A Kuwaiti educational institute secured first place in the Golden Educator competition at the fifth annual Arab Code Week, an event organized by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO). The award was shared with Yasser Amr Secondary School for Girls from Palestine.
Al-Sulaibikhat Intermediate Religious Institute for Boys claimed the top prize with the “Smart Challenge” application, developed by Kuwaiti educator Mohammed Ayoub under the guidance of supervisor Wissam Shalabi. Nayef Al-Otaibi, representing the Embassy of the State of Kuwait in Tunisia, accepted the award during a ceremony held Thursday in Hammamet, Tunisia.
The 2026 edition of Arab Code Week brought together participants from 18 Arab countries. The event showcased digital projects and innovations, with presentations highlighting advances in digital education across the region. Alongside awarding winners and their project supervisors, the program included open meetings designed to facilitate knowledge sharing in programming and artificial intelligence (AI).
Mohamed Jemni, director of ALECSO’s Information and Communication Technology Department, described this year’s Arab Code Week as the largest digital event of its kind in the Arab world. He noted participation reached approximately three million students and educators. The competition’s final stage featured innovation leaders from 10 countries presenting a broad range of digital projects through the event’s platform. Jemni emphasized the growing focus on programming and AI in promoting Arab culture and enhancing Arabic digital content.
The judging process involved 27 committees comprising 105 judges who evaluated a total of 968 projects that advanced to the final round. Among these, 240 entries competed in the Golden Educator category, while 728 teams vied for the Golden Team award. This year’s theme centered on the role of programming and artificial intelligence in supporting Arab cultural development.
Arab Code Week aims to foster skills in programming, AI, and machine learning among teachers, students, and digital technology enthusiasts. The initiative encourages the development of innovative solutions and promotes the exchange of expertise within the Arab digital education sector. Ultimately, it seeks to cultivate a knowledge-based society capable of addressing future challenges and advancing sustainable development goals through modern technological tools.