Tashkent, Uzbekistan, is the destination for the Saudi national informatics team departing today to compete in the 38th International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI 2026). The competition runs from August 9 to 16 and includes students from approximately 100 countries.
According to SPA, the Saudi team consists of four high school students: Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Oiban and Saad Bandar Al-Arifi from the Riyadh region education department, Mohammed Nasser Al-Asmari from the Royal Commission in Jubail education department, and Al-Tayeb Ahmed Al-Akhdari from the Jeddah province education department.
The students were trained under the King Abdulaziz and his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) in partnership with the Ministry of Education. Preparation included specialized camps, selection competitions, and simulated contests to improve programming, strategy formulation, and problem-solving skills.
This marks the eighth appearance of Saudi Arabia in the IOI. In previous editions, Saudi students earned 11 international honors, consisting of seven bronze medals and four certificates of appreciation.
The IOI began in 1989 in Bulgaria and focuses on computer science for secondary school students. Participants compete individually in data structures, algorithm design, problem analysis, and programming.
Who are the members of the Saudi team for IOI 2026? The team includes four high school students: Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Oiban and Saad Bandar Al-Arifi from Riyadh, Mohammed Nasser Al-Asmari from the Royal Commission in Jubail, and Al-Tayeb Ahmed Al-Akhdari from Jeddah.
How has Saudi Arabia performed in previous International Olympiads in Informatics? This is the eighth time Saudi Arabia has participated in the event. Across seven previous editions, Saudi students have achieved 11 international honors, which include four certificates of appreciation and seven bronze medals.
What training did the Saudi informatics students undergo before the competition? Under the Mawhiba program and the Ministry of Education, students completed intensive training. This included simulated contests, selection competitions, and specialized camps to improve their programming, strategy, and problem-solving skills.
What are the details and goals of the International Olympiad in Informatics? First held in 1989 in Bulgaria, the IOI is a competition for secondary students in computer science. It aims to identify young talent and encourage studies in computer science through individual contests in algorithm design, data structures, and problem analysis.