AI applied to Saudi Arabia higher education: systematic literature review-SLR with PRISMA and VOSviewer.

Abstract

This study explored the role of artificial intelligence in higher education in Saudi Arabia. It aims to identify trends, key contributors, influential papers, collaborations, and important research areas from January 2022 to February 2026 to guide future research. The researchers used bibliometric and content analyses. This combined quantitative descriptive methods and network analysis with qualitative content analysis of the most-cited articles. They extracted data from Scopus and the Web of Science, resulting in 66 documents after removing duplicates, editorials, and notes. The analytical techniques included the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), co-word analysis, citation analysis, co-authorship analysis, and bibliographic coupling. VOSviewer supported the visualization. The key findings show that King Abdulaziz University, Qassim University, and King Saud University are the top contributors. A total of 52 papers have been published in journals indexed by WOS and Scopus, while 14 papers are indexed only by Scopus. Additionally, five major groups revealed significant correlations among various word pairs: High-education, Artificial intelligence, AI Chatbot, learning systems, and ChatGPT. The leading journals include Sustainability, Acta Psychological, and Systems, with notable authors such as Al-Harbi. Content analysis highlights the potential of AI to improve learning, boost administrative efficiency, and drive innovation in Saudi Arabia. This study offers practical recommendations for students, universities, and policy makers. This study has several limitations that should be addressed in future studies.