RIYADH: Saudi students have showcased their creativity on the global stage and achieved a new milestone for the Kingdom. 

With the support of the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, Saudi teams secured two prestigious awards at the 20th Aramco STEM Racing World Finals, which were held in Singapore from Sept. 25 to Oct. 1.

The competition brought together more than 90 teams from 50 countries in what is recognized as the largest global celebration of engineering, science, and innovation.

STEM racing involves students building and racing miniature Formula One vehicles.

And the remarkable achievement was delivered by four Saudi teams — Rimah, Yalla, Giddam, and Sadeem — who advanced to the event after winning the Saudi National STEM Racing Finals hosted at Ithra in Dhahran earlier in the year.

In an unprecedented result, the Saudi teams broke into the global top 10, making the Kingdom the only nation to feature multiple times among the top rankings — a first since the competition’s inception.

Maha Abdulhadi, head of the STEM Racing KSA Program at Ithra, said: “Winning two international awards is a proud moment for Saudi Arabia, and a testament to the ambition and resilience of our youth.

“Earning a place among the global top 10 proves the Kingdom’s capacity to lead in applied education and innovation. This achievement is not an endpoint, but the beginning of a greater journey toward even more international success.”

The achievement follows months of intensive training and preparation. The fourth edition of STEM Racing KSA has engaged more than 280 students between the ages of 14 and 16, across six Saudi cities since December, in a comprehensive program designed to combine knowledge with hands-on engineering innovation.

Launched in 2022 under the name F1 in Schools, before evolving into STEM Racing KSA, the program is one of Ithra’s innovative educational initiatives, supported by Aramco. It aims to connect teaching with scientific experience, enabling students to gain practical experience in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics by designing and manufacturing race cars powered by compressed gas cylinders that race on real tracks.

The program also seeks to highlight Saudi talent and showcase creativity and innovation on the global stage. 

Saudi teams have won notable awards over the past few years, including the FIA Women in Motorsport Award (2022) and the Innovation Thinking award (2023), as well as Best Enterprise Portfolio Award, Best Engineered Car Award, and Best Application of Management Award (2024).