Five Saudi Students Compete in Astronomy Olympiad

Five Saudi students are taking part in the 19th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA 2026), held in Hanoi, Vietnam, from 25 September to 5 October 2026 at Phenikaa University.

The Saudi team is made up of Fatimah Nazih Damlakhan, Eileen Hani Azhari, Hisham Ayman Rafiq, Omar Khalid Al-Shehri, and Maram Abdulaziz Al-Barrak. The students represent Jeddah, the Eastern Province, and Riyadh.

Their participation is supported by King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) in partnership with the Saudi Ministry of Education. Ahead of the competition, the team completed an overseas training camp in Slovenia from 16 to 29 August 2026, focused on astronomical observation, data analysis, theory, and simulated examinations.

This year's edition brings together teams from 66 countries and territories, with around 320 contestants. The competition tests participants across three areas: theory, data analysis, and astronomical observation.

Eligibility rules require contestants to be born on or after 1 July 2006, to have not completed Grade 12 before 1 January 2026, and to hold Saudi citizenship or regular residence in the Kingdom.

For families and students across the Kingdom, the participation highlights the growing investment in gifted Saudi youth in science and technology fields, and offers young people an example of how national talent programmes are opening doors to international competition.

---

Stay updated with the latest news, events, sports updates, business insights, real estate and lifestyle stories on Saudi Living — the leading online platform for residents, expats, and visitors in Saudi Arabia.

Follow Saudi Living for daily updates:

• Instagram - @saudiliving
• X - @saudiliving
• Facebook - @saudiliving
• YouTube - @saudiliving