The Board of Grievances in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced a significant operational achievement during 2025, with the total number of judicial procedures processed by the Judicial Operations Management Center exceeding 5.3 million. This substantial figure reflects the significant development witnessed in the administrative justice sector in the Kingdom and underscores the success of the digital transformation strategies adopted by the Board in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

According to the report, these procedures encompassed all stages of the judicial process, from registering cases and referring applications, through processing various operational procedures, to delivering court rulings to the parties involved. The report also highlighted the effectiveness of communication channels with beneficiaries, noting that the center recorded approximately 359,300 interactions across its various platforms, demonstrating its commitment to enhancing the beneficiary experience and facilitating their access to justice.

Historical context and strategic transformation of the Board of Grievances

The Board of Grievances is an independent administrative judicial body in the Kingdom, and it has undergone significant developmental phases since its establishment. The most prominent qualitative leap in its history came with the issuance of its new system in 1428 AH (2007 CE), which restructured the administrative judiciary and solidified its independence. Since then, the Board has continued its modernization process, which has accelerated considerably in the last decade within the framework of Vision 2030. The Board has adopted a complete digital transformation of its procedures and launched integrated electronic judicial platforms such as the “Moeen” digital platform, which allows litigants to file and track cases, submit memoranda, and receive judgments electronically without the need for physical attendance. This has paved the way for achieving these record-breaking performance figures.

The importance of the achievement and its impact at the local and international levels

The significance of this achievement lies not only in its substantial operational impact, but also in its positive effects across several vital areas. Domestically, expediting judicial procedures contributes to swift justice and strengthens the confidence of citizens and residents in the judicial system. Furthermore, the efficiency of the administrative judiciary is a cornerstone for improving the business and investment environment, providing local and international investors with a guarantee of protection for their rights in any disputes that may arise with administrative bodies, thus enhancing the Kingdom's attractiveness as a global investment destination.

Regionally and internationally, this achievement positions the Saudi Board of Grievances among the world's leading judicial institutions in digital transformation and performance efficiency. It presents a successful model that other countries in the region can utilize in developing their judicial systems. The Judicial Operations Management Center's reliance on an integrated system of continuous monitoring and data analysis represents a practical application of global best practices in judicial administration, further solidifying the Kingdom's position as a hub for innovation in the justice sector.

At the conclusion of a major scientific event, the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) announced the names of the winning students who received the top prizes in the 16th National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity, “Ibdaa 2026.” These elite young innovators will represent the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the world’s most prestigious scientific event, the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF 2026), having demonstrated their excellence in the Kingdom’s largest scientific competition.

Background on the “Creativity” Olympics and its national role

The National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity, “Ibdaa,” organized annually by Mawhiba in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Education, is a leading platform for discovering and nurturing young scientific talent in the Kingdom. The Olympiad aims to provide a stimulating competitive environment that encourages students to develop scientific research and innovation skills and offer creative solutions to contemporary challenges. Since its inception, “Ibdaa” has contributed to honing thousands of talents who have become active participants in the national development process, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to build a knowledge-based economy and invest in human capital.

The importance of the event and its international impact

Winning at the Ibdaa Olympiad is not only significant at the local level, but also serves as a gateway to global recognition. Qualifying to represent the Kingdom at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) places these students among the world's brightest young minds. ISEF is the world's largest pre-university science competition, with thousands of students from over 80 countries participating. The participation and success of Saudi students in this event reflects the remarkable progress in the Kingdom's education sector and its commitment to nurturing talent, further solidifying its position as a regional hub for innovation and science.

List of Grand Prize Winners

After fierce competition, the winners in four main tracks were crowned, as follows:

Sustainable environment and basic needs supply path:

• First place and the title of “Star of Creativity”: Lana Yahya Muhammad Nouri
• Second place: Zainab Muhammad bin Abdullah Al-Aithan, and Fatima Hussein bin Ahmed Al-Muqrin
• Third place: Faisal Sami Abdullah Al-Saeed, Yara Faleh Bin Mohammed Al-Hatrashi Al-Shahrani, Lamar Hashem Mohammed Al-Habashi
• Fourth place: Al-Jawhara Faisal Fahd Bin Zara’a, Imran Omar Bin Abdulhamid Al-Turkistani, Lin Mahmoud Muhammad Al-Nabulsi, Maryam Nidal Abdulrab Al-Rasoul Habil
• Fifth place: Reda Hani Ibn Mohammed Al-Abdi, Fares Ahmed Ibn Ali Al-Jaafar, Juliana Badie Ibn Ali Al-Abdrab Al-Rida, Shaimaa Salah El-Din Mahmoud Al-Katatni, Munira Suleiman Ibn Hamad Al-Rumi, Yara Yousef Ibn Abdullah Al-Qadi, Alia Ali Zaid Bashiri, Mohammed Nasser Fayez Al-Mana Al-Asmari, Abdulrahman Basem Ibn Tariq Jamal, Dalin Badr Ibn Abdulqader Qadir

The path of future economies:

