Saudi Students Win 4 Awards at BOI 2026 in Albania

Saudi high-school students earned four awards at the 33rd Balkan Olympiad in Informatics (BOI 2026), held in Tirana, Albania, in September 2026. The event brought together 75 students from 18 countries.

Saad Bandar Al-Arifi, from Riyadh Education, won a silver medal — the Kingdom's first-ever silver in this competition. Fares Yasser Al-Raddadi, from Madinah Education, and Mohammed Abdulrahman Bashkiel, from Jeddah Education, each secured a bronze medal.

Hashem Ibrahim Basyouni, from the Royal Commission in Yanbu, received a certificate of appreciation, rounding out a strong showing for the national informatics team across the different categories.

A Growing Track Record

With this result, Saudi Arabia's total BOI record reached 17 awards across four participations, comprising one silver medal, eight bronze medals, and eight certificates of appreciation. The milestone silver medal marks a notable step forward for the Kingdom's young programmers on the international stage.

Achievements like these reflect the growing strength of computer-science and programming talent among Saudi students, and highlight the value of early investment in technology skills. For the wider community, they offer an encouraging example for young people across the Kingdom who are pursuing careers in software, informatics, and the digital economy.

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