The Saudi Informatics Team shines with 6 international awards
achieved The Saudi national informatics team an exceptional international accomplishment, adding to the nation's record of achievements, by winning six diverse awards during its active participation in the North African Informatics Olympiad (NAOI 2026). This edition of the championship was held remotely in Libya on April 18, 2026, reaffirming the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's distinguished presence in international scientific forums and highlighting its leading position in the fields of science, technology, and nurturing young talent.
History and trajectory of regional and international Olympiads
Informatics Olympiads, whether at the regional level (such as the North African Olympiad) or the international level (IOI), are among the most prestigious scientific competitions targeting public school students. The concept of these Olympiads originated globally in the late 1980s with the aim of stimulating interest in computer science and information technology. The Kingdom's participation in these competitions is an extension of its long history of investing in human capital. For years, Saudi Arabia has been intensifying its presence in regional and international scientific competitions, using them as a major preparatory stage to hone students' skills before competing in larger global competitions. These participations are not limited to winning titles; they also include exchanging experiences with participating countries and learning about the latest applied methodologies in algorithms and competitive programming.
Details of the Saudi Informatics Team's Achievement
Members of the Saudi Informatics Team proved their worth and scientific excellence by winning six international medals, including gold, silver, and bronze. Students Saad Bandar Al-Arifi and Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Ayan, both from the Riyadh Education Department, each won a gold medal. Similarly, Ahmed Mohammed Al-Hussein, also from Riyadh Education, and Mohammed Nasser Al-Asmari, from the Royal Commission in Jubail, each earned a silver medal. Abdullah Faris Al-Adhaibi, from Riyadh Education, and Al-Mundhir Saeed Al-Ghamdi, from the Baha Education Department, each won a bronze medal, completing the national achievement.
Strategic partnership for creating champions
This achievement was not a sudden occurrence, but rather the culmination of a deep strategic partnership between the Ministry of Education and the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba). These entities operate within an integrated national system aimed at discovering and nurturing talented individuals, and preparing a globally competitive generation in the fields of programming, algorithms, and artificial intelligence, through intensive training programs focused on developing analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.
The local and international impact of the Kingdom's technological successes
This achievement carries immense significance and has a multifaceted impact. Locally, this victory inspires thousands of male and female students in Saudi schools to pursue specialized technical fields, thus strengthening the development of a national workforce capable of meeting the needs of the future job market. Regionally, the Kingdom's leading position in such competitions confirms its leadership in the Arab world in the technology and innovative education sector. Internationally, this distinction reinforces Saudi Arabia's image as a technology-creating nation and a source of talent, reflecting the strong support that the education and talent sector receives from the wise leadership – may God protect them – and directly bolstering the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 in investing in human capital and developing human capabilities under the slogan "Minds that Represent the Nation.".
