The study aimed to examine the impact of academic leaders' possession of digital literacy on their attitudes toward artificial intelligence applications in leadership work in light of the diffusion of innovation theory at Umm Al-Qura University (UQU). The study used a descriptive correlational approach with a random sampling method, and overall, 158 academic leaders were sampled. The findings indicated a positive attitude among academic leaders toward artificial intelligence applications in leadership work (M = 4.006, SD = 0.567), and their degree of possession of digital literacy was high (M = 3.949, SD = 0.641). There was also a significant positive impact of possessing digital literacy on academic leaders' attitudes toward artificial intelligence applications in leadership work, in line with the diffusion of innovation theory ([beta] = 0.597, p < 0.05). This study recommends spreading awareness and establishing a culture of utilizing artificial intelligence applications in leadership work at Saudi universities.