The Saudi artificial intelligence team secured three international awards at the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI 2026) held in Astana, Kazakhstan. The competition took place from August 2 to 8, 2026, with participation from 108 countries. This event brought together young programmers and analysts from across the globe to compete in advanced technical challenges.
This achievement brings the total number of awards won by the Saudi artificial intelligence team at the IOAI to seven, consisting of one silver medal and six bronze medals. The King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, known as Mawhiba, supervised the national delegation. The organization worked alongside its strategic partners to coordinate the participation.
Achievements of the Saudi Artificial Intelligence Team
The strategic partnership between Mawhiba, the Ministry of Education, and the KAUST Academy supported the artificial intelligence team throughout their competitive journey. This collaboration aims to identify and nurture gifted students in key scientific fields.
Details of the Individual Awards
During the event in Astana, individual members of the delegation secured specific medals. Yousef Farid Al-Khalawi, representing the Jeddah Education Directorate, won a silver medal. Additionally, Ali Ayman Al-Khabbaz from the Eastern Province Education Directorate and Qusai Imad Jadallah from the Jeddah Education Directorate both secured bronze medals. These students competed against peers from over a hundred nations.
Preparation and Training Programs
The results followed a specialized preparation and qualification program under Mawhiba’s International Olympiad Program. This initiative was implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education to prepare students for international scientific competitions. The preparation included intensive training in artificial intelligence concepts and applications. Academics and experts supervised the training to build skills in machine learning and data analysis.
Objectives of the International Olympiad
The IOAI is an international competition designed for high school students. It focuses on developing skills in machine learning, algorithms, programming, and data analysis. Furthermore, the event aims to encourage scientific cooperation and the exchange of expertise among young talents globally. This participation aligns with national efforts in education and training to prepare students for future scientific fields.
National Impact and Future Outlook
The performance of the students highlights the impact of the national system for identifying and empowering gifted individuals. By preparing younger generations to lead in science and technology, the program supports long-term development goals. The partners stated that they will continue to implement specialized training programs to maintain this competitive standing in future international events.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
