Mawhiba Chief Hails Saudi Arabia’s INSO 2026 Hosting Success

Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al-Khuraidis, Secretary-General of the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), has congratulated the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, on Saudi Arabia’s successful hosting of the third International Nuclear Science Olympiad (INSO 2026). In remarks made to the Saudi Press Agency (WAS) following the conclusion of the competition, Al-Khuraidis also celebrated the achievements of Saudi students, whose results placed the Kingdom at the top of the Olympiad standings.

Context and Background

The International Nuclear Science Olympiad was approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2024 as a specialized scientific competition for secondary school students. Its purpose is to develop young people’s knowledge and skills in nuclear science and its peaceful applications, strengthen scientific cooperation, encourage the exchange of expertise, and inspire the next generation toward innovation and research.

Saudi Arabia hosted the third edition of the Olympiad in Jeddah from 2 to 9 August 2026, welcoming 120 students and scientific specialists from 19 countries. The event marked the first time the Olympiad has been held anywhere in the Middle East, underscoring the Kingdom’s growing capacity to convene high-level international scientific gatherings.

Key Details

Al-Khuraidis described the scientific and organizational success of the Olympiad, and Saudi Arabia’s ability to host international scientific events, as the fruit of sustained national support for talent, creativity, and innovation. He emphasized that the achievement reflects the leadership’s commitment to human capital development, investment in national talent, and backing for programs that sharpen the competitive abilities of Saudi students in scientific and technological fields.

He credited the outcome to coordination among participating national institutions, expressing appreciation for the strategic cooperation with the Ministry of Education, the participation of the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, the hosting role of King Abdulaziz University, and the efforts of the organizing committees and volunteers.

The Olympiad was delivered through four main committees and 34 working teams. Specialized committees held 72 meetings, while the International Olympiad Council convened three sessions to follow up on the competitions and validate scientific, organizational, and final results. A total of 35 scientific committee members took part in delivering the scientific segments, and examination questions for both the theoretical and practical rounds were prepared and translated into 11 languages.

A parallel program featuring 10 cultural and tourism events enriched the experience of participating delegations and showcased Saudi Arabia’s cultural and civilizational heritage, adding a broader dimension to the academic competition.

Implications and Impact

The Kingdom’s first-in-the-region hosting of INSO 2026 carries significance beyond the competition hall. It positions Saudi Arabia as a credible venue for IAEA-endorsed scientific events, signals the depth of its academic infrastructure, and demonstrates that its institutions can coordinate at scale, from examination translation into 11 languages to multi-committee governance of an international contest.

The strong performance of Saudi students also offers a visible return on the Kingdom’s investment in identifying and nurturing gifted learners from an early age. For regional and international observers, the Jeddah event illustrates how Saudi Arabia is translating ambitions in science and education into convening power and measurable results on the world stage.

Vision 2030 Alignment

The achievement aligns directly with Saudi Vision 2030’s emphasis on developing human capital, fostering a knowledge-based economy, and empowering young Saudis to compete globally in science and innovation. By hosting and excelling in an international nuclear science competition, the Kingdom reinforces its commitment to peaceful scientific progress, international collaboration, and a future in which Saudi talent stands among the world’s best. Officials signaled that such milestones will continue to anchor the Kingdom’s long-term strategy of investment in people, research, and global partnership.

20 Questions

Q1. Who congratulated Saudi Arabia’s leadership on the INSO 2026 success?

A1. Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al-Khuraidis, Secretary-General of the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), conveyed the congratulations to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Q2. What does the acronym INSO stand for?

A2. INSO stands for the International Nuclear Science Olympiad, a specialized scientific competition for secondary school students that was approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency in 2024.

Q3. When and where was the third INSO held?

A3. Saudi Arabia hosted the third International Nuclear Science Olympiad in Jeddah from 2 to 9 August 2026, marking the first time the event was held in the Middle East.

Q4. How many countries participated in INSO 2026?

A4. The Olympiad welcomed participants from 19 countries, bringing together 120 students and scientific specialists for a week of theoretical and practical competition in Jeddah.

Q5. How did Saudi students perform at the Olympiad?

A5. Saudi students achieved outstanding results that placed the Kingdom at the top of the Olympiad standings, a performance celebrated by Mawhiba’s Secretary-General in his remarks to the Saudi Press Agency.

Q6. Which Saudi entities supported the hosting of INSO 2026?

A6. Support came through cooperation with the Ministry of Education, participation by the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, hosting by King Abdulaziz University, and the work of organizing committees and volunteers.

Q7. How many committees and teams delivered the Olympiad?

A7. Four main committees and 34 working teams participated in delivering the event, reflecting a structured and coordinated national effort to stage the international competition successfully.

Q8. How many meetings did the specialized committees hold?

A8. Specialized committees held 72 meetings, while the International Olympiad Council convened three sessions to follow up on competitions and validate scientific, organizational, and final results.

Q9. Into how many languages were the exam questions translated?

A9. Examination questions for both the theoretical and practical rounds were prepared and translated into 11 languages, ensuring accessibility for all participating international delegations.

Q10. What was the role of the 35 scientific committee members?

A10. The 35 scientific committee members participated in implementing the scientific segments of the Olympiad, contributing to the design and delivery of the competition’s academic content.

Q11. What did the Olympiad’s parallel program include?

A11. The parallel program featured 10 cultural and tourism events designed to enrich the experience of participating delegations and introduce them to Saudi Arabia’s cultural and civilizational heritage.

Q12. Why is hosting INSO significant for Saudi Arabia?

A12. It was the first time the Olympiad was hosted in the Middle East, demonstrating Saudi Arabia’s capacity to convene IAEA-endorsed international scientific events and its growing academic infrastructure.

Q13. What did Al-Khuraidis say the success reflects?

A13. He said it reflects the leadership’s commitment to human capital development, investment in national talent, and support for programs that strengthen Saudi students’ competitiveness in science and technology.

Q14. Which organization approved the International Nuclear Science Olympiad?

A14. The International Atomic Energy Agency approved the Olympiad in 2024, establishing it as a competition focused on nuclear science and its peaceful applications for secondary students.

Q15. What is the stated purpose of the Olympiad?

A15. Its purpose is to develop students’ knowledge and skills in nuclear science and peaceful applications, strengthen scientific cooperation, exchange expertise, and encourage youth innovation and research.

Q16. How does INSO 2026 connect to Vision 2030?

A16. The event aligns with Vision 2030’s focus on human capital development, a knowledge-based economy, and empowering young Saudis to compete globally in science and innovation.

Q17. Who is Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al-Khuraidis?

A17. He is the Secretary-General of the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, known as Mawhiba, which nurtures talented students across the Kingdom.

Q18. What did Al-Khuraidis express toward partners and volunteers?

A18. He expressed appreciation for the strategic cooperation with national institutions and thanked the organizing committees and volunteers whose efforts helped deliver a successful international event.

Q19. What message does the hosting send internationally?

A19. It signals that Saudi Arabia is a credible venue for high-level scientific gatherings and that its institutions can coordinate complex international events with measurable results and global participation.

Q20. How does this achievement support Saudi talent development?

A20. It demonstrates a tangible return on the Kingdom’s investment in identifying and nurturing gifted learners, reinforcing a national system that supports talent, creativity, and innovation from an early age.

---