Phoenix: A Saudi team of 42 students departed today for the United States to compete against over 1,700 participants from 70 countries at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2026 from May 9 to 15 in Phoenix, Arizona.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the team is representing the Kingdom through the Ministry of Education and the King Abdulaziz and His Companions for Giftedness and Creativity Foundation (Mawhiba). They were selected from the National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity (Ibdaa 2026), which recently set a Guinness World Record as the world's largest competition for innovative solutions with over 34,000 scientific projects submitted. The 42 finalists qualified after a rigorous six-stage evaluation process and a year-long intensive training program designed to refine their research, presentation, and scientific skills.
Since joining ISEF in 2007, the Kingdom has secured 185 awards, including 124 major and 61 special prizes. This annual participation underscores Saudi Arabia's commitment to developing human capital and maintaining a leading global position in innovation and scientific research.