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 male and female students representing 80 countries.

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 Riyadh Region and student Elias Fawzi Asloob 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 Riyadh Region received a certificate of appreciation.

The Kingdom 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, and 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 achievement that solidifies the Kingdom's presence in international science Olympiads.

This achievement came after an intensive training journey that the students underwent as part of the Mawhiba International Olympiad program over the course of a year, which included multiple stages of theoretical and practical scientific training, as well as local and external camps, aimed at developing their skills in advanced specialties and enhancing their readiness to compete at the international level, thus contributing to a dignified representation of the Kingdom, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

This achievement reflects the advanced scientific level reached by Saudi students and their ability to compete in one of the most prominent global scientific forums in the field of life sciences, given their scientific knowledge, research and practical skills, and their ability to analyze, deduce, and handle advanced scientific challenges.

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

It is worth noting that 'Mawhiba' is a globally leading national foundation in discovering, nurturing, and empowering gifted individuals. It operates according to a national strategy for developing talent in priority scientific fields, contributing to building a knowledge society, fostering a culture of innovation, and supporting national development.