Coursera Celebrates AI Appreciation Day with New GenAI Certificates Amid Soaring MENA Demand

In celebration of AI Appreciation Day, global online learning platform Coursera, Inc. (NYSE: COUR) has announced a major expansion of its Generative AI (GenAI) catalog, unveiling new Professional Certificates and Specializations developed with industry giants such as AWS, Microsoft, Google Cloud, IBM, and Snowflake. The platform’s GenAI catalog now features over 925 AI-focused courses, reflecting Coursera’s commitment to accelerating access to critical digital skills globally.

The announcement comes amid surging interest in GenAI across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), where enrollments have surpassed 500,000 in 2025 alone, averaging one every two minutes. Learners in the UAE and Saudi Arabia have each crossed 100,000 enrollments, collectively spending nearly half a million hours building GenAI capabilities since the launch of ChatGPT, equivalent to over 53 years of learning.

Upskilling in a Rapidly Evolving Digital Landscape
With 46% of on-the-job skills in the region expected to change by 2030—compared to the global average of 39%—Coursera’s expanded offerings respond to one of the highest regional rates of skill transformation worldwide.

Despite the strong uptake, 80% of GenAI learners in MENA are at the beginner level, indicating the need for more advanced training pathways. Millennials dominate course participation (60%), followed by Gen X (21%), Gen Z (18%), and Boomers (1%). Gender disparities persist, with women comprising only 25% of GenAI enrollments, highlighting the need for greater inclusivity efforts. The total enrolments to date (all-time enrolments) have surpassed 500K, with one new enrolment every two minutes in 2025.

AI-Powered Tools Enhance Learning Outcomes
Coursera is also leveraging AI to revolutionize learning experiences through tools like Coursera Coach, a generative AI-powered tutor. Learners who use Coach are 9.5% more likely to pass quizzes on the first attempt and complete 11.6% more learning activities per hour. In MENA, 175,000 learners have exchanged 240,000+ messages with the Coach tool.

Additionally, to address language accessibility, Coursera has used AI to translate over 5,500 courses and 65 certificates into 26 languages, including Arabic and French. These translated courses have attracted over 120,000 learners in MENA, with Saudi Arabia ranking among the top three countries globally in translated course engagement.

“Across MENA, learners are embracing GenAI education at a remarkable pace to meet the changing demands of industries and workplaces,” said Kais Zribi, Coursera’s General Manager for the Middle East and Africa. “On AI Appreciation Day, we reaffirm our commitment to expanding world-class AI learning and creating inclusive, AI-powered education pathways for the future.”

New GenAI Certifications and Specializations Launched:

Professional Certificates:

• AWS Generative AI Applications – Build real-world AI solutions using tools like Bedrock and Partyrock (no tech background needed).

• AWS Generative AI for Developers – Create and optimize AI apps using Amazon Bedrock.

• Microsoft AI Product Manager – Skills for product strategy, UX, and lifecycle management.

• Microsoft 365 with GenAI – Use Copilot to boost productivity and streamline communications.

• Google Cloud GenAI Leader – Learn to scale GenAI workflows and AI agents in business.

• IBM RAG and Agentic AI – Design advanced agentic apps with LangChain and CrewAI.

• Snowflake GenAI – Build data-driven GenAI apps with Snowflake and Streamlit.

New Courses and Specializations:

• Retrieval Augmented Generation (DeepLearning.AI)

• Generative AI Specializations from IBM for HR, Product Owners, Marketing, and Java Developers

• AI Agents in Java with GenAI (Vanderbilt University)

• AI in Financial Services (Saïd Business School, University of Oxford)

• Generative AI Strategic Leader (Vanderbilt University)

• Generative AI & Governmental Financial Reporting (Rutgers University)

With continued innovation and strategic collaborations, Coursera’s new offerings aim to empower learners across the MENA region and beyond with cutting-edge AI skills essential for the future of work.