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The Saudi Press Agency reported that the students will participate in the event running from August 9 to 16 under the supervision of the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity. Mawhiba, as the foundation is known, has partnered with the Ministry of Education to prepare the contestants through targeted training programs. This marks the Kingdom’s eighth appearance at the prestigious competition that draws top high school programmers worldwide.
Previous participations have yielded 11 awards consisting of seven bronze medals and four certificates of merit, the agency noted in its dispatch. The current team follows a tradition of Saudi involvement that dates back to the country’s debut several years ago. Organizers expect participation from close to 100 countries this year according to event planning updates from the host nation.
The International Olympiad in Informatics, launched in 1989 according to its founding records, is recognized as the premier high school competition in computer science. A summary from the IOI organizers indicates that contestants face two days of intense competition solving complex algorithmic tasks. The format challenges participants to devise efficient solutions under strict time constraints while emphasizing creativity in programming.
In the 2025 edition held in Bolivia, the Saudi team earned one bronze medal and two honourable mentions, official IOI statistics show. Mohammed Alasmari secured the bronze while Emad Alharbi and Sultan Alaiban received honourable mentions in the results posted by the organizing body. The performance built on earlier gains that Mawhiba has tracked in its program evaluations over recent cycles.
Mawhiba has spearheaded national training programs that identify and nurture talent in informatics across Saudi schools. These initiatives include specialized camps, online modules and mentorship from university experts in algorithmic design. The foundation’s efforts align with national objectives to strengthen capabilities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.
Uzbekistan is hosting the event in its capital Tashkent with preparations that local officials described as aiming for record participation levels. The competition not only tests individual abilities but also promotes exchanges among young programmers from diverse backgrounds. Saudi participation continues to reflect the Kingdom’s investment in developing its youth for global technology challenges.
