Education Ministry and Mawhiba launch National Talent Olympiad across Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia's Education Ministry and Mawhiba have launched the first National Talent Olympiad, targeting intermediate and high school students nationwide.
The Education Ministry and Mawhiba in Saudi Arabia have introduced the inaugural National Talent Olympiad, aimed at intermediate and high school students across the country. This initiative, a collaboration between the two entities, seeks to identify, nurture, and prepare scientific and research talents for both regional and international competitions. The Olympiad is divided into two key tracks: Nasmo, focusing on scientific disciplines, and Ibda a, emphasizing scientific research and innovation.
The National Talent Olympiad unifies two previous Olympiads, the National Scientific Creativity Olympiad (Ibda a) and the National Science and Mathematics Olympiad (Nasmo), offering students a comprehensive platform to showcase their talents. In 2026, over 450,000 students participated in these Olympiads, highlighting the nation's strong interest in scientific and research pursuits.
The Nasmo track, geared towards intermediate and first-year high school students, emphasizes six scientific disciplines: mathematics, science, physics, chemistry, biology, and informatics. The track aims to strengthen analytical and logical thinking, as well as complex problem-solving abilities among participants. Top achievers in the Nasmo track can qualify for the Mawhiba International Olympiad Program, competing in 29 regional and international scientific Olympiads.
In contrast, the Ibda a track fosters scientific research and innovation skills across 22 scientific fields, including engineering, health, energy, artificial intelligence, and software development. Students excelling in this track have the opportunity to present their research projects at renowned international exhibitions and competitions, such as the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).
The Olympiad's registration period began on August 20, 2026, and will remain open until September 30, 2026. Following this, the competition and qualification stages will unfold over several months, culminating in the finals in Riyadh at the end of January 2027. Mawhiba encourages eligible students, along with their teachers and parents, to participate by registering through their schools or directly via the Mawhiba website.
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