The Saudi Council of Engineers has opened the door for participation in the first edition of its Engineering Hackathon, a competition running alongside the 4th International Engineering Conference (IECE 2026), with a total prize pool of SAR500,000. Registration and the submission of initial ideas will remain open from September 13 to October 5, 2026, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The competition is designed to draw on national talent and channel engineering and creative skills toward solutions that respond to the sector's needs and challenges. It also aims to connect academic knowledge and professional experience with practical application, support innovation, raise the level of engineering practice, and boost the sector's competitiveness and sustainability.
Participants will compete across three main tracks covering 15 engineering challenges. The first, "Engineering, Smart, and Cognitive Cities," deals with cities, infrastructure, and smart urban services. The second, "Engineering Development," focuses on modern technologies and business development for engineering firms and offices, while the third, "Engineering Innovation," addresses real-world challenges within society and the built environment.
The hackathon will wrap up during IECE 2026, where qualifying teams will present their solutions before judging panels, followed by the announcement and honoring of the winners. The SAR500,000 prize fund will be distributed across five winning places, and winning projects will have the chance to connect with business incubators and accelerators.
IECE 2026 is organized by the Saudi Council of Engineers under the patronage of Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majed Al-Hogail, and will take place from December 14 to 16, 2026, at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Center in Riyadh.