“Mawhiba” Announces the Identification of 34,000 New Gifted Students and Sets a Guinness World Record

King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity “Mawhiba” has announced the identification of more than 34,000 gifted male and female students in the 16th edition of the National Program for Gifted Identification 2026. This initiative is conducted in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Education and Training Evaluation Commission, represented by the National Center for Assessment (Qiyas). 

This achievement brings the cumulative total of identified gifted students to over (278,000). 

In a press release issued today, “Mawhiba” stated that the number of gifted students identified through the National Program for Gifted Identification this year reached (34,358) students. This total includes (2,469) exceptional talents and (31,889) gifted students, in addition to (41,047) promising talents. Work is currently underway to nominate them for the programs and services provided, in accordance with the respective program criteria and requirements.

A total of (94,323) students from various regions across the Kingdom registered for the 2026 program. Of these, (89,843) students successfully completed the Mawhiba Multiple Cognitive Aptitude Test (MMCAT). This milestone raises the cumulative number of students assessed since the program's inception in 2011 to more than (776,000) over a span of 16 years.

This year, (6,278) students of Level I, which includes Grades (3), (4), and (5), completed the MMCAT. In Level II, encompassing Grades (6), (7), and (8), (12,703) students participated. Meanwhile, (15,377) students from Level III, comprising Grades (9) and (10), have been enrolled among the total number of students who underwent the test. 

Furthermore, Mawhiba has set a Guinness World Record for the MMCAT, achieving the highest number of applicants for a Cognitive Aptitude Test within a single month. This milestone comes just days after the Foundation set another world record for the (16th) edition of the National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity (Ibdaa 2026), recognized as the world's largest competition for innovative solutions.

MMCAT comprises several core dimensions, including mental flexibility, mathematical and spatial reasoning, scientific and mechanical reasoning, as well as linguistic reasoning and reading comprehension. It is available in both Arabic and English and is administered through more than (100) computerized testing centers, targeting students from Grade (3) to Grade (10).

The National Program for Gifted Identification serves as the foundational milestone in a gifted student’s journey and the primary gateway to the majority of Mawhiba services and programs. It aims at identifying and fostering gifted students in the fields of Science and Technology, developing an integrated system and a comprehensive methodology for identification, and ensuring equity and fairness in the selection process, ultimately guiding each student toward the most suitable enrichment and care programs.

The program seeks to establish a comprehensive and detailed database of gifted students across the Kingdom. It further aims to raise community awareness regarding the characteristics of giftedness and the significance of their identification. Additionally, the program contributes to enriching scientific research resources and the Arabic library with specialized literature on gifted identification.

The program serves as a gateway to various research and enrichment initiatives, facilitating qualification, training, and professional development following the identification stage. This is complemented by Mawhiba Classes and a suite of local and international programs held year-round or during the summer, in partnership with numerous ministries, government entities, and major corporations.

Today’s announcement stands as a culmination of the collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Education, Mawhiba, and the Education and Training Evaluation Commission. These entities strive to identify, foster, and develop the capabilities of gifted students while cultivating an environment conducive to innovation and creativity. Such endeavors aim at empowering these students to achieve scientific leadership and elevate the Kingdom's global standing.