On Monday, the advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Governor of Makkah Al-Mukarramah Region, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, virtually awarded the winners of the major awards at the Science and Engineering Fair (Ibdaa 2021), which was held remotely by "Mawhiba" Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Education.
Prince Khaled Al-Faisal congratulated the students on their brilliance and the awards they had received, wishing them more success in contributing through their innovations and creativity to the exceptional and comprehensive renaissance of the country.
In his speech at the closing ceremony of the National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity "Ibdaa 2021", His Excellency the Minister of Education, Dr. Hamad bin Muhammed Al Al-Sheikh affirmed that the gifted, talented and distinguished students are the future leaders and the pillar of the exceptional country in its renaissance and development. That they are a valuable asset that pave the way to progress through knowledge.
The Minister added, “When the country, starting with the leader, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz gives the education and their sons and daughters every care, support and encouragement, this represents a strong extension for an approach initiated and carried out by the founder of Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz, in caring for, encouraging and disseminating science, nurturing the successful students and providing them with all what they need for success."
His Excellency the Minister of Education indicated, “We all lived a nation's success story through on-line education; whether in Saudi universities or in virtual schools. Despite the psychological, social and technical challenges of the impact of Covid-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Education was able to provide a viable solution, and presented the "Madrasati" platform as a true interactive Saudi model in leading the public education journey remotely.
This national platform was developed by great support from our wise leadership in record time and with national competencies sought to deal with all possible options and operational models to provide education for everyone with excellence and efficiency."
His Excellency the Minister of Education affirmed that the country is full of creative minds which need continued support and encouragement to innovate and share their innovations.
His Excellency added that the model complementary partnership between the Ministry of Education and “Mawhiba" Foundation is always based on many enlightened projects to serve gifted students to flourish in the giftedness and creativity community in the country. It also supports its knowledge economy, and provides an attractive and stimulating environment for creativity as represented by “Ibdaa 2021" Olympiad, which is organized by “Mawhiba" Foundation with the Ministry every year. “The Olympiad includes an elite group of people from our great country, who shows us giftedness in every session through their projects and research, reflecting the richness of our dear country in their precious human capital, capable of shining and excelling with their passion to science, entrenching it in the minds of our male and female students," he stated.
Dr. Saud Al-Matahmi said, “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia witnesses, in this auspicious era, an exceptional and comprehensive renaissance to build the Saudi children and invest in their capabilities and potentials that keep pace with the gifted and creative human resources of our dear country in various fields. These care and support are the middle name of the Kingdom, because the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz is the one who transformed Mawhiba from an idea into an inspiring reality."
Dr. Al-Matahmi stated that the numbers are the clearest indicator of “Mawhiba" work. Today, more than 150,000 gifted students have been identified out of 550,000 students who have been nominated to enroll at the National Program for Gifted Identification in every part of the country. Internationally, “Mawhiba" Foundation has achieved through its students, within 10 years, 400 medals, prizes and medals in international scientific competitions - an average of 40 medals every year worldwide.
Mawhiba's students have developed more than 16,000 ideas, and obtained 15 patents, enrolling more than 1,000 students out of them into the top 50 prestigious international universities, and in specific disciplines compatible with the needs of development plans. “Mawhiba" has attracted 103 gifted students from 20 countries. They won 79 awards through it.
He said, “This is due to tireless efforts, 19 enrichment programs, qualitative competitions, and classes in our wonderful schools to nurture and care for the gifted students. So that the Kingdom ranked first among the Arab countries in "giftedness". It also has a more comprehensive program in identifying and nurturing the gifted students worldwide. The program was developed to build a national system for giftedness and creativity in the Kingdom, and support the innovation." 
Mansour Majed Al-Marzouqi, the student at the Education District of Riyadh for Boys won the first rank in Chemical Energy, while the second rank was held by Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Ghamdi, student at the Education District of Eastern region in Chemical Energy, and Firas Wael Batwa, student at the Education District of Jeddah in Mechanical Engineering.
