A new scientific achievement for Saudi women in international forums
In a new scientific achievement added to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's impressive record in international forums, Saudi female students made a remarkable and distinguished appearance at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). Five outstanding Saudi students—Noor Faisal Al-Atwi, Jana Al-Dossari, Lana Abu Talib, Shaima Al-Katani, and Al-Jawhara Bin Zaraa—won prestigious special awards presented by Saudi Aramco during the ISEF 2026 awards ceremony. This recognition reflects the advanced level Saudi women have reached in the fields of scientific research and innovation, and their ability to present high-quality projects that attract the attention of major international companies.
Saudi national team for science and engineering
The Saudi national science and engineering team participating in this edition comprises 42 outstanding young minds. Participation was distributed as follows: 23 students competed in person in Phoenix, USA, while 17 competed remotely from Riyadh, the capital, and two students participated as observers. This diverse participation underscores the wise leadership's commitment to overcoming all obstacles to ensure the presence of its youth at major international events and to providing them with a suitable competitive environment.
The historical context of the Kingdom's participation in the ISEF exhibition
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's participation in ISEF is a long history of success and continuous development. The Kingdom has participated annually since 2007, represented by a successful strategic partnership between the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) and the Ministry of Education. The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) is the world's largest pre-college science and innovation competition, attracting thousands of students from over 70 countries to compete and showcase their innovations that offer practical solutions to contemporary problems across various scientific disciplines.
Record numbers reflect Saudi excellence
Throughout its distinguished history at the exhibition, the Kingdom has achieved exceptional and commendable results, garnering a total of 185 awards across its previous participations. These awards comprised 124 major awards and 61 special awards. Perhaps the most prominent achievement, confirming the upward trajectory of Saudi excellence, is the Kingdom's ranking second globally in the previous edition of the exhibition in terms of the number of major awards won, trailing only the United States, the host country. This demonstrates the high quality of educational outcomes and gifted student programs in the Kingdom.
Strategic impact and alignment with Vision 2030
These achievements are of paramount importance on multiple levels. Locally, they inspire thousands of students in Saudi schools to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Regionally, they solidify the Kingdom's position as a leading nation in nurturing talent and supporting innovation in the Arab world. Finally, these successive successes translate the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which prioritizes investment in human capital and the transition to a knowledge-based economy, aiming to build a generation capable of leading the future of global innovation.
