Riyadh, 1 Dhu al-Hijjah 1447 AH (18 May 2026)

The champions of the Saudi Science and Engineering Team arrived home through King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh to a warm welcome after their outstanding participation in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF 2026), held in Phoenix, Arizona, from 9 to 15 May.

The team was received by HE Dr. Saad bin Awadh Al Harbi, Deputy Minister of Education for General Education, and Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Kraidees, Secretary General of the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), in celebration of the scientific achievements of Saudi students on the global stage.

24 Global Awards for the Saudi Team

The Saudi team of 40 male and female students won 24 global awards, including 12 grand awards and 12 special awards, a new achievement that strengthens the Kingdom's presence at the world's largest fair for pre-university research and innovation projects.

Of the team, 23 students competed in person in Phoenix, while 17 competed remotely from Riyadh.

Second in the World for the Third Year

The Kingdom held second place globally behind the United States for the third consecutive year, continuing its series of successes at international scientific forums.

The Kingdom also took first place in the world in computational biology and bioinformatics, an achievement that reflects the rising level of research and scientific innovation among Saudi students.

Varied Awards and Strong Global Competition

The Saudi team's awards comprised one first-place award, four second-place awards, five third-place awards, two fourth-place awards and 12 special awards.

The results came after strong competition among more than 1,700 students representing around 70 countries, in the world's largest gathering of scientific and research projects.

The Kingdom's Tally Rises to 209 Awards

With these results, the Kingdom's tally at ISEF has risen to 209 international awards since it began taking part in 2007, including 136 grand awards and 73 special awards.

The Kingdom takes part in the fair every year through Mawhiba and the Ministry of Education, within national programs aimed at discovering, nurturing and developing scientific talent.

Mawhiba and Support for Scientific Innovation

Mawhiba is one of the world's leading institutions in discovering, nurturing and empowering gifted students, implementing a national strategy to develop talent in scientific fields of national priority.

Mawhiba's programs also help build a knowledge society and promote a culture of innovation and scientific research among young Saudis.

ISEF, the World's Largest Science and Engineering Platform

ISEF is the largest international scientific platform for presenting research and innovation projects by pre-university students, with entries judged by leading international scientists and experts.

The fair gives students the chance to present their projects and ideas to a specialized global audience and strengthen their presence in science, engineering and innovation.

At a Glance

  • Location: King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh
  • Date: 18 May 2026
  • Event: ISEF 2026
  • Achievement: 24 global awards
  • Global ranking: second in the world
  • Participants: 40 students of the Saudi team