Saudi Arabia's awards at ISEF 2026: 24 international awards and first place

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An exceptional Saudi achievement at ISEF 2026

In a scientific achievement reflecting the development of its education and innovation system, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was crowned world champion at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF 2026). This prestigious scientific event was held in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, from May 9 to 15. The Saudi science and engineering team won 24 international awards, divided into 12 major awards and 12 special awards, further solidifying the Kingdom's position as a rising power in the fields of scientific research and innovation on the international stage.

General context and historical significance of ISEF

The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) is the world’s largest pre-college science competition, attracting thousands of bright young minds from over 70 countries each year. The event’s significance lies in its role as an international platform showcasing cutting-edge research and innovation projects, which are evaluated by a panel of leading international scientists and experts. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has participated in this scientific forum annually since 2007, reflecting the wise leadership’s commitment to supporting young talent. With the addition of this year’s awards, the Kingdom’s historical tally has risen to 209 awards (136 Grand Prizes and 73 Special Prizes).

Kingdom Champions: Grand Prize Details

The Saudi participation witnessed remarkable excellence in various precise scientific disciplines, and the results of the major awards were as follows:

First place globally: Achieved by student Mohammed Nasser Al-Asmari (Royal Commission Education Department in Jubail) for his unique project in the field of computational biology and informatics, surpassing more than 1700 participants.
Second place was won by Dalin Badr Qadir (Makkah Education) in Earth and Environmental Sciences, Munira Sulaiman Al-Rumi (Eastern Province Education) and Imran Omar Turkistani (Riyadh Education) in Environmental Engineering, and Jumana Talal Bilal (Eastern Province Education) in Materials Science.
Third place was awarded to: Joan Ryan Hindi (Jeddah Education) in Biomedicine, Abdulrahman Basem Jamal (Jeddah Education) in Chemistry, Fatima Mohammed Al-Saleem (Tabuk Education) in Energy, and Yara Yousef Al-Qadi and Abdullah Ahmed Al-Rashid (Eastern Province Education) in Environmental Engineering and Materials Science.
Fourth place: It was obtained by Lana Abdullah Abu Talib (Jazan Education) in the field of energy, and Fatima Hussein Al-Muqrin (Eastern Province Education) in environmental engineering.

The Journey of Creativity: From Schools to Global Platforms

This achievement did not come about by chance, but is the fruit of tremendous institutional efforts and a strategic partnership between the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) and the Ministry of Education. Mawhiba's Secretary-General, Mr. Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al-Kridis, explained that this success embodies the unlimited support provided by the wise leadership to the education sector. The journey of these champions began with the National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity (Ibdaa 2026), which saw the participation of more than 357,000 male and female students who submitted approximately 34,000 scientific projects. After a series of intensive qualifying rounds and training programs, 40 male and female students were selected to represent the Saudi national team (23 in person and 17 remotely).

The expected impact of the Saudi achievement (locally and internationally)

At the local level, this achievement serves as a powerful and inspiring incentive for millions of Saudi students to pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields, directly aligning with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Human Capital Development Program. Regionally and internationally, the Kingdom's leading position at ISEF underscores its leadership in the Middle East as a hub for innovation and demonstrates the Saudi mind's capacity to deliver applied research solutions that contribute to addressing global challenges in vital areas such as renewable energy, environmental engineering, and biomedicine. This team has benefited from the generous support of major national entities such as Saudi Aramco, the National Cybersecurity Authority, and the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, highlighting the integrated national efforts to cultivate a generation that will lead the future.