The third rank awards were granted to Rasha Mohammed Al-Qahtani, student at the Education District of Riyadh for Girls in Social and Behavioral Sciences, Raghad Muhammed Asiri, student at the Education District of Riyadh for Girls in Cellular and Molecular Biology, and Abdullah Muhammed Ash-Shinqeeti, student at the Education District of Riyadh for Boys in Chemical Energy. As well as to Nora Thamer Alharbi, student at the Education District of Eastern region for Girls in Environmental Engineering, Gwen Youssef Alsahafi, student at the Education District of Makkah Al-Mukarramah for Girls in Biomedicine and Health Sciences, and Mawda Omar Muhammed Ali, student at the Education District of Makkah Al-Mukarramah for Girls in Computational Biology and Informatics.
The fourth rank awards were granted to Faisal Fahad Al-Mohaish, student at the Education District of Al-Ahsa for Boys in Biomedicine and Health Sciences, Arwa Abdullah Niazi, student at the Education District of Eastern region for Girls in Chemical Energy, and Dana Fahd Al-Dahmash, student at the Education District of Eastern region for Girls in Materials Science. As well as to Ahmed Hamed Albadrani, student at the Education District of Yanbu for Boys in Environmental Engineering, Lana Basem Abujamil, student at the Education District of Madinah for Girls in Computational Biology and Informatics, and Hussein Hani Al Saif, student at the Education District of Eastern region for Boys in Software Systems.
The fifth rank awards were granted to Tala Saad Al-Qahtani, student at the Education District of Eastern region for Girls in Chemical Energy, Sultanah Omar Alissa, student at the Education District of Eastern region for Girls in Physics and Astronomy, and Jana Mohammad Alsinan, student at the Education District of Eastern region for Girls in Materials Science. As well as to Hossam Muhammed Ashour, student at the Education District of Jeddah for Boys in Physical Energy, Ruby Khalid Abdulaziz, student at the Education District of Riyadh for Girls in Mechanical Engineering, Nada Abdul Rahman Al Hajri, student at the Education District of Aseer for Girls in Environmental Engineering, and Laura Hani Al Amiri, student at the Education District of Eastern region for Girls in Environmental Engineering. As well as Lama Abdulrahman Al-Qahtani, student at the Education District of Eastern region for Girls in Biomedical Engineering, Raghad Muhammed Alasiri, student at the Education District of Asir for Girls in Robotics and Intelligent Machines, and Asad Bander Basam, student at the Education District of Jeddah for Boys in Transitional Medicine Sciences.
The six rank awards were granted to Dana Ziad Al-Raqeiti, student at the Education District of Eastern region for Girls in Chemistry, Lian Zaid Alhamshi, student at the Education District of Hail for Girls in Chemistry, Lolwah Majed Al-Marzouki, student at the Education District of Riyadh for Girls in Biochemistry, and Lana Fahd Al-Abbasi, student at the Education District of Jeddah for girls in Physics and Astronomy. In addition to Lina Abdulrahman Al-Qahtani, student at the Education District of Eastern region for Girls in Materials Science, Anas Fawaz Arafat, student at the Education District of Riyadh for Boys in Physical Energy, Juman Abdullah Al-Bidani, student at the Education District of Al-Qassim for Girls in Plant Sciences, and Shatha Mohammed Al-Ahmadi, student at the Education District of Al Madinah Al Munawwarah for Girls in Plant Sciences. As well as to Hoton Ibrahim Noor Wali, student at the Education District of Madinah al-Munawara for Girls in Plant Sciences, and Joanna Riyadh Al-Blaihis, student at the Education District of Jeddah for Girls in Biomedicine and Health Sciences.
The National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity (Ibdaa) is an annual scientific event based on competition through presenting the individual scientific projects, according to the project's criteria and guidelines. These projects are arbitrated by a group of academics and specialists, according to specific scientific criteria, to nominate the distinguished projects for higher competitive stages, and select the best ones to participate in the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).
