Saudi Arabia Shines at the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) in India, Securing Three Global Awards

Saudi Arabia continues to make its mark on the global scientific arena, claiming three international awards at the 18th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA 2025), hosted in Mumbai, India. The competition brought together around 300 students from 64 countries.

King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) represented the Kingdom in this competition, in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Saudi Space Agency, as sponsored by NEOM Group.

Joud Basem Al-Luhayani – the General Administration of Education in Makkah, earned a silver medal, while Fajr Hassan Al-Obaidan – the General Directorate of Education in Ahsa, and Hussain Hassan Al-Mubarak – the General Directorate of Education in the Eastern Province, each received certificates of appreciation for their exceptional performance.

With this achievement, Saudi Arabia’s tally in the prestigious competition rises to six international awards over just two years – comprising one silver medal, three bronze medals, and two certificates of appreciation.

Mawhiba emphasized that this milestone reflects the fruitful collaboration between the Foundation, the Ministry of Education, and the Saudi Space Agency. Through rigorous theoretical and practical training, specialized preparation programs, and expert-led qualification camps, the participating students were equipped with advanced knowledge and global-level skills, enabling them to compete with confidence and excellence.

The IOAA is a world’s prestigious scientific competition, designed to inspire gifted students to expand their research capabilities, exchange expertise, and deepen their scientific curiosity in the realms of space and astrophysics.

This participation reaffirms Saudi Arabia’s unwavering commitment to fostering national gifted and empowering the next generation of innovators to excel in critical scientific domains – aligned with the ambitions of the Saudi Vision 2030 to build a knowledge-driven society founded on creativity, innovation, and strengthen the Kingdom's presence on global podiums.