Saudi Students Win Four Awards at Balkan Informatics

Saudi Arabia secured four awards at the 33rd Balkan Olympiad in Informatics, hosted in Tirana, Albania, from September 14 to 20, 2026, marking a milestone in the Kingdom's participation in the international competition.

Saad Bandar Al-Arifi from Riyadh claimed a silver medal — the first ever for Saudi Arabia in this event. Fares Yasser Al-Raddadi from Madinah and Mohammed Abdulrahman Bashkiel from Jeddah each earned bronze medals, while Hashem Ibrahim Basyouni from the Royal Commission in Yanbu received a certificate of appreciation.

The Saudi delegation was made up of six students representing Riyadh, Madinah, Al-Baha, Jeddah, and Yanbu, reflecting the geographic spread of young talent across the Kingdom.

With these results, Saudi Arabia's overall record in the competition rose to 17 awards across four participations, comprising one silver medal, eight bronze medals, and eight certificates of appreciation.

Why it matters

The achievement highlights the growing capabilities of Saudi students in computer science and problem-solving, and supports national efforts to nurture the next generation of talent in technology and innovation. For families across the Kingdom, such milestones underline the expanding opportunities available to young people in scientific and technical fields.

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