ISEF 2026: Saudi Arabia Secures 2nd Place Behind US, Brings Home 12 Grand Prizes
Saudi Arabia has secured second place globally at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2026 for the third consecutive year, ranking only behind the United States, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Held in Phoenix, Arizona, from May 9 to 15, the competition brought together more than 1,700 young scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and inventors from 70 countries.
The Saudi delegation secured 12 grand prizes—comprising one first-place, four second-place, five third-place, and two fourth-place finishes—alongside 12 special awards.
Saudi Arabia has been a participant at ISEF since 2007, securing 185 awards, including 124 major and 61 special prizes.
This milestone raises the Kingdom’s historic ISEF award tally to 209 since it began participating in the ISEF in 2007 under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba).
Comprising 40 students, the Saudi team included 23 members competing in person and 17 participating remotely from Riyadh.
They were selected through the National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity (Ibdaa 2026), which secured a Guinness World Record as the world’s largest competition for innovative solutions after capturing approximately 34,000 scientific project submissions.
The 40 finalists secured their places following a six-stage selection process alongside an intensive year-long training program that sought to sharpen their research capabilities, presentation techniques, and scientific expertise.
Saudi Arabia’s consistent participation reflects its broader national commitment to developing human capital and reinforcing its position as a global leader in innovation and scientific excellence.
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