The Times Kuwait reported that Ali Al-Qallaf, Zahra Al-Haddad and Fatima Al-Mulla form the Kuwaiti team at the event in Uzbekistan with supervisors Issa Al-Qallaf and Haifa Al-Adwani accompanying the students. The Sabah Al-Ahmad Center for Giftedness and Creativity under the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences is providing support as part of its work to develop gifted young talent in scientific disciplines. The Ministry of Education has positioned involvement in international competitions as central to building critical thinking innovation and global collaboration among Kuwaiti youth.
The official IChO website states that the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad is the first to be hosted by Uzbekistan with delegations from more than 90 countries participating in activities through July 19 in Tashkent. The competition began in 1968 in Prague according to event history and has since expanded into a major annual platform for secondary school students to demonstrate advanced chemistry knowledge. Organizers have highlighted the Olympiad as a venue for both rigorous testing and cross-cultural scientific exchange.
Kuwait has taken part in multiple previous editions of the International Chemistry Olympiad including a delegation supported by the Sabah Al-Ahmad Center at the 2025 competition Kuwait Times records show. The country’s ongoing engagement reflects a sustained national focus on measuring domestic science education against international benchmarks. A 2025 Kuwait Times article detailed comparable institutional backing for student competitors in that year’s event.
The three selected students advanced through national evaluation processes that identify top chemistry performers according to the center’s established selection framework. Competitors at the Olympiad face demanding theoretical questions and laboratory tasks that assess deep subject mastery and analytical skills. Supervisors from each delegation including those from Kuwait ensure adherence to the standardized rules while offering guidance during the program.
The Ministry of Education according to its published strategy sees these competitions as instrumental in preparing students for leadership roles in science and technology fields. Similar programs across Gulf states have increased emphasis on STEM excellence with regional education reports noting higher participation rates in global contests over the past decade. Such efforts form part of wider initiatives to strengthen human capital through targeted support for outstanding learners.
Social media channels of the International Chemistry Olympiad welcomed the Kuwait team among arriving delegations in the days leading up to the official start. The program incorporates not only examinations but also cultural programs designed to connect the hundreds of participants and mentors. Updates from organizers confirm the event is proceeding as scheduled in Tashkent with a focus on scientific cooperation.
