RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has won the World Artificial Intelligence Competition for Youth (WAICY) 2025, securing 26 awards.
The kingdom surpassed the United States, which placed second, followed by Indonesia in third, with Canada and Pakistan sharing fourth place, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Tuesday.
The achievement marks a significant milestone in Saudi Arabia’s expanding record of global accomplishments in artificial intelligence. This year’s edition of the competition received over 10,000 project submissions from young innovators, focusing on AI-driven solutions to pressing challenges in areas such as climate, health, education, culture, and social innovation.
Participants competed across four main tracks: the AI Showcase Track, AI-Generated Art Track, AI-Generated Video Track, and AI Large Language Model Track.
The Kingdom secured first place with 26 awards, achieved by more than 18,000 male and female students from various educational stages, who won 11 medals and developed 163 projects that competed against their peers to reach the finals.
The winning projects spanned diverse domains, including AI-generated videos, large language models, and cultural initiatives highlighting Najdi heritage. Recognition was also received in the AI-Generated Art Track and several other categories, reflecting the Kingdom’s broad and innovative approach to AI.
These results coincide with Saudi Arabia’s ongoing progress in the AI sector, including strong growth, rising employment in AI-related fields, attraction of specialised talent, and leadership in global AI model development. The Kingdom has also enhanced public awareness and engagement with AI technologies throughout 2025, reinforcing its position as a rising global leader in artificial intelligence.
