Saudi scientific teams continued to achieve remarkable accomplishments in international olympiads, as the total number of awards in the fields of science rose to 14 within a period not exceeding a week, enhancing the international competitiveness of Saudi students and doubling their presence in scientific conferences.

Most recently, the Saudi mathematics team won 6 international awards: 3 silver medals and 3 bronze medals, at the 67th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO 2026) in Shanghai, China, with the participation of 666 students representing 117 countries.

With these awards, the Saudi mathematics team recorded 'the best result in its history of participation in the International Mathematical Olympiad' since its first participation in 2004, according to the Saudi Press Agency, thus raising the kingdom's tally in the competition to 88 international awards, including 15 silver medals, 51 bronze medals, and 22 certificates of appreciation.

Students of the Mawhiba Summer Program experience an advanced educational journey in laboratories, where ideas turn into experiments and knowledge into applicable research outcomes. #Mawhiba_Summer pic.twitter.com/7dl2pI0NPZ

— King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (@mawhiba) July 20, 2026

The team participants underwent an intensive preparation and qualification journey throughout the year, under the supervision of the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), in partnership with the Ministry of Education, as part of the Mawhiba International Olympiad Program, which includes multiple stages of theoretical and practical scientific training.

In addition to domestic and international camps aimed at developing students' skills in mathematics and enhancing their readiness for international competition, contributing to the kingdom's representation in scientific forums, in line with the goals of Vision 2030 in human capacity development.

At the same time, Youssef Ayman Bakheet from the Education of the Royal Commission in Yanbu, Abdul Salam Abdullah Al-Sulami from the General Administration of Education in the Medina Region, and Abdul Ilah Mohammed Al-Saqqaf from the General Administration of Education in Jeddah Governorate won three silver medals, while Elias Shaker Al-Faraj, Abdullah Tariq Al-Amer from the General Administration of Education in the Eastern Region, and Fares Mohammed Al-Kanhal from the General Administration of Education in the Riyadh Region won three bronze medals.

It is noteworthy that the International Mathematical Olympiad is the oldest and most prominent global competition in mathematics for secondary school students, with its first edition launched in 1959 in Romania with only 7 participating countries, before expanding to include about 120 countries from around the world.

International Awards in Biology

In parallel, the Saudi biology team won 4 international awards at the 37th International Biology Olympiad (IBO 2026), held in Vilnius, Republic of Lithuania, from July 12 to 19, with the participation of 312 students representing 80 countries.

Saudi Arabia participates in the olympiad, represented by the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), in partnership with the Ministry of Education, for the fifth time. This achievement raises its tally in the International Biology Olympiad to 19 international awards, including 5 silver medals, 9 bronze medals, and 5 certificates of appreciation, a new accomplishment that solidifies the kingdom's presence in international scientific olympiads.

The Saudi Press Agency stated in its report: 'This achievement came after an intensive training journey undertaken by the students as part of the Mawhiba International Olympiad Program over the course of the year, which included multiple stages of theoretical and practical scientific training, as well as domestic and international camps, aimed at developing their skills in advanced specialties and enhancing their readiness for international competition, thereby contributing to the honorable representation of the kingdom, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.'

Student Taha Arshad Kadwai from the General Administration of Education in Jeddah Governorate won a silver medal, while student Hamza Mohammed Baessa from the General Administration of Education in the Riyadh Region and student Elias Fawzi Asloub from the General Administration of Education in Jeddah Governorate won two bronze medals, and student Faisal Saad Al-Abdullatif from the General Administration of Education in the Riyadh Region received a certificate of appreciation.

Saudi Arabia participates in the olympiad, represented by the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), in partnership with the Ministry of Education, for the fifth time. This achievement raises its tally in the International Biology Olympiad to 19 international awards, including 5 silver medals, 9 bronze medals, and 5 certificates of appreciation.

This achievement came after an intensive training journey undertaken by the students as part of the Mawhiba International Olympiad Program over the course of the year, which included multiple stages of theoretical and practical scientific training, as well as domestic and international camps, aimed at developing their skills in advanced specialties and enhancing their readiness for international competition, thereby contributing to the honorable representation of the kingdom, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

The International Biology Olympiad is the most prominent global competition for secondary school students in the field of life sciences. Since its launch in 1989, it annually brings together elite gifted students from around the world to compete in advanced tests that measure scientific knowledge, the ability to solve complex biological problems, and the performance of practical laboratory tasks.

4 International Awards in Chemistry

At the same time, the Saudi chemistry team won 4 international awards at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO 2026), held in the Uzbek capital Tashkent from July 10 to 19, with the participation of 363 students representing 92 countries. This new achievement solidifies the kingdom's presence in international scientific olympiads, raising the kingdom's tally in the same olympiad to 53 international awards, including 17 silver medals, 34 bronze medals, and 2 certificates of appreciation.

Student Ali Ahmed Bawazir from the General Administration of Education in the Riyadh Region and student Ali Salem Al-Yami from the General Administration of Education in the Najran Region won two silver medals, while student Abdulaziz Badr Al-Juaid from the General Administration of Education in the Medina Region and student Mujtaba Abdul Ilah Al-Tarouti from the General Administration of Education in the Eastern Region won two bronze medals.

Hosting the International Physics Olympiad

In parallel with Saudi Arabia's scientific achievements, the kingdom won the bid to host the 57th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO 2027), scheduled to be held next year, after the International Olympiad Council approved the Saudi hosting file during the 56th edition of the olympiad currently taking place in Bucaramanga, Republic of Colombia, with the participation of elite secondary school students from around the world.