Science and Technology / Saudi Mathematics Team Leaves for China to Participate in the International Mathematical Olympiad 2026

Riyadh, 27 Muharram 1448 AH corresponding to July 12, 2026 SPA - The Saudi mathematics team has departed from the homeland heading to Shanghai, People's Republic of China, to participate in the 67th edition of the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO 2026), which will be held from July 10 to 21, 2026, with the participation of students representing more than 100 countries worldwide. The Saudi team carries the nation's aspirations after an intensive qualification and training journey, preparing to compete in one of the most prestigious and challenging international scientific competitions for secondary school students in mathematics. The Kingdom is represented in this edition by a team of 6 students, who were prepared and qualified by the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity "Mawhiba", in partnership with the Ministry of Education, within the Mawhiba International Olympiads Program. The participating students underwent an integrated training path, starting from the National Science and Mathematics Olympiad "Nesmo", passing through a number of specialized training forums and programs, up to the intensive training stage that lasted about two months, under the supervision of a select group of local and international experts in Olympiad training. The qualification stages included successive nomination and evaluation tests that helped select the best and most ready students to represent the Kingdom in the Olympiad, after training them in advanced mathematical skills, analytical and creative thinking methods, and strategies for solving complex problems. The International Mathematical Olympiad consists of two tests held over two days, during which students answer 6 mathematical problems, with 3 problems per day, within a period of 4 hours and a half for each test. The competition topics include a number of advanced mathematics branches, including geometry, algebra, combinatorics, and number theory, and require high abilities in deep thinking, analysis, reasoning, and creativity in problem-solving. The participation of the Saudi mathematics team is an extension of the efforts of "Mawhiba" and the Ministry of Education in discovering, nurturing, and qualifying gifted students, enabling them to compete in international scientific forums, and contributing to building a generation of national competencies capable of representing the Kingdom honorably. The participation reflects the interest in developing human capabilities and enhancing the Kingdom's presence in the fields of science, knowledge, and innovation, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. The International Mathematical Olympiad is the oldest and most prominent global competition in mathematics for secondary school students; its first edition was launched in 1959 in Romania with the participation of 7 countries, before the participation expanded to include more than 100 countries from different continents. The Kingdom's first participation in the Olympiad was in 2003 in Japan as a scientific observer, before participating with four students in the 2004 edition in Greece, and it has since continued its presence in this international scientific competition. // End // 11:05 T M 0030