Two Saudi journeys that began at Ithra and led to international awards and research; Omran Al-Turkistani in energy and water, and Jinan Kamal in engineering and project management

Dhahran | BETH

Participation in the Saudi STEM Racing competition at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) developed into two global paths for two young Saudis, as the skills gained on the racetrack carried over into scientific research, engineering, and project management.

Omran Al-Turkistani began his journey when his team placed third in the Kingdom and represented Saudi Arabia internationally in Singapore. He later moved into scientific research and qualified for the ISEF competition for two consecutive years, achieving fourth place globally in energy and then second place globally in environmental engineering.

Omran also developed a system to produce green hydrogen from seawater, as well as another system to desalinate seawater using solar energy without the need for an external electricity source. One of his projects also received acceptance for an international patent.

In a different path, Jinan Kamal turned her three-year participation in STEM Racing into an advanced experience in project management and leadership, developing mechanisms for team organization, time and resource management, risk management, and remote work.

Her journey culminated in 2025 with winning the Best Project Management Application Award globally, among participants from 86 countries.

Since its launch in 2022, Saudi STEM Racing has linked science, technology, engineering, and mathematics with practical application, giving students space to develop skills in design, innovation, teamwork, and communication.

The value of the experience did not stop at the finish line; it began there.