Ithra Leads Saudi Students to Shine in Top 10 at Aramco STEM Racing World Finals

Fueled by passion and innovation, Saudi students supported by the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) achieved a new milestone for the Kingdom by securing two prestigious awards at the 20th Aramco STEM Racing World Finals, held in Singapore from September 25 to October 1, where they showcased their creativity on a 20-meter racetrack.

 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.

 This remarkable achievement was delivered by four Saudi teams—Rimah, Yalla, Giddam, and Sadeem—all of whom advanced after winning the Saudi National STEM Racing Finals hosted at Ithra in Dhahran earlier this 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.

 Head of the STEM Racing KSA Program at Ithra Maha Abdulhadi 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 success follows months of intensive training and preparation. Since December, the fourth edition of STEM Racing KSA has engaged more than 280 students aged 14–16 across six Saudi cities—Dhahran, Al-Ahsa, Riyadh, Madinah, Jeddah, and Abha—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 school curricula 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 their creativity and innovation on the global stage. Over the past few years, Saudi teams have won notable awards, such as FIA Women in Motorsport Award (2022), Innovation Thinking Award (2023), as well as Best Enterprise Portfolio Award, Best Engineered Car Award, and Best Application of Management Award (2024).