In a move reflecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's leadership in innovation and scientific research, the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Education, announced the final list of male and female students nominated to represent the Kingdom at major international events. The announcement included the nomination of 68 outstanding young men and women to participate in three of the world's most prestigious science fairs: the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF 2026), the ITEX exhibition in Malaysia, and the TAISF exhibition in Taiwan.

Preparation Journey: From 357,000 Students to the Elite

The students' reaching this stage was no accident; it was the culmination of a year-long, rigorous scientific journey. This journey began with the participation of over 357,000 students from across the Kingdom, who submitted more than 34,000 scientific projects in 22 diverse fields. Participants underwent six stages of rigorous selection, including central and regional exhibitions, culminating in the Creativity in Science and Engineering Fair. Following this, they participated in an intensive training camp at the Mishkat Interactive Center to ensure their projects were ready for global competition.

Distribution of international participations

Mawhiba explained that the Saudi national team for science and engineering was distributed as follows:

• ISEF Exhibition: 42 male and female students were nominated to participate in this event, which is the largest global event for pre-university students in the United States of America.
• ITEX Exhibition: 18 male and female students will participate in this international exhibition of inventions, innovations and technology in Malaysia.
• TISF Exhibition: 8 male and female students were selected to represent the Kingdom at the Taiwan International Science and Technology Exhibition.

Historical context and Saudi leadership

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a distinguished record at the ISEF exhibition, participating regularly since 2007. Over the years, Saudi students have won 185 international awards, including 124 major awards and 61 special awards. This ongoing achievement reflects the success of the Kingdom's talent identification and development system, and its alignment with the goals of Vision 2030, which focuses on building a vibrant society and a thriving, knowledge-based economy.

List of nominees for ISEF 2026

The list of 42 creative individuals includes the following names: Jumana Talal bin Mohammed Bilal, Jana Ibrahim Farhan Al-Dossari, Abdullah Ahmed Tawfiq Al-Rashid, Fatima Mohammed bin Issa Al-Saleem, Faisal Yousef Abdullah Al-Hanti, Lana Abdullah Ahmed Ibrahim Abu Talib, Mawada Tawfiq Abdo Awad, Nour Faisal Khader Al-Arjan Al-Atwi, Yara Abdulmajid bin Abdulrahman Ababtain, Jad Daniel Mohammed Al-Ghazawi, Reem Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Mutawa, Faisal Saad Hamad Al-Abdulatif, Lana Waseem Mohammed Al-Aqqad, Mohammed Mustafa bin Mohammed Al-Quraini, Mishari Bader bin Mohammed Al-Dhaibani, Al-Jawhara Faisal Fahd bin Zara’a, Dalin Bader bin Abdulqader Qadir, Reda Hani bin Mohammed Al-Abdi, Zainab Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Aithan, Shaimaa Salah El-Din Mahmoud Al-Katatni, Abdulrahman Basem bin Tariq Jamal, Imran Omar bin Abdulhamid Al-Turkistani, Fatima Hussein bin Ahmed Al-Muqrin, Faisal Sami Abdullah Al-Saeed, Lana Yahya Mohammed Nouri, Lin Mahmoud Mohammed Al-Nabulsi, Mohammed Nasser Fayez Al-Manea Al-Asmari, Maryam Nidal Abdulrab Al-Rasoul Habil, Munira Suleiman Bin Hamad Al-Rumi, Yara Yousef Bin Abdullah Al-Qadi, Tala Hisham Nabil Awliya, Tamim Ibrahim Bin Jamal Al-Din Khan, Jumana Ahmed Ali Al-Amoudi, Jana Ehab Ismail Harsani, Janine Musli Bin Mohammed Al-Qahtani, Joan Rayan Bin Ghazi Hindi, Sarah Mohammed Abdul Quddus Abu Al-Samh, Saleh Ahmed Saleh Al-Zaidani Al-Shehri, Lamar Hani Khairi Al-Agha, Mazen Mohammed Amir Ahmed Mazen Murad, Prince Abdulaziz Bin Khalid Bin Salman, Latin Hussein Bin Ali Al-Ghamdi.

List of nominees for the "ITEX" and "TAISF" exhibitions

For the ITEX in Malaysia, the Kingdom is represented by: Khalid Amjad Bakr Hanawi, Shahd Musfir bin Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, Fares Ibrahim bin Mohammed bin Jardan, Anas Talal Abdullah Maloush, Abdulaziz Badr Ma’youd Al-Jaid, Abdullah Hashem bin Taher Al-Nasser, Fahd Abdullah Fahd Al-Abdulkarim Al-Muammar, Lara Khalid Hassan Al-Tamimi, Lamar Basem bin Hassan Bahakim, Nasser Abdulaziz Mohammed Al-Sudais, Juliana Badie bin Ali, Fares Ahmed bin Ali Al-Jaafar, Lamar Hashem Mohammed Al-Habashi, Yara Faleh bin Mohammed Al-Hatrashi Al-Shahrani, Al-Faisal Majid bin Faisal Al-Gharibi, Jumana Bandar bin Zayed Al-Zaidi, Sarah Marwan Nasser Al-Omran, Yousef Farid bin Yousef Al-Khalawi.

