Saudi Arabia has secured first place globally in the field of computational biology and informatics at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF 2026). The Saudi science and engineering team earned a total of 24 international awards during the event held in Phoenix, Arizona, from May 9 to 15.
The team’s achievements included 12 major awards: one global first place, four second-place awards, five third-place awards, and two fourth-place awards. The students garnered 12 special awards.
Global Recognition and Top Performers
Student Mohammed Nasser Al-Asmeri, representing the Royal Commission for Jubail Education, claimed the global first-place prize for his project in computational biology and informatics. He competed against more than 1,700 students from approximately 70 countries.
Second-place honors were awarded to Dalin Badr Qadeer (Makkah Education) in Earth and Environmental Sciences, Munira Suleiman Al-Rumi and Imran Omar Al-Turkistani (Eastern Province and Riyadh Education respectively) in Environmental Engineering, and Jumana Talal Bilal (Eastern Province Education) in Materials Science.
Third-place awards were earned by Jowan Ryan Hindi (Jeddah Education) in Biomedical and Health Sciences, Abdulrahman Basim Jamal (Jeddah Education) in Chemistry, Fatima Mohammed Al-Saleem (Tabuk Education) in Energy, Yara Youssef Al-Qadi (Eastern Province Education) in Environmental Engineering, and Abdullah Ahmed Al-Rashid (Eastern Province Education) in Materials Science.
Fourth-place global rankings were achieved by Lana Abdullah Abu Talib (Jazan Education) in Energy and Fatima Hussein Al-Muqrin (Eastern Province Education) in Environmental Engineering.
The Pipeline of Innovation
The Saudi team consisted of 40 students, with 23 participating in person in Phoenix and 17 competing remotely from Riyadh, supported by two observing students. These participants were selected following the National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity (Ibda’a 2026), where more than 34,000 projects across 22 fields were submitted.
Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al-Khraidis, Secretary-General of the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), attributed the success to a national vision that invests in Saudi citizens. He noted that the results reflect the maturity and global competitiveness of the Kingdom’s gifted care system.
The initiative is driven by a strategic partnership between Mawhiba and the Ministry of Education. This ecosystem is further supported by sponsors including Saudi Aramco, the National Cybersecurity Authority, and the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties.
Path to Competition
Before reaching the global stage, students underwent multiple evaluation phases. This process began with regional and central exhibitions, moving through the “Ibda’a for Science and Engineering” exhibition, and concluding with an intensive qualification program to refine research projects.
As the largest global platform for pre-university research, ISEF utilizes international scientists and experts to evaluate projects. This environment allows students to showcase their scientific capabilities on a worldwide scale.
Given the current trajectory of the gifted care system, the Kingdom may continue to see a rise in its total award count in future iterations of the fair. The integration of remote participation could also potentially expand the reach of future Saudi delegations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many total awards did the Saudi team win at ISEF 2026?
The team won 24 international awards, consisting of 12 major awards and 12 special awards.
Who won the first-place global award and in which field?
Mohammed Nasser Al-Asmeri from the Royal Commission for Jubail Education won first place in the field of computational biology and informatics.
What was the scale of the national competition used to select the team?
The National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity (Ibda’a 2026) involved more than 357,000 students who submitted over 34,000 scientific projects across 22 fields.
How do you think structured national pipelines like “Ibda’a” impact the ability of students to compete on a global scientific stage?
