Local News
Skoda cars recalled in Saudi Arabia due to airbag defect
The Ministry of Commerce has announced a recall of 265 Skoda vehicles, including Fabia, Kodiaq, and Sabrep models, due to a serious defect in the airbag inflator. Learn more about the details and how to fix it.
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.
Local News
Winners of the 2026 Creativity Olympiad will represent Saudi Arabia at ISEF
Learn the names of the winners of the grand prizes in the 2026 Creativity Olympiad, who will represent the Kingdom at the ISEF International Science and Engineering Fair after a major scientific competition.
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.
Local News
Talent enters Guinness World Records in largest innovation competition to support Vision 2030
The “Mawhiba” Foundation has achieved a historic milestone by entering the Guinness Book of World Records for the “Creativity 2026” Olympics as the world’s largest competition for innovative solutions.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has achieved another global milestone, adding to its impressive record, as the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) entered the Guinness World Records for the 16th edition of the National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity, "Ibdaa 2026." This record was established as the "world's largest competition for innovative solutions," an international recognition reflecting the Kingdom's advanced standing in supporting innovation and developing human capital.
This historic achievement came after the competition witnessed exceptional participation, with students submitting more than 34,000 innovative scientific projects. The excellence wasn't limited to the number of projects; it extended to the largest participation base in the history of the Olympiad, with over 357,000 students from across the Kingdom registering – a remarkable 22.7% increase compared to last year. These figures reflect the growing culture of scientific research and innovation among the younger generation and their passion for contributing to solutions for future challenges.
Historical background and the pioneering role of “Mawhiba”
The Mawhiba Foundation, established in 1999, is the national incubator for gifted and creative individuals in the Kingdom, working to discover, nurture, and empower them within a stimulating environment. One of its most prominent programs is the National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity, "Ibdaa," an annual scientific competition held in strategic and integrated partnership with the Ministry of Education. The Olympiad aims to provide a competitive environment that encourages students to develop their scientific research skills, cultivate their talents in the fields of science, engineering, and mathematics, and prepare them to compete on the international stage.
The importance of achievement and its impact within the framework of Vision 2030
This record is not merely a numerical achievement, but a strong indicator of the success of national strategies aimed at building a sustainable knowledge-based economy. This success aligns directly with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which places investment in human capital and youth empowerment at the heart of its priorities. By supporting programs like “Ibdaa” (Creativity), the Kingdom is strengthening its ability to cultivate a creative and qualified national generation capable of leading the future and contributing effectively to comprehensive development. This achievement also enhances the Kingdom’s presence on the global innovation map and solidifies its position as a leading regional hub in the fields of science and technology.
Institutional achievements and future aspirations
The closing ceremony of the Olympiad, held in Riyadh, witnessed a historic moment with the presentation of the Guinness World Records certificate to His Excellency the Minister of Education, Mr. Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Bunyan, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mawhiba, Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Anqari, and its Secretary-General, Dr. Amal Al-Hazzaa, reflecting the institutional and national significance of this achievement. The Secretary-General of Mawhiba emphasized that this success is a result of the unwavering support provided by the wise leadership to the talent and creativity sector. It is worth noting that the winning projects in the Ibdaa competition are nominated to represent the Kingdom at prominent international events, such as the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), thus broadening students' global horizons and enriching their scientific experiences.
Local News
Speech by Prince Abdulaziz bin Khalid at the conclusion of the Creativity Olympiad 2026
At the conclusion of the Creativity Olympiad 2026, Prince Abdulaziz bin Khalid bin Salman delivered the speech of the innovators, praising the efforts of 357,000 students and emphasizing their role in achieving Vision 2030.
On the night of crowning young minds and promising talents, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Khalid bin Salman delivered the speech of creative students during the closing ceremony of the “Creativity 2026” exhibition, stressing the commitment to give their all for the advancement of the nation, and to continue to carry its flag high in the forums of science and knowledge around the world.
In his inspiring speech, Prince Abdulaziz summarized the year-long, passionate competition, saying, “We meet today filled with enthusiasm and ambition after a year-long journey of competition, filled with laboratories, research, judging sessions, and anticipation of results—a journey fueled by hope and guided by ambition: hope for excellence and ambition to raise our nation’s flag and represent it globally.” He noted the overwhelming response to the competition, with 357,000 students from across the Kingdom participating, armed with knowledge and a strong competitive spirit, emphasizing that everyone who reached this advanced stage was a winner.
“Creativity”: A national platform for discovering innovative minds
The National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity “Ibdaa,” organized by the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity “Mawhiba” in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Education, is one of the most important national initiatives aimed at discovering and nurturing scientific talent in the Kingdom. The Olympiad aims to provide a stimulating competitive environment that encourages male and female students in general education to engage in scientific research and innovation, developing their skills and abilities, and preparing them to compete at both the local and international levels.
Strategic importance within the framework of Saudi Vision 2030
This initiative holds significant strategic importance as it directly aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, specifically the Human Capital Development Program. By investing in young minds and nurturing their talents, “Ibdaa” contributes to building a generation capable of leading the knowledge economy and driving sustainable development. Prince Abdulaziz praised the wise leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and the follow-up and plans of the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, saying: “A great nation and a wise leadership have established a means for every goal and a path for achieving every objective.”.
From local to global: A distinguished representation of the Kingdom
The impact of “Ibdaa” extends beyond the local scene, serving as a gateway for Saudi talent to reach global recognition. Winners of the National Olympiad qualify to represent the Kingdom at the most prestigious international events, most notably the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in the United States, the world’s largest pre-college science competition. Saudi students have achieved historic milestones at this fair in recent years, winning dozens of awards that have solidified Saudi Arabia’s position as a rising power in science and innovation, embodying the ambition expressed by Prince Abdulaziz to raise the nation’s flag high across the globe.
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