Saudi Arabia’s national AI team has made a significant debut on the international stage, securing six awards at the first-ever Asia-Pacific Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (APOAI). The achievement signals the Kingdom’s growing investment in nurturing a new generation of tech talent, a strategic initiative driven by organizations like Mawhiba.
Quick Facts
- Six total awards won by the Saudi team.
- The Kingdom’s first entry in the APOAI competition.
- 129 students from 18 countries participated.
A Breakdown of the Kingdom’s Medal Haul
In a field of 129 students, the Saudi team demonstrated considerable technical skill. The delegation’s performance was highlighted by a gold medal win for Qusai Emad Jadallah from the Jeddah Education Department.
The team also brought home three silver medals, awarded to Laith Suwaid Al-Zahrani (Riyadh Education), Yousef Farid Al-Khalawi (Jeddah Education), and Ali Ayman Al-Khabbaz (Eastern Region Education). Rounding out the wins were two certificates of appreciation for Raed Hassan Tayeb (Eastern Region Education) and Hamad Mohammed Al-Kalbani (Riyadh Education).
Cultivating Saudi’s Future AI Workforce
This victory is part of a broader national strategy to build deep capabilities in advanced technology. The Kingdom’s participation was a collaborative effort between the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), the Ministry of Education, and KAUST Academy. The success at APOAI reflects a concerted push to equip young Saudis with specialized skills in artificial intelligence and other future-critical technologies.
About Mawhiba
King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, known as Mawhiba, is a national foundation with a global reach. Its core mission is to identify and nurture gifted individuals in science and technology, providing them with programs and opportunities to develop their potential.
Source: SPA
