Saudi Arabia’s national science teams are experiencing an exceptional season in 2025, ranking second globally after the United States. The Kingdom achieved 25 awards at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), including 14 grand awards and 11 special awards, in addition to 91 international medals across 23 global science Olympiads, with results from three more Olympiads still to come later this year.

This year, the Kingdom is competing in 26 international Olympiads hosted by 23 countries, bringing together teams from 120 nations and thousands of students in fields such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, informatics, science, artificial intelligence, nuclear science, astronomy, astrophysics, and standards.

From April to mid-September, Saudi Arabia’s national teams competing in international Olympiads secured 91 awards, including 5 gold, 22 silver, 40 bronze medals, and 24 certificates of appreciation — placing the Kingdom at the forefront of Arab nations and underscoring its growing and unique presence on the global scientific competitions.

This strong international presence reflects the success of an integrated national ecosystem dedicated to identifying, fostering, and empowering gifted students — led by the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Education, and supported by Mawhiba’s partners, under the Mawhiba International Olympiad Program, which continues through November.

The season kicked off in April, when the Saudi Mathematics Team earned four awards at the European Girls' Mathematical Olympiad, including a silver medal, a bronze medal, and two certificates of appreciation, bringing the Kingdom’s total in this competition to 36 awards – comprising 2 gold, 7 silver, 15 bronze medals, and 12 certificates.

The Saudi Physics Team also claimed five awards – two silver, one bronze, and two certificates of appreciation – at the Nordic-Baltic Physics Olympiad, raising its cumulative tally to 24 awards (2 gold, 10 silver, 10 bronze, and 2 certificates of appreciation). Meanwhile, at the Balkan Mathematics Olympiad, the Saudi team earned five medals – two silver and three bronze – increasing the Kingdom’s total achievements in that event to 65 awards, including 2 gold, 14 silver, 45 bronze medals, and 4 certificates of appreciation.

In May, the Saudi Physics Team earned six awards at the Asian Physics Olympiad, hosted in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, including two bronze medals and four certificates of appreciation. Meanwhile, the Saudi Biology Team claimed six silver medals at the Open International Biology Olympiad in Russia, and the Saudi Chemistry Team won three bronze medals at the Mendeleev Chemistry Olympiad in Brazil, raising the Kingdom’s overall tally in that competition to 26 awards, including three silver and 23 bronze medals.

In June, the Saudi Chemistry Team continued its success, capturing four medals – three silver and one bronze – at the Abu Rayhan Biruni International Chemistry Olympiad in Uzbekistan. Saudi students also earned six medals at the Junior Balkan Mathematical Olympiad in North Macedonia, including two gold, two silver, and two bronze, bringing the nation’s cumulative record in this contest to 11 gold, 24 silver, and 29 bronze medals. Additionally, the Saudi Physics Team received three certificates of appreciation at the European Physics Olympiad in Bulgaria, boosting its overall count in the event to 24 awards.

At the start of July, the Saudi Chemistry Team captured four bronze medals at the International Chemistry Olympiad in the United Arab Emirates, bringing the Kingdom’s total achievements in that competition to 49 awards — including 15 silver, 32 bronze medals, and two certificates of appreciation. During the same month, the International Mathematics Olympiad in Australia witnessed the Saudi Math Team earn three bronze medals and three certificates, raising the national total in that contest to 12 silver, 48 bronze medals, and 22 certificates of appreciation.

Also in July, the Saudi Informatics Team earned a bronze medal at the European Girls’ Olympiad in Informatics held in Germany, marking a total of seven awards in that competition. Meanwhile, the Saudi Physics Team achieved another milestone at the International Physics Olympiad 2025 in France, securing four medals — one silver and three bronze — which increased the Kingdom’s tally in that competition to 52 awards overall.

The Saudi Biology Team earned four international awards at the International Biology Olympiad held in the Philippines, including one silver medal, two bronze medals, and one certificate of appreciation – bringing the Kingdom’s tally in this global competition to 15 awards, comprising four silver, seven bronze medals, and four certificates of appreciation.

In August, the Saudi Informatics Team captured three international awards at the 37th International Olympiad in Informatics in Bolivia, including one bronze medal and two certificates of appreciation, raising the Kingdom’s tally in this event to 11 international awards – seven bronze medals and four certificates.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Mathematics Team secured ten international awards – six bronze medals and four certificates of appreciation – at the 37th Asian Pacific Math Olympiad. In addition, the Saudi Nuclear Science Team won a bronze medal at the International Nuclear Science Olympiad in Malaysia, increasing the Kingdom’s overall tally in that competition to five global awards, including one silver and four bronze medals.

Crowning a season of excellence, the Saudi Chemistry Team topped the 10th Arab Chemistry Olympiad held in Amman, Jordan, earning first place among all participating Arab nations with four medals – two gold, one silver, and one bronze. This remarkable performance raised Saudi Arabia’s cumulative tally in the Arab Chemistry Olympiad to 12 medals, including nine gold, two silver, and one bronze.

The Saudi Standards Team triumphed with one gold and two silver medals at the 20th International Standards Olympiad held in South Korea, while the Saudi Artificial Intelligence Team secured four bronze medals in its debut at the International AI Olympiad (IAIO) in China.

The Saudi Astronomy and Astrophysics Team claimed three global awards at the 18th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) in India, including one silver medal and two certificates of appreciation, bringing the Kingdom’s tally in this competition to six international awards – one silver, three bronze, and two certificates.

In September of this year, the Saudi Informatics Team earn a bronze medal and a certificate of appreciation in its debut at the European Junior Olympiad in Informatics (eJOI) in Bulgaria, marking Saudi Arabia’s inaugural presence in this competition with two global awards. The team now awaits results from the Asia-Pacific Informatics Olympiad (APIO), held online.

Looking ahead, Saudi national teams in informatics are preparing for the Balkan Olympiad in Informatics (BOI) in Italy later this month, the Junior Balkan Olympiad in Informatics (jBOI) in October in Koprivnica, and will conclude the Kingdom’s 2025 international competitions with the International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) in Russia in November.