The King Abdulaziz and his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), in collaboration with its partners — the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Education and Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC) (represented by the National Center for Assessment (Qiyas) — has announced the opening of registration for the 15th Edition of the National Program for Gifted Identification, which will run until January 13th, 2025.

The National Program for Gifted Identification, which targets students in Grades 3-10, is the biggest yearly effort in Saudi Arabia to identify outstanding individuals in scientific fields. The evaluation will take place in person in Qiyas centers around the Kingdom from 01/12/2024 to 15/01/2025, in both Arabic and English, depending on the candidate's preference. The results will be made public on 26/02/2025.

The Program, which began in 2011, serves as a pioneering paradigm for integrated efforts to identify, nurture, and empower gifted students in Saudi Arabia. It emphasizes the strategic engagement between Mawhiba with the Ministry of Education and the Education and Training Evaluation Commission, to invest in gifted persons as vital contributors to sustainable growth and global prosperity.

The Program is one of Mawhiba's specialized tools for identifying gifted students, created in collaboration with Qiyas along with other initiatives including Mawhoob Competition, Kangaroo Mawhiba, and Bebras Mawhiba for Informatics.

Over the last years, more than 600,000 students have undergone the program's assessments, resulting in the identification of over 200,000 gifted students, who have benefited from tailored programs offered by Mawhiba and the Ministry of Education. The program is implemented in 47 male and 47 female educational districts, with assessments accessible in 109 venues across 54 cities and towns nationwide.

The National Program for Gifted Identification is implemented using standardized tools and metrics. A model for identifying gifted students has been developed, based on an advanced scientific methodology that incorporates key scientific principles and best educational practices to ensure the accurate selection of students with potential talent. Through this Program, a comprehensive and extensive database is established, covering all gifted male and female students across all regions and cities of the Kingdom, as well as all age groups in general education levels.

The National Program for Gifted Identification acts as the gateway to the majority of Mawhiba’s programs and services. Those who qualify gain access to initiatives offered by the Ministry of Education’s gifted education departments, as well as more than 20 other programs administered by Mawhiba and its strategic partners. These include academic and research enrichment programs in science, engineering, and medicine, as well as initiatives to prepare students for admission to prestigious universities and international competitions in science, research, and innovation.