The Saudi Informatics Team achieved a historic result at the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI 2026), winning three international awards at the 38th edition of the competition hosted by Uzbekistan, including Saudi Arabia’s first-ever silver medal in the event.
The Olympiad took place from August 9 to 16, 2026, bringing together 386 students from 97 countries in one of the world’s leading competitions in computer science and programming.
Saudi Arabia Wins Its First Silver Medal
Student Mohammed Nasser Al-Asmari, from the Education Department of the Royal Commission for Jubail, won the silver medal, marking the first silver medal for Saudi Arabia since the Kingdom began participating in the International Olympiad in Informatics.
Student Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Aiban, from the Riyadh General Education Administration, won a bronze medal, while Saad Bandar Al-Arifi, also from the Riyadh General Education Administration, received a certificate of merit.
The latest results bring Saudi Arabia’s total number of international awards at the Olympiad to 14, comprising one silver medal, eight bronze medals and five certificates of merit.
Continued Progress on the International Stage
The 2026 results reflect continued progress by the Saudi Informatics Team, which won a bronze medal and two certificates of merit at last year’s edition.
This year’s historic silver medal builds on national training and preparation programs designed to strengthen students’ computer science capabilities and prepare them for major international academic and technology competitions.
Four Students Represent the Kingdom
Four high school students represented Saudi Arabia at the competition in Uzbekistan after completing a series of selection, training and qualification stages.
Their preparation was supervised by the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Education, through Mawhiba’s International Olympiads Program, with sponsorship from Education Development Holding Company.
The students underwent an intensive preparation program that included training camps, selection competitions and simulated Olympiad challenges, focusing on problem-solving, strategy development and the creation of efficient programming solutions.
A Global Competition in Computer Science
The International Olympiad in Informatics is one of the world’s leading competitions in computer science and programming. Participants compete individually by solving complex problems requiring advanced skills in problem analysis, algorithms, data structures, programming and solution testing.
The competition was first launched in 1989 and has since become a global platform bringing together outstanding school students from around the world to compete in computer science and algorithmic thinking.
A Milestone for Saudi Tech Talent
The latest achievement marks an important milestone for the Saudi Informatics Team, particularly as the Kingdom celebrates its first silver medal in the history of its participation in the Olympiad.
The result highlights the growing capabilities of Saudi talent in computer science and advanced technology fields, while supporting efforts to develop a generation equipped to compete in leading international scientific and technological competitions.
