RIYADH: A number of top universities in the Kingdom will participate in the “Hackathon” competition that gets underway on Nov. 21 in the Saudi capital.
The event, which is being organized by Vechoport # menaisc2017, will be held in connection with the fifth annual information security conference for the Middle East and North Africa region.

The competition comes on the heels of the earlier launch of “Hackathon Arabia” at a local hotel in Riyadh.

Hackathon is a competition and challenge that brings together technology pioneers including designers and developers with outstanding skills, and encourage them to develop applications and games in different areas.

Samer Omar, Vechoport # menaisc2017 executive director, said the competition aims to attract the participation of young Saudis.

He said their participation will be in preparation for future roles for them in information security and protection in the Kingdom.

Omar, an engineer, said that the competition targets “Saudi government personnel and private university students working as a platform for inspiration.”

He added that the contest — designed by Fairshow Port and sponsored by the Saudi Telecommunications Company (STC) — brings out and nurtures their technical talents through a healthy and fruitful competition.

Omar added that the top three participants in the competition will receive cash prizes as well as recognition for them and their talents from the relevant and concerned universities in the Kingdom and other countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

He added that there are plans to broadcast the event live and also come up with video clips on private channels.

The participating universities include King Abdul Aziz University, Prince Sultan University, Effat University, Majma University, Al-Yamamah University, King Saud University, Dar Al-Hekma University, Princess Nourah University and Madinah Islamic University.