📍 Al-Ahsa — Jumada I 7, 1447 AH (October 29, 2025)

The General Department of Education in Al-Ahsa governorate, in cooperation with the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), organized the second stage of the National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity exhibition "Ibda' 2026," featuring 125 research projects presented by middle and high school students representing the governorate's schools.

Hamad bin Mohammed Al-Isa, director of education in Al-Ahsa, said the "Ibda'" exhibition is one of the leading national programs supporting creativity and innovation among students, noting that the National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity reflects the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in building a generation of creators capable of competing globally in science, technology and scientific research.

Al-Isa said the competition serves as an inspiring model for developing students' critical thinking and innovation skills, adding that the creative exhibitions being held across the Kingdom's regions reflect growing scientific and community awareness of the importance of research and invention, paving the way for Saudi students to compete regionally and internationally.

For his part, Nayef Al-Zamami, head of the gifted students section at Al-Ahsa education department, said the exhibition saw more than 11,200 research projects submitted by students this year, of which 600 projects were judged, with 125 outstanding projects from 50 schools selected to advance to the second stage, noting that these numbers reflect the strong interest shown by students and parents in scientific research and innovation programs.

The "Ibda' 2026" exhibition is part of the ongoing cooperation between Al-Ahsa education department and the Mawhiba Foundation to strengthen the innovation environment and enable gifted students across the Kingdom to turn their ideas into scientific projects capable of contributing to sustainable national development.