Stanford University, IronNet Cybersecurity, Carnegie Mellon University, DigiPen Institute of Technology, Inspur Group, BAE Systems and other organizations. These arrangements were intended to support curriculum development, cybersecurity training, academic cooperation and the creation of pathways toward advanced technical qualifications. The college's subject areas include cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, programming and advanced technologies. Publicly described plans included the development of a bachelor's program in cybersecurity in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University. Its external relationships also indicate an emphasis on practical and industry-linked education, combining academic content with exposure to cybersecurity operations, software, technology management and emerging digital systems. The institution is associated with Saudi Arabia's national technology and cybersecurity agenda, but information publicly available in the supplied references is limited regarding its current enrollment, degree portfolio, accreditation, campus facilities, leadership after its inaugural dean, financial structure and present operating scale. It is therefore best understood as a specialized Saudi academic institution whose early history was defined by rapid establishment, high-profile naming and a series of international cooperation agreements.

The college's origins date to March 2018, when Saud al-Qahtani, then president and chairman of the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, issued a decision to establish a specialist college in Riyadh devoted to cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and advanced technologies. The initiative was created during a period in which Saudi Arabia was placing increased emphasis on digital transformation, technology skills and national cybersecurity capacity. Before the institution was formally inaugurated in April 2018, it was renamed after Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince, following assent to a proposal submitted through the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones. The renaming gave the institution the formal identity of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman College for Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technologies. Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Dahlawi was identified as the inaugural and acting dean. From its beginning, the college pursued international links as a central part of its development. In April 2018 it signed a memorandum of understanding with Chiron Technology Services, a cybersecurity company based in the United States. In June 2018 it reached an arrangement with Stanford University concerning contributions to the design of academic content. The college also partnered in July 2018 with IronNet Cybersecurity, a US cybersecurity company founded by retired US Army General Keith B. Alexander. The institution continued building its network during 2019. In January, it announced plans for a bachelor's program in cybersecurity in cooperation with Carnegie Mellon University. In April, it signed a cooperation agreement with DigiPen Institute of Technology. In August, it entered into an agreement with Inspur Group, a Chinese information-technology company, and in September it signed an agreement with BAE Systems, the British multinational operating in defense, security and aerospace. The supplied references also identify cooperation involving Draper University, Booz Allen Hamilton and the SANS Institute. These partnerships suggest that the college was designed to combine formal academic education with applied cybersecurity and technology training. Its intended scope encompassed cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, programming and other advanced technologies, rather than a single narrow technical discipline. The planned Carnegie Mellon-linked bachelor's program was particularly significant because it pointed toward degree-level education in cybersecurity supported by a prominent international university. Public information in the supplied material does not establish the college's current academic offerings, accreditation arrangements, enrollment, later leadership, financial model or operational scale. Its documented early history nevertheless places it among Saudi Arabia's first dedicated academic initiatives focused specifically on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. The college's establishment and partnership strategy were closely connected to the country's efforts to expand specialist digital expertise and build institutions capable of supporting a technology-intensive economy.

1. 2019Cybersecurity bachelor's program announced

   The college announced plans for a cybersecurity bachelor's program in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University.

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2. 2019DigiPen cooperation agreement

   The institution signed a cooperation agreement with DigiPen Institute of Technology.

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3. 2019Agreements with Inspur and BAE Systems

   The college entered agreements with Inspur Group in August and BAE Systems in September.

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4. 2018Institution established

   Saud al-Qahtani issued the decision to establish a College of Cyber Security, Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technologies in Riyadh.

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5. 2018Renamed before inauguration

   The college adopted the name Prince Mohammed bin Salman College for Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technologies before its formal inauguration.

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6. 2018First international memorandum signed

   The college signed a memorandum of understanding with Chiron Technology Services.

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7. 2018Stanford academic-content cooperation

   The college signed an agreement with Stanford University concerning the design of academic content.

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8. 2018IronNet partnership

   The college entered into a partnership with IronNet Cybersecurity.

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A specialized Saudi higher-education institution positioned around cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and advanced technologies, with an emphasis on international academic and industry partnerships.

• Cybersecurity educationHigher education2018

  The college's principal academic focus is cybersecurity. Its development model emphasizes specialist instruction supported by international academic and industry relationships. A bachelor's program in cybersecurity was announced as planned in cooperation with Carnegie Mellon University, although the supplied references do not confirm its launch, accreditation or current availability.

• Artificial-intelligence educationHigher education2018

  Artificial intelligence is one of the institution's core subject areas and forms part of its formal name. The supplied material does not provide a detailed list of AI degrees, courses or research centers, but identifies the college as a dedicated academic institution for cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.

• Advanced-technology trainingTechnical education2018

  The college covers advanced technologies and programming alongside cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Its agreements with universities, cybersecurity firms and technology companies indicate an intended blend of academic learning and applied technical preparation.

• 2019Planned cybersecurity bachelor's programProduct launch

  The college sought to expand from institutional formation and partnership-building into degree-level specialist education.

  What changed. It announced plans to offer a bachelor's program in cybersecurity in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University.

  Aftermath. The supplied references do not confirm the program's subsequent launch or current status.

  Source
• 2018Establishment of a specialist technology collegeStrategy

  Saudi Arabia was developing domestic capabilities in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and advanced digital technologies.

  What changed. Saud al-Qahtani issued the decision to establish a dedicated college in Riyadh.

  Aftermath. The institution became one of the country's early academic initiatives specifically focused on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.

  Source
• 2018Adoption of the Mohammed bin Salman nameStrategy

  The college was renamed shortly before its official inauguration after a proposal put forward through the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones.

  What changed. The institution adopted the name Prince Mohammed bin Salman College for Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technologies after receiving the crown prince's assent.

  Aftermath. The renamed college began its public institutional development with a prominent national association and an international partnership agenda.

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• 2019Cybersecurity bachelor's program planned with Carnegie Mellon University

  The college announced that it intended to offer a bachelor's program in cybersecurity in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University.

  Product launch
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• 2018Saudi cybersecurity and advanced-technology college established

  Saud al-Qahtani issued the decision establishing the specialist college in Riyadh.

  Other
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• 2018College renamed after Mohammed bin Salman before inauguration

  Before its formal inauguration, the institution adopted the name Prince Mohammed bin Salman College for Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technologies after assent to a renaming proposal.

  Other
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• 2018College begins international cooperation program

  The college entered a series of agreements with international universities and technology companies to support academic content, training and institutional development.

  Other
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1. MBS College for Cybersecurity and Advanced Technologies