Tashkent, Uzbekistan, is hosting the 38th edition of the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI 2026), featuring the participation of the Saudi informatics team alongside approximately 100 countries. The event is attended by Hurqan Al-Subaie, the Deputy Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to Uzbekistan.
According to SPA, the Saudi team consists of four high school students who were trained and qualified by the King Abdulaziz and his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) in partnership with the Ministry of Education as part of the Mawhiba program for international olympiads.
The team includes Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Aiban and Saad Bandar Al-Arifi from the General Department of Education in Riyadh, Mohammed Nasser Al-Asmari from the Royal Commission for Jubail, and Al-Tayeb Ahmed Al-Akhdari from the General Department of Education in Jeddah. This marks the Kingdom’s eighth participation in the competition, following seven previous appearances where Saudi students earned 11 international awards, consisting of seven bronze medals and four certificates of appreciation.
The competition runs from August 9 to 16. Participants compete individually to solve problems requiring skills in algorithm design, data structures, programming, and problem analysis. The Olympiad, which began in 1989 in Bulgaria, aims to discover young talent in informatics and encourage specialization in computer science.
Who represents the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in IOI 2026? The Saudi team consists of four high school students: Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Aiban and Saad Bandar Al-Arifi from Riyadh, Mohammed Nasser Al-Asmari from the Royal Commission for Jubail, and Al-Tayeb Ahmed Al-Akhdari from Jeddah. These students were qualified through the Mawhiba program for international olympiads, which is a partnership between the Ministry of Education and the King Abdulaziz and his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity.
What is the history of Saudi participation in the International Olympiad in Informatics? The Kingdom is recording its eighth participation in the International Olympiad in Informatics this year. Across seven previous participations, Saudi students have achieved a total of 11 international awards, which include seven bronze medals and four certificates of appreciation.
What skills are tested during the International Olympiad in Informatics? Participants compete individually to solve problems that require advanced skills in problem analysis, the design of algorithms, data structures, and programming. The competition also involves testing solutions and verifying their correctness to discover young talent and develop logical thinking and effective software solution building.
When and where is the 38th edition of the IOI taking place? The 38th edition of the International Olympiad in Informatics is taking place in the city of Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The competitions are held during the period from August 9 to August 16, 2026, with participation from approximately 100 countries worldwide.