Programmers Association

The Programmers Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to the software sector. It was established on July 31, 2019, and is headquartered in Riyadh City. Registered with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development under number 1199, the association undertakes various initiatives and projects to serve programmers.

The Programmers Association aims to elevate the software sector in the Kingdom to a level of organization that achieves global competitiveness. Additionally, it seeks to provide excellent services to programmers, create an encouraging environment for them, offer scientific advice according to the best possible standards in the field of software, develop the scientific and professional performance of those involved in programming, and support initiatives, projects, ideas, and programs that contribute to the development of society.

The association supports scientific studies and research to achieve excellence in programming, contributes to evaluating policies related to software, encourages students at various educational levels to learn programming, and promotes programming culture among all segments of society. It provides channels for members and affiliates to contribute, represents Saudi programmers in Arab and international forums, and contributes to the development of the programming sector's performance in the Kingdom.

The association has launched several initiatives to support programmers and promote programming culture in society. One of the most notable initiatives is the "Parmg Meetings," which aims to spread programming culture for the benefit of the community and facilitate the exchange of expertise among programmers across the Kingdom. This initiative targets technology enthusiasts and is supported by the private sector.

The association adopted the Workshop Initiative aimed at developing and enhancing programmers' knowledge in the field, opening opportunities to learn programming, and targeting those working in the tech sector. Supported by the private sector, this initiative facilitates skill development. Additionally, the association implemented the "Kuluna Attaa" (Let Us All Give) initiative to support students from low-income families. This initiative provides necessary devices for male and female students to continue their educational journey and benefit from all technological platforms. It involves collecting and preparing laptops and tablets with the help of volunteers and collaborators from the Programmers Association and various sectors. This initiative is supported by the government, private sector, non-profit organizations, and endowment sectors.

The association chose the National Day to launch its website and membership subscriptions. It also launched the hashtag #Parmg_For_My_Nation, considering this step an opportunity to serve its members and subscribers and attract those interested in technology to benefit from the range of services offered. The association provides specific memberships for individuals, institutions, and companies.

The association offers different types of organizational memberships for companies and institutions that desire to benefit from the events and activities provided by the association. These memberships also come with special privileges for their employees. This type of membership is a key contributor to supporting the association's non-profit activities, programs, and goals, as well as aiding the scientific output and movement that serve the nation.

The memberships offered by the association are divided into several categories: Startup Membership for small enterprises in the IT sector, Silver Membership for medium-sized enterprises with products serving both public and private sectors, Gold Membership for medium and large enterprises with services and products targeting all private and public sectors, and Diamond Membership for medium and large enterprises whose services target both public and private sectors.

In 2023, the Programmers Association announced names of governmental and private entities and non-profit organizations that are the winners of the "Maysam Open Source Award" in its first edition during the Saudi Open Source Summit under the slogan "Open Source for an Ambitious Nation". The winners included three government entities, one private entity, one non-profit organization, one tech group, and six individuals and entrepreneurs.

The award aims to foster competition and innovation to encourage the adoption of open source according to the best possible international practices. It seeks to highlight the role of open source in promoting its culture and applications to enhance the level of open source adoption in the productive and service-oriented tech sectors in the Kingdom, aligning with the aspirations of the leadership as outlined in Saudi Vision 2030.