King Abdulaziz University honors Red Sea Pioneers team for seventh place at global underwater robotics contest in Canada

King Abdulaziz University President Dr. Tarif bin Youssef Al-Aama honored the "Red Sea Pioneers" team for achieving seventh place globally at the MATE ROV 2026 World Underwater Robotics Championship finals. The event, held in the "PIONEER" category, was hosted by Memorial University in Canada and featured 35 universities from around the world. The recognition took place during a ceremony at the university council hall in Jeddah.

The team scored 374.67 points in the official competition results after developing an advanced robotic submarine designed with a comprehensive engineering vision. This submarine enabled the team to efficiently carry out complex underwater exploration and engineering tasks, thanks to the integration of control, sensing, and execution systems, providing stability and precision in challenging marine environments.

The project took two years of continuous work at the "Manufacturing Club" under the Deanship of Student Affairs, which provided a stimulating scientific environment to nurture innovative ideas and enhance practical skills for students from various disciplines. This culminated in the university's participation in one of the world's leading marine robotics competitions.

Support and partnerships to foster innovation

The project received support from King Abdulaziz University, the Scientific Endowment, and Johnson Controls Arabia as part of a partnership aimed at empowering young national talent and supporting their innovative projects. This backing seeks to strengthen the university's presence at international scientific forums and reinforce Saudi Arabia's position in innovation, engineering, and advanced technology fields.