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Mogadishu – 5 November 2026 SIMAD University on Thursday laid the foundation stone for the new building of its Artificial Intelligence Institute (SIMAD AI Institute).
The building will host Somalia’s National AI Hub, which brings together four of the country’s universities.
The foundation stone was laid jointly by the Minister of Communications and Technology Mohamed Adam Moalim Ali, and the Chairman of SIMAD University, Abdikarim Muhudin Ahmed.
The ceremony was attended by leaders from Jamhuriya University, Zamzam University and Somali National University, which share SIMAD’s commitment to Somalia’s national AI agenda.
Representatives from Premier Bank, Direct Aid, the construction firm Hadiid Group and a delegation from the United States were also present.
Ali said the centre is part of the ministry’s plan to distribute the hosting of national technology programmes among the country’s universities.
“We want SIMAD University to host the AI centre for us. We also want other universities working in technology to prepare themselves in the same way,” the minister said.
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The minister also noted that one of the centre’s goals is to ensure that the systems and robots developed there work well in the Somali language. “We hope the robots built here will use Somali well, so that Somali people can understand them in their own language,” he said.
The new centre will offer AI training, research on artificial intelligence, and training on building AI-powered systems and applications.
Muhudin,SIMAD University Chairman, said the country’s universities have entered a new phase. “We hope this building will be completed quickly, so that we can present to you the outputs produced here that address the country’s needs, God willing,” he said.
SIMAD AI Institute is Somalia’s first university-based institute dedicated specifically to artificial intelligence. It already runs training programmes, an AI and robotics lab, and an innovation hub.
The building is being constructed by Hadiid Group and will have a ground floor plus five storeys (G+5). It is being built with a steel structure combined with blocks.
“We are pleased to build a modern structure here… The entire building is steel, so that it will be a beautiful and lasting building, God willing,” said Hadiid Group Chairman Abdihakin Mohamed Ismail.
The groundbreaking ceremony is part of the celebrations marking the 27th anniversary of SIMAD University’s founding. The university celebrates SIMAD Day every year on 6 November.