Under the patronage of His Excellency the President of Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Prof. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Tamimi, the “Digital Innovation Hackathon” competitions officially commenced today, Friday, April 17, 2026. The event is organized by the University, represented by the General Directorate of Information Technology, in a competitive atmosphere that reflected the spirit of creativity and innovation among participants.
The hackathon witnessed the participation of 27 teams out of 39 that qualified following the initial screening phase. The teams are competing to deliver innovative digital solutions within a stimulating environment that fosters creativity and teamwork, with the aim of enhancing the university experience and advancing the University’s digital transformation journey.
The event was inaugurated with a speech by the General Director of Information Technology, Mr. Waleed bin Mohammed Al-Sulaitin, the supervisor of the hackathon, who emphasized the importance of such initiatives in empowering national talents and promoting digital innovation. This was followed by a specialized workshop titled “AI-Driven Innovation,” delivered by Prof. Dr. Ammar Mohammed Ammar, a faculty member at the College of Computer Engineering and Sciences and an expert in artificial intelligence. The workshop explored opportunities to leverage AI technologies in developing high-impact solutions that contribute to building a smarter future. Subsequently, participating teams—under the guidance of the mentoring team—began developing and presenting their innovative solutions within a well-organized environment filled with enthusiasm and creativity.
The hackathon is organized as part of the University’s efforts to support Saudi youth—including university students, government sector participants, and professionals—by providing them with opportunities to contribute to designing innovative solutions and services. This is achieved through real-world challenges aimed at enhancing university and community services. Participating teams are also presenting their prototypes before a judging panel, which will evaluate the projects and select the top three ideas.
The hackathon competitions will continue until Sunday, April 19, 2026, when the winning teams will be announced and honored at the closing ceremony in recognition of their outstanding efforts and distinguished ideas.
