Open · DOS-SAU-2602 · CFDA 19.040 · Discretionary

AI Partnership & Exchange for Tech Leaders (APEX)

Federal grant opportunity posted by U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia, cataloged on Grants.gov.

$150K-$250K
Award range
Open
Status
29d
Days left
1
Expected awards

The verdict

AI Partnership & Exchange for Tech Leaders (APEX) is an open discretionary opportunity from U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia, offering $150,000 -- $250,000 across 1 expected award. Applications close in 29 days.

$150K-$250K
award range
Open
29 days left
1
expected award
19.040
CFDA program

Opportunity snapshot. This Grants.gov announcement - AI Partnership & Exchange for Tech Leaders (APEX) - is cataloged under number DOS-SAU-2602 and tied to CFDA assistance listing 19.040, posted by U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia. Grants.gov currently shows the opportunity as open, first posted on July 26, 2026 and last updated on July 28, 2026. The funding category is Discretionary, delivered as a cooperative agreement.

Award economics. The award range on file is $150,000 -- $250,000. The agency has projected $250,000 in total estimated funding for this announcement. It expects to issue 1 award. If the agency funds the expected 1 award from the $250,000 estimated pool, the average award works out to roughly $250,000. Cost sharing is not required, so applicants do not need to commit matching funds to be competitive on this opportunity. Federal award ranges are often upper bounds; actual allocations reflect program appropriations, the strength of the applicant pool, and the evaluation committee's scoring.

Deadline and action path. Applications close on September 8, 2026 - roughly 29 days from today. Every Grants.gov submission requires an active SAM.gov registration and a Unique Entity ID. Review the Eligibility section below carefully, federal eligibility categories (nonprofit, state or local government, tribal, individual, educational institution, small business) have distinct registration and reporting requirements. Pre-application outreach to the listed agency contact is permitted and often welcomed, it helps clarify scope and scoring priorities. Before acting on the deadline or award figures above, verify them directly on the official Grants.gov listing, amendments can change dates and amounts after this page was last refreshed.

Award Range

$150,000 -- $250,000

Close Date

September 8, 2026

Posted

July 26, 2026

Est. Total Funding

$250,000

Expected Awards

1

Instrument

Cooperative Agreement

Description

Program PurposeThe U.S. Embassy Riyadh Public Diplomacy Section is accepting applications for a cooperative agreement to run the AI Partnership & Exchange for Tech Leaders. The goal of this program is to connect rising Saudi Artificial Intelligence (AI) leaders with American experts in business, tech, and academia. This initiative helps participants build professional networks, study U.S. technology standards, and create lasting partnerships between American and Saudi institutions. Target Audience and ParticipantsThe program should be designed for Saudi nationals aged 20 to 30. Participants must be undergraduate, graduate, or post-doctoral students, or recent graduates who are studying or working in AI-related fields (such as data science, robotics, or machine learning). They must also speak fluent English and show strong leadership potential. Provide three complete budget scenarios for 12 participants, 16 participants (primary), and 20 participants.Applicants must provide budget scenarios for three participant cohort sizes:· 12 participants· 16 participants (primary scenario)· 20 participantsEach budget scenario should maintain program quality while demonstrating cost-effectiveness at different scales. Program ComponentsIn addition to the planning and preparation with the Embassy and partner organizations, the selected partner will plan and run three mandatory participant-focused phases: · Phase 1: Preparation (Virtual and In-Person) around April 1, 2027: The partner will create an online application portal and launch a recruiting campaign. They will host a virtual hackathon to help short-listed candidates design an AI project idea. Top project ideas will determine who wins a spot on the exchange trip. The partner will also train the group in leadership, project management, and cross-cultural communication before they travel. · Phase 2: U.S. Exchange (Two Weeks) in July 2027: The partner will lead a two-week summer trip to two or three U.S. cities. The trip will include visits to American tech hubs and universities, networking events, workshops at a major AI summit, and cultural activities. The partner will also match each participant with a professional mentor for three months of bi-weekly virtual career coaching after the exchange program component. Phase 3: Follow-On Summit (Saudi Arabia) on/around January 2028: Within three to six months after the trip, the partner will organize a showcase event in Saudi Arabia. Participants will present their follow-on capstone AI projects to local tech communities, government leaders, and investors. This could be adjacent to major Saudi AI summits or a USG-related event.

Eligibility

Grants.gov lists this opportunity under eligibility category code 25. These codes correspond to applicant types (state/local government, tribal organization, nonprofit, educational institution, individual, small business, etc.) defined in Grants.gov's own eligibility reference. See the current Grants.gov eligibility categories or check the official listing below for this opportunity's exact eligibility statement.

Official Listing on Grants.gov

View full details, application forms, and submission instructions.

View on Grants.gov

Parent Grant Program

CFDA 19.040

USAID International Development Grants

U.S. Department of State

View program →

Agency Contact

U. S. Embassy, Riyadh Phone 00966118354860

Key Dates

Posted July 26, 2026
Close Date September 8, 2026
Archive Date October 8, 2026
Last Updated July 28, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this grant opportunity?
This is a federal funding opportunity titled "AI Partnership & Exchange for Tech Leaders (APEX)", offered by U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia. It is associated with CFDA program 19.040. Program PurposeThe U.S. Embassy Riyadh Public Diplomacy Section is accepting applications for a cooperative agreement to run the AI Partnership & Exchange for Tech Leaders. The goal of this program is...
Is this opportunity still open?
Yes, this opportunity is currently open for applications. The closing date is September 8, 2026.
How much funding is available?
The award range for this opportunity is $150,000 -- $250,000. Total estimated funding: $250,000. Expected number of awards: 1.
How do I apply?
Applications for federal grant opportunities are typically submitted through Grants.gov. Visit the official listing at grants.gov for application instructions, required documents, and submission deadlines.

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from Grants.gov and SAM.gov and is for informational purposes only. Opportunity details, deadlines, and eligibility requirements change frequently. Always verify current information directly on Grants.gov before applying. PlainGrants is not affiliated with any federal agency.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

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Data sourced from the SAM.gov Assistance Listings and Grants.gov. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainGrants