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Arab News
a day ago
- Science
- Arab News
From expulsion to AI success — how a Saudi student's journey is inspiring a generation
ALKHOBAR: In June, a student research team at King Saud University quietly presented their breakthrough — a Saudi-built artificial intelligence agent named Mantiq. Mantiq successfully solved 84 out of 120 abstract puzzles and scored a 70 percent accuracy rate on the global Abstraction and Reasoning Corpus benchmark in a challenge widely recognized among leading artificial general intelligence researchers around the world. But behind the results was something just as compelling — a group of young Saudis that included a once-expelled university student who rebuilt his future line by line, code by code. Abdullah Al-Refai, 24, is a software engineering student at Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd University in Dhahran. With no official title, no funding, and no affiliation to a major lab, he represents a growing generation determined to push boundaries in the most advanced frontiers of AI. 'We may not have the same resources as big tech labs, but we have vision and we're proving that brilliance can come from anywhere — even a small research group in Saudi Arabia,' he said. Al-Refai's journey was far from linear; it was full of detours, setbacks and moments of deep personal doubt. First, he enrolled at Dammam Community College, where he excelled. His performance earned him a transfer to King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, one of the top institutions in the Kingdom. But the transition proved overwhelming. Battling depression and struggling to adjust, his grades declined and, following a difficult time, he left. 'Getting expelled broke me. I felt like everything I had worked for was gone. But over time, I realized that failure doesn't define you — how you respond to it does,' said Al-Refai. Determined not to give up, he later enrolled at Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, a smaller, private center, and supported himself by working at Jarir Bookstore. As he regained his academic footing, Al-Refai rediscovered his love of technology. His coding journey had started years earlier when he received a Dell PC in sixth grade and began experimenting with Java programming to create modifications for popular video game Minecraft. A turning point came when he started a part-time AI research role at PMU. Soon after he met his mentor, Sulaiman Ureiga, who invited him to join a student-led research group focused on AGI. Unlike traditional AI systems, which rely on massive datasets, AGI aims to mimic human thought, reasoning and learning, and adapt with minimal input. It is a field into which tech giants like OpenAI and DeepMind have poured billions. In Saudi Arabia, Al-Refai and his team are approaching the same goal with minimal resources other than passion, perseverance and belief. Their focus has been the ARC challenge developed by Google researcher François Chollet, which tests a model's ability to solve logic puzzles using abstraction, not memorization. When the team presented the first phase of their research, an AGI-1 prototype that solved 70 percent of the test puzzles within minutes, it was a proud moment. 'Standing there at King Saud University, presenting our agent and (seeing) it solve 70 percent of the ARC-1 tasks, I knew this was bigger than a research demo. It was proof that Saudi youth can build world-class AI,' said Al-Refai. His motivation goes beyond personal achievement, however; he sees his story as a blueprint for others, proof that failure is not final and that Saudi youth can lead global conversations on AI. His team is already working on the next phases of their research, hoping to improve the model's reasoning capabilities and publish in an academic forum. They have also created educational posters, hosted sessions and spoken at local events to spread awareness and encourage others to explore AI. 'My dream is that when people around the world talk about the future of AI, they mention Saudi Arabia — not just for investments, but for real innovation and breakthroughs,' said Al-Refai. All this comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is pouring historic levels of investment into emerging technologies. In May, the Kingdom announced a $600 billion strategy in AI and digital transformation, reinforcing its ambition to become a global innovation hub. While high-level partnerships and summits dominate headlines, stories like Al-Refai's reveal a parallel transformation, one happening from the ground up, driven by students, self-learners and quiet researchers working after hours in labs and dorm rooms. 'If I can come back from academic failure and end up contributing to AGI research, anyone can,' said Al-Refai. 'We just need to believe in ourselves and build with purpose. We are capable of greatness. We always have been, and we always will be.'
Arab News
17-07-2025
- Automotive
- Arab News
Saudi youth engineer their way to STEM Racing triumph
DHAHRAN: Cheers and confetti filled the stage at Ithra's theater in Dhahran on Wednesday night as four teams of Saudi students were crowned national champions in the 2025 STEM Racing competition. All four teams earned the honor of representing the Kingdom at the Aramco STEM Racing World Finals 2025, supported by Formula 1, in Singapore from Sept. 27 to Oct. 2. The fourth edition of STEM Racing Saudi Arabia, held under the umbrella of the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), brought together finalists from six cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Dhahran, Dammam, Al-Ahsa, and Abha. From regional qualifiers to wind tunnel testing, digital simulations, enterprise planning, and brand building, students spent months building mini Formula 1-style race cars and pitching their ideas in front of judges and mentors. First place nationally was claimed by Team Rimah from Dhahran, a returning competitor who missed out on a qualifying spot the previous year. Second place went to Giddam from Riyadh, followed by Sadeem from Dhahran in third, and YLA Accelerate from Jeddah in fourth. Team Rimah member Fares Al-Garaawi said the team's experience has been all about growth. 'This wasn't my first year. I competed last year, too, but we didn't qualify. I took that lesson and came back stronger,' he said. Fajer Al-Ameer from Giddam, who also won the Best Pit Display award, said the competition helped her to rebuild after setbacks. 'Last year, I didn't win. But I came back with a clear goal. I wanted to win — not just make memories or enjoy the events. And this time, I did both,' she said. More than 1,000 students took part in this year's edition, with finalists selected through a series of rigorous regional qualifiers. The program blends engineering and enterprise with creative branding, public speaking, digital marketing, and sustainability. Alongside the four winners, 14 special awards were made to recognize outstanding achievements in areas such as speed, design, sustainability, branding, and communication. Using advanced tools such as CAD modeling, 3D printing, and wind tunnel simulations, each team was tasked with building a high-performance miniature race car powered by compressed carbon dioxide, and refined for aerodynamics, branding, and data precision. Held under the theme 'Engineering the Future,' the final ceremony celebrated not only winners, but also resilience, creativity, and collaboration. Students shared stories of failure turned into learning, and learning turned into leadership. The top four teams will now represent Saudi Arabia in Singapore at the F1 in Schools World Finals, where students from over 30 countries will compete. Past Saudi teams have gained global attention, and expectations are high for this year's delegation. The initiative is part of Ithra's broader mission to empower young Saudis through experiential learning that aligns with Vision 2030. By combining technical training with soft skills and national representation, STEM Racing is turning passion into purpose. As the lights dimmed on the ceremony, students stood smiling with their medals, trophies, and mentors. The cars may be small, but their dreams are running full speed ahead.
