The Nesmo Science and Mathematics Olympiad kicks off with the participation of 99,000 students

More than 99,000 male and female students from across Saudi Arabia began taking of the National Science and Mathematics Olympiad, "Nasmo," . This initiative is part of a major national educational competition aimed at establishing a solid scientific foundation and discovering promising talents in the general education system, specifically from the first year of middle school through the first year of high school.

Nesmo Olympics stages and schedule

The Nesmo Olympiad is a leading annual competition covering vital disciplines including science, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and informatics. The competition follows a comprehensive journey that begins in school and culminates in national competitions, all according to a precise schedule

• The first phase: It started today and includes a competition for cities and governorates, and will continue from February 8 to 12, 2026.
• Training phase: The first phase is followed by an in-person training period in cities and governorates to qualify those who qualify.
• Phase Two: Includes the tests of the General Directorates of Education, scheduled from April 4 to 9, 2026.
• Phase Three: Includes training for public administrations and testing of national teams competition from April 25 to 30, 2026.
• Final stage: The competition culminates in two tests (theoretical and practical) from May 16 to 21, 2026, preceded by an intensive training period.

Context of the event and the Kingdom's Vision 2030

The "Nesmo" Olympiad is not just a passing competition; it comes within the context of the scientific and educational movement taking place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of the objectives of Vision 2030 , specifically the Human Capability Development Program. Through these initiatives, the Kingdom seeks to invest in human capital and build a generation of scientists and innovators capable of leading the knowledge economy of the future. This growing interest follows the successive successes achieved by Saudi students in international forums and their winning of global awards in ISEF competitions and various international Olympiads.

Strategic objectives and expected impact

The Olympiad primarily aims to localize training in scientific competition methodologies within education departments, thus ensuring the sustainability of professional development for both teachers and students. It also focuses on:

• Instilling a passion for science and mathematics and developing higher-order thinking skills, analysis and deduction.
• Enhancing confidence in national capabilities to compete globally.
• Qualifying outstanding students to join the “Mawhiba” program for international Olympiads for the period 2026-2027.

This Olympiad is expected to bring about a qualitative shift in the level of students’ academic achievement, as it provides a positive competitive environment that stimulates creativity and contributes to raising the quality of educational outputs in line with international standards.