Saudi universities claimed multiple awards at the final of the International AI on Education Competition in Hong Kong, reinforcing the kingdom's growing influence in educational AI. The awards underscore Saudi Arabia's broader push to embed research in classroom practice under Vision 2030.
Regional qualifier proves a launchpad
The competition brought together participants from across the world to present AI-powered technologies that improve learning outcomes - a central concern for AI for Education initiatives. Umm Al-Qura University hosted the Gulf regional qualifier, which saw 15 teams from Saudi Arabia and neighboring GCC countries reach the finals.
Umm Al-Qura itself won awards for Problem Discovery, Overall Performance, and Excellence in Educational Impact, plus several Merit Awards. The university was also named an international partner for organizing the qualifying rounds.
Adaptive platform addresses ADHD student needs
Jouf University earned an Excellence Award for Morph, an adaptive learning platform built for university students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Students Ghaida Al-Fallah and Safiyah Al-Rahim developed the tool under the supervision of Mashail Al-Khamsan. The platform reads electroencephalography (EEG) signals to monitor attention in real time and automatically adjusts learning materials when focus drops.
Saudi universities spread recognition across categories
Other institutions also performed well. King Saud University won an Excellence Award in the Zoom presentation category and was a finalist in the Embodied AI stream. The University of Jeddah and Baha University each received an Overall Performance Award.
Merit Awards went to Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University for an AI-powered virtual laboratory teaching plant tissue culture, King Faisal University for an adaptive learning intelligence system, and Majmaah University for its project "3MIN TO WIN." Makkah Colleges also received a Merit Award, while a team from Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University secured an Excellence Award and reached the finals in another competition stream.
Why this matters for educators
These projects show AI moving from theory into practical tools that can detect attention, customize content, and deliver training experiences that respond to individual learners. For professionals who design or deliver instruction, the approaches offer models for using data to adapt teaching in real time. Educators interested in developing similar capabilities can explore an AI Learning Path for Teachers to better understand the technology and its classroom applications.
Your membership also unlocks:
