The Saudi artificial intelligence team, supervised by the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), and in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Education and KAUST Academy, won three international awards at the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI 2026). The competition was held in Astana, Kazakhstan, from August 2 to 8, with teams from 108 countries participating, the Saudi Press Agency said on Friday. The achievement raised Saudi Arabia's total at the IOAI to seven international awards, comprising one silver medal and six bronze medals. The achievement followed a specialized preparation and qualification program under Mawhiba's International Olympiad Program, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education. The program included intensive training in artificial intelligence concepts and applications under the supervision of experts and academics, preparing students to compete in leading international scientific competitions. The IOAI is one of the world's leading artificial intelligence competitions for high school students. It aims to develop participants' skills in machine learning, data analysis, algorithms, and programming, while promoting scientific cooperation and the exchange of expertise among young talents from around the world. The achievement underscores Saudi Arabia's growing standing in international scientific competitions and reflects the impact of the national system for identifying, nurturing, and empowering gifted students and preparing generations to lead the future of science and technology.
