Saudi Arabia wins first place at 2026 International Nuclear Science Olympiad in Jeddah

Saudi Arabia claimed first place at the third International Nuclear Science Olympiad (INSO 2026), hosted in Jeddah from August 2 to 9, 2026. The Kingdom earned the top spot, the 'Nuclear Science Ambassador' title, and four international awards, including two gold medals, one silver, and one bronze.

Saudi student Amjad Mahmoud Issa Al-Darwish won first place and a gold medal, also receiving the 'Nuclear Science Ambassador' title after achieving the highest combined score in both theoretical and practical exams among all participants. Jana Saleh Abdullah Al-Subail earned a gold medal and the award for Best Female Student, presented by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Abdulaziz Abdulmohsen Al-Shurait won the silver medal, while Saleh Mubarak Dhaifallah Al-Harbi took the bronze.

Praise for leadership support and national partnerships

Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al-Kraideis, Secretary-General of the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), said the achievement reflects the support and care of the Kingdom’s leadership, its commitment to investing in citizens, developing their abilities, and enabling them to compete globally in priority scientific fields, supporting the building of a knowledge-based and innovative economy.

Al-Kraideis praised the strategic partnership with the Ministry of Education for its role in discovering, nurturing, and preparing talented students for international scientific competitions. He also commended the collaboration with King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, King Abdulaziz University, and the efforts of all national bodies and committees involved in organizing and hosting the Olympiad.

Saudi scientific and organizational advancement

Al-Kraideis noted that the Kingdom’s success in hosting this international event, alongside its students’ top results, demonstrates the progress of Saudi Arabia’s talent and innovation ecosystem, the effectiveness of its national scientific team preparation programs, and its organizational capabilities to host major international scientific events to the highest standards.

He added that winning first place in a specialized field like nuclear science highlights Saudi students’ ability to compete in advanced scientific disciplines and contributes to building a national base of qualified talent for the future of science, technology, and peaceful applications, in line with Saudi Vision 2030 goals.

Intensive training and broad international competition

The achievement resulted from intensive scientific training programs conducted by Mawhiba in partnership with the Ministry of Education, including specialized nuclear science training and preparing students for international competition.

The International Nuclear Science Olympiad, established by the International Atomic Energy Agency in 2024, is a global scientific competition aimed at developing students’ knowledge and skills in nuclear science and its peaceful applications, encouraging young generations to specialize in these fields, and promoting scientific and cultural exchange among students worldwide.

The Kingdom hosted the Olympiad’s third edition for the first time in the Middle East, with 120 students and scientific experts from 19 countries participating. The event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Education, Mawhiba, King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, and hosted by King Abdulaziz University under the theme 'Brilliant Minds for a Promising Future.'