VILNUS — Saudi Arabia’s national biology team is representing the Kingdom at the 2026 International Biology Olympiad (IBO), taking place in Vilnius, Lithuania, from July 12 to 19, alongside more than 300 students from 78 countries.

Recognized as the world’s leading biology competition for secondary school students, the IBO brings together some of the brightest young scientific minds to compete in advanced life sciences.

The Saudi delegation includes four secondary school students who earned their places after completing an intensive training program organized by the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) in partnership with the Ministry of Education.

Their preparation involved a series of advanced theoretical and practical training camps held both inside and outside Saudi Arabia under the guidance of experienced national and international biology experts.

The students began their qualification journey through the National Science and Mathematics Olympiad (NSMO), one of the Kingdom’s key initiatives for identifying talented students in science. They later progressed through Mawhiba’s International Olympiads Program, where they received specialized training to strengthen their scientific knowledge, laboratory skills, and research capabilities before competing internationally.

Saudi Arabia’s participation in the International Biology Olympiad reflects the Kingdom’s ongoing commitment to nurturing young scientific talent and supporting innovation, research, and excellence in line with its long-term human capability development objectives