As for the "Taisef" in Taiwan, the list includes: Abdulaziz Waleed Omar Al-Muqrin, Nawaf Mahmoud Bin Salem Al-Ibrahim, Yousef Ibrahim Faisal Basyouni, Alia Ali Zaid Bashiri, Hassan Hamza Bin Mohammed Sultan, Dana Salem Zaid Al-Tuwaili Al-Anzi, Roula Abdulaziz Bin Abdullah Al-Arini, Nour Basem Bin Ahmed Al-Ma’touq.

These nominations confirm Mawhiba’s ongoing commitment to empowering young Saudi minds and creating the right environment for them to innovate, so that they may become future leaders in the fields of science and technology, raising the Kingdom’s flag in all international forums.

Riyadh Airports Company announced the successful completion of the first phase of its terminal relocation plan at King Khalid International Airport, the largest operation of its kind since the airport's establishment. This strategic step comes as part of the Kingdom's efforts to enhance the civil aviation sector and improve the passenger experience, in line with the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and the Kingdom's Vision 2030.

Details of the first phase and national carriers

The first phase of the relocation process officially began on February 16, with Terminals 1 and 2 being exclusively dedicated to international flights operated by the national carriers: Saudi Arabian Airlines, Riyadh Airlines, Flynas, and Flyadeal. This allocation aims to consolidate the national carriers' operations in one location, directly contributing to increased operational efficiency, reduced travel time, and smoother passenger flow within the airport.

Timeline for upcoming phases

According to the announced operational plan, the transfer operations will continue to include substantial changes in the distribution of flights in the coming days, as follows:

• February 24: Terminal 4 will be designated for domestic flights of national carriers, with domestic flights distributed between Terminals 3 and 4 to facilitate the movement of connecting (transit) passengers.
• February 25: International flights of foreign carriers will be transferred entirely to Terminal 5.

Unprecedented field support and logistical facilities

To ensure the success of this complex operation and avoid any disruption for travelers, Riyadh Airports provided a comprehensive field support system. This system included deploying more than 650 guides throughout the airport to direct passengers and answer their inquiries. The company also offered a package of logistical facilities, including free parking for the first hour and free transportation between terminals via various means, including taxis, the Riyadh Metro, and shuttle buses departing every four minutes.

Strategic importance and general context

This move is of paramount importance, extending far beyond simply redistributing terminals; it comes at a time when the Kingdom is experiencing rapid growth in travel and tourism. King Khalid International Airport is the main gateway to the capital, Riyadh, and these changes are designed to prepare it to accommodate the anticipated increase in passenger numbers, especially with the imminent launch of commercial operations by Riyadh Airlines. Transforming the airport into an efficient hub that facilitates connections between domestic and international flights is a cornerstone for establishing Riyadh as a global air transport destination.

In closing, the company urged all travelers to check the details of their flights and the new lounges allocated to them by contacting the airlines or via the airport's interactive WhatsApp service (920020090), stressing its full commitment to providing a smooth and comfortable travel experience during the transition period.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has officially announced that next Sunday, February 22, 2026, will be an official holiday for all state employees, on the occasion of celebrating the glorious "Founding Day" anniversary.

The ministry explained in its statement that this holiday includes all employees in the public government sector, as well as those working in private sector establishments, in addition to employees of the non-profit sector, in implementation of the generous royal orders that set this date as an annual date to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the first Saudi state.

The historical depth of the founding day

The celebration of Founding Day commemorates the Saudi state's more than three-century-long existence, symbolizing the Kingdom's deep historical and cultural roots. This anniversary dates back to 1727 CE (1139 AH), when Imam Muhammad bin Saud assumed power in Diriyah, thus establishing the first Saudi state, which laid the foundations for security, stability, and unity in the Arabian Peninsula after centuries of fragmentation and disunity.

The difference between Founding Day and National Day

It is important to distinguish between Founding Day and National Day; Founding Day (February 22) celebrates the beginning of the reign of Imam Muhammad bin Saud and the establishment of the first state, while National Day (September 23) celebrates the anniversary of the unification of the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by the founding King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud - may God have mercy on him - in 1932 AD. Both represent pivotal milestones in the history and development of the Arabian Peninsula.

Manifestations of celebration and national importance

This holiday holds immense importance as it strengthens national identity and connects current generations to their rich historical roots. The Kingdom typically witnesses extensive cultural and heritage events on this day, with citizens wearing traditional clothing that reflects the diversity of the Kingdom's regions, and artistic performances and traditional markets that recreate the lives of their ancestors during that era.

The approval of this holiday for all sectors (public, private and non-profit) confirms the inclusiveness of the occasion for all segments of society, and is an opportunity to strengthen national cohesion and draw inspiration from the stories of struggle and success written by imams, kings and citizens throughout history to build this proud nation.