Under the patronage of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), the Huawei Middle East ICT Competition 2023 has now concluded. The closing ceremony was held in Riyadh, in the presence of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and Liam Zhao the Chairman of Huawei Tech. Investment Saudi Arabia, and the winning teams from all universities and colleges. The Saudi team, consisting of 9 male and female students, has qualified to participate in the final competition to be held in Kingdom of Bahrain.

The 2023 edition of the competition saw the participation of 3,500 talented students from 35 universities and colleges in Saudi Arabia.

The competition aims to develop the local ICT ecosystems, nurture young talent and encourage innovation amongst the next generation of ICT leaders in the Kingdom, in line with Vision 2030 and its objectives of driving digital transformation and building a sustainable and knowledge-based digital economy.

Throughout the competition, the participants received trainings and world-class knowledge from Huawei experts, in collaboration with university professors and academic supervisors, followed by a national exam which was held in Saudi Arabia.

The team from Saudi Arabia consisting of 20 students won the competition. The winners received valuable prizes and certificates in appreciation of their achievements.

the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of Saudi Arabia, said: “We are pleased to collaborate with a world-leading technology company such as Huawei to organize the ICT competition. The ICT sector plays a significant role in advancing the digital economy in Kingdom and elevating its competitiveness. We are committed to achieving the Kingdom's ambitious goals by empowering talented youth and driving digital transformation in Saudi Arabia.'

Liam Zhao the Chairman of Huawei Tech. Investment Saudi Arabia, said: “I would like to congratulate the winners and thank all the participants in the final competition. This year’s edition witnessed the participation of many talents from the Kingdom and the region. We at Huawei are committed to developing local talents, nurturing the next generation of technology leaders, and enhancing their skills to help drive digital transformation. The competition reflects our belief in the importance of open cooperation with our partners in the public and private sectors and empowering talented Saudi youth. We are committed to providing the latest technologies and the best global expertise and working with our partners to bridge the gap between the educational curricula and the labor market, which further advances the digital economy in the Kingdom.'

Launched in 2017, the Huawei ICT Competition has witnessed the participation of over 90,000 students across the Middle East and, today, has become one of Huawei's most influential competitions. Huawei hosted the competition in collaboration with over 20 ministries and 442 universities and colleges. Over 20,000 undergraduate students from across the region applied for the Middle East ICT Competition. Last year also saw the launch of the first “Innovation Track” to guide students in their development and provide a platform for realizing specific capabilities and applications in the Middle East.

The Huawei Middle East ICT Competition is one of several CSR initiatives undertaken by Huawei to nurture talent for Middle East youth. Together with the Huawei ICT Academy, the Huawei Innovation Competition, Seeds for the Future program, joint university labs, and other initiatives, thousands of young people in the region benefit from an advanced skills development pipeline every year, equipping them with the necessary skills to lead digital transformation and development efforts within their country.