• First place: Muhammad Mustafa bin Muhammad Al-Quraini
• Second place: Reem Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Mutawa, Lana Waseem Mohammed Al Aqqad
• Third place: Abdullah Hashem bin Taher Al-Nasser, Faisal Saad Hamad Al-Abdulatif, Lamar Basem bin Hassan Bahakim
• Fourth place: Mishari Badr bin Mohammed Al-Dhaibani, Nasser Abdulaziz Mohammed Al-Sudais, Abdulaziz Badr Mu'ayyad Al-Juaid, Fahd Abdullah Fahd Al-Abdulkarim Al-Muammar
• Fifth place: Anas Talal Abdullah Maloush, Youssef Ibrahim Faisal Basyouni, Lara Khaled Hassan Al-Tamimi, Jad Daniel Mohammed Al-Ghazawi

The path to leadership in energy and industry:

• First place: Jumana Talal bin Mohammed Bilal
• Second place: Jana Ibrahim Farhan Al-Dosari, Faisal Yousef Abdullah Al-Hanti
• Third place: Yara Abdulmajid bin Abdulrahman Ababtain, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Khalid bin Salman, Noor Faisal Khader Al-Arjan Al-Atwi
• Fourth place: Latin Hussein bin Ali Al-Ghamdi, Fatima Mohammed bin Issa Al-Saleem, Mawada Tawfiq Abdo Awad, Khaled Amjad Bakr Hanawi
• Fifth place: Fares Ibrahim bin Mohammed bin Jardan, Abdullah Ahmed Tawfiq Al-Rashid, Nawaf Mahmoud bin Salem Al-Ibrahim, Lana Abdullah Ahmed Ibrahim Abu Talib, Shahd Musfir bin Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, Abdulaziz Waleed Omar Al-Muqrin

Human health pathway:

• First place: Mazen Mohammed Amir Ahmed Mazen Murad
• Second place: Tamim Ibrahim bin Jamal al-Din Khan, Lamar Hani Khairi al-Agha
• Third place: Joan Ryan Bin Ghazi Hindi, Saleh Ahmed Saleh Al-Zaidani Al-Shehri, Hassan Hamza Ibn Mohammed Sultan
• Fourth place: Dana Salem Zaid Al-Tuwaili Al-Anzi, Noor Basem Bin Ahmed Al-Matouq, Sarah Marwan Nasser Al-Omran, Sarah Mohammed Abdul-Quddus Abu Al-Samh, Jana Ehab Ismail Harsani
• Fifth place: Janine Musli bin Mohammed Al-Qahtani, Rula Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Arini, Faisal Majid bin Faisal Al-Gharibi, Jumana Bandar bin Zayed Al-Zaidi, Tala Hisham Nabil Awliya, Jumana Ahmed Ali Al-Amoudi, Yousef Farid bin Yousef Al-Khalawi

Special awards and broad institutional support

In addition to the major awards, Mawhiba announced that 84 students won special prizes presented by 12 leading national and international ministries, agencies, and institutions. This broad support reflects a belief in the importance of outstanding projects and provides further motivation for students to continue their journey in research and innovation, underscoring the concerted national efforts to support the next generation of scientists and thinkers.

The Saudi Ministry of Commerce has announced a new recall campaign affecting 265 Skoda vehicles due to a serious manufacturing defect in the driver's side airbag inflator. The risk lies in the possibility of the airbag rupturing in the event of a crash, potentially releasing sharp metal fragments into the vehicle's cabin, thus increasing the risk of serious injury or even death.

Recall details and affected models

The ministry explained that the recall includes five popular Skoda models: the Fabia, Kodiaq, Superb, Rapid, and Octavia. The campaign covers models manufactured over a long period, from 2012 to 2021, suggesting that the defect may be related to a component used in manufacturing for several years.

The global context of the airbag crisis

This recall comes within the broader context of a global airbag crisis, largely linked to the Japanese company Takata, once one of the world's largest airbag suppliers. A defect in the chemicals used in Takata airbag inflators triggered the largest recall in automotive history, affecting tens of millions of vehicles from various manufacturers worldwide. The risk of this defect is exacerbated in hot and humid climates, where these conditions accelerate the decomposition of the propellant in the inflator, increasing the likelihood of a violent explosion upon deployment. Skoda's current recall reflects the ongoing efforts of manufacturers globally to address this fundamental problem and ensure the safety of their customers.

The importance of recalls and their impact on traffic safety

The Ministry of Commerce's recall campaigns highlight its pivotal role in protecting consumers and ensuring the safety of products circulating in the Saudi market, particularly in the automotive sector, which is directly linked to public safety. This measure strengthens consumer confidence in regulatory bodies and underscores the responsibility of car dealerships to provide necessary maintenance and repairs free of charge. Domestically, this action contributes to improved road safety and reduces the likelihood of serious injuries resulting from manufacturing defects. Internationally, it reflects the Kingdom's commitment to global vehicle safety standards and its engagement with international recall campaigns.

Procedures required from vehicle owners

The Ministry of Commerce urged owners of vehicles included in the recall to immediately check if their vehicles are affected. This can be done by visiting the website of the Defective Products Recall Center and checking using the vehicle identification number (VIN). If the vehicle is included, the owner should contact the local dealer, Samaco Automotive Company, directly via the toll-free number (8001180099) to schedule an appointment for the necessary repairs and replacement of the defective part free of charge.