Saudi informatics team wins first-ever silver at International Olympiad

Saudi Arabia's computer science squad achieved a landmark moment at the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI 2026) held in Uzbekistan, earning their inaugural silver medal. The Kingdom claimed three awards in total, adding a silver to its existing collection of one silver, eight bronze, and five certificates of merit. Mohammed Nasser Al-Asmari, a student from the Royal Commission for Jubail Education, claimed the prestigious silver medal, making it Saudi Arabia's first since its participation in the competition.

Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Aiban from Riyadh's General Directorate of Education secured a bronze, while Saad Bandar Al-Araifi from the same institution received a certificate of merit. The 38th edition of the Olympiad saw 386 students from 97 nations compete, with Uzbekistan hosting the event from August 9 to 16. With this win, Saudi Arabia now boasts 14 international accolades at the IOI.

Al-Asmari's accomplishment is particularly noteworthy, as it marks the first silver for Saudi Arabia in the event's history. The Saudi team has shown consistent improvement, winning a bronze and two certificates of merit in the previous year's competition. This year, the Kingdom sent four high school students who underwent a rigorous training and qualification program, overseen by the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) and the Ministry of Education.

The program included intensive training camps, qualifying and simulation competitions, all designed to hone the students' problem-solving and strategic-thinking abilities, culminating in their selection for international representation.