Arab News
09-07-2025
- Health
- Arab News
Where We Are Going Today: ‘Ornj' in Dhahran
Tucked between Tamimi Market and a cluster of other eateries, Ornj in Dhahran has been serving up vibrant, health-focused drinks for the past two years, but it's easy to miss if you don't pay attention. The small space focuses on fresh, made-to-order juicy goodness. They specialize in natural juices — no sugar, sweeteners, or artificial flavors — averaging SR17 ($4.53). For group gatherings, there's the juice bag: a dozen different juices for SR135. Smoothies are SR23 each, with options like the pink smoothie (banana, strawberry, milk, honey) or the avo smoothie (avocado, milk, honey, dark chocolate shavings). Dairy-free? They offer the Saudi-made No Moo brand in almond or coconut. We sampled the immune booster wellness shot (SR11) — green apple, cucumber, celery, lemon and ginger. It was light, smooth and refreshing. Other SR11 shots include the flu fighter (orange, lemon, carrot, turmeric, black pepper) and recovery (red apple, ginger, beetroot, lemon). They also serve freshly made sandwiches, including the intriguing turkey with date combo, which I'd like to try on my next visit. The highlight for me was the customizable acai bowl: rich, satisfying and layered with your choice of yogurt or peanut butter. Toppings include fruit, granola, and even tahini halva, for a fun twist I couldn't resist. I was impressed by the assembly on the spot. Ornj is a cheerful, orange-tinged spot for nutrient-packed drinks and light bites, perfect for anyone craving flavor without compromise. Visit them on Instagram @
Arab News
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
‘Frozen' in concert melts hearts at Ithra
DHAHRAN: The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture was swept into a winter wonderland this week as Disney's 'Frozen' came to life in a dazzling film-in-concert experience. The two-day live event at Ithra, which concluded with two performances on July 9, featured a full orchestra performing the film's score live on stage while the original movie plays on a screen with dialogue and vocals intact. The music was played live on stage, resulting in an immersive, multi-sensory experience for audiences of all ages. A sea of tulle could be seen as young girls in Queen Elsa-inspired ice-blue gowns filled the theater, with long lines forming at a nearby 'Frozen'-themed space offering optional printed keepsakes for those who patiently waited. Arab News spoke with audience member Norah Al-Otaibi and her 5-year-old daughter, Mai, during the 20-minute intermission. 'It's my third time watching it — the first two times was at home. This is nice but I like watching it at home more because you can turn it on or off whenever you want,' said Mai. 'Here, you have to wait until the song you want comes on. But I like the music and singing part here more, it's better than the regular screening.' Mai, who turns 6 soon, attended the concert screening as an early birthday present. Al-Otaibi, a fan of the film herself, added: 'Ithra gave it a nice vibe. It's definitely not just a regular viewing experience, they elevated it.' Returning to the podium was Erik Ochsner, considered one of the leading conductors in the film-with-live-orchestra format. He led 'The Lion King' in concert at Ithra a few days prior and shared his enthusiasm ahead of the performance. 'Perhaps we're going to build a snowman together and you must be ready to let it go,' Ochsner told the crowd, hinting at the ever-popular songs 'Let It Go' and 'Do You Want to Build a Snowman?' 'I'm thrilled to be able to share the stage tonight with the wonderful musicians from the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra … you are so fortunate to have such a beautiful center here, Ithra,' he added. Ochsner conducted the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra under artistic director and principal conductor Sergey Smbatyan. At Ithra's 'Frozen' concert, the audience sang along to the catchy, now classic songs, from the film. Released in 2013, 'Frozen' was inspired by the 1844 original novel-styled fairytale narrative 'The Snow Queen,' written by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. Arendelle, while a fictional Kingdom, is inspired by the real Norwegian town of Arendal. It tells a heartwarming story of a newly-crowned young Nordic queen, Elsa, with secret ice-making powers who accidentally freezes everything in her path as her fearless sister, Anna, sets out to save her — and the whole kingdom.
Arab News
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Ithra Children's Festival inspires creativity, curiosity
RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, Ithra, on Monday launched its inaugural Children's Festival, themed 'What If?', the Saudi Press Agency reported. The festival combines creativity, learning, play, and exploration in an interactive setting to foster critical thinking, nurture imagination, and develop essential skills. Running until July 26 at Ithra's headquarters in Dhahran, the festival offers 50 activities designed to spark curiosity and inspire creative thinking. These include hands-on workshops, live performances, water and family challenges, art spaces that encourage exploration and questioning, and a book exchange where children can swap books. An interactive exhibition allows children to transform large white models into colorful artworks using foam tubes, the SPA reported. The festival will also host the fifth Children's Book Fair from July 14-19, featuring 20 local and international publishers specializing in children's and young adult literature. This year's fair highlights South Korea as the guest of honor, with book signings, panel discussions, workshops, and opportunities to meet experts.
