Kuwait University, represented by the College of Science, in cooperation with the Public Authority for Youth and the Ministry of Education, concluded the national qualifiers for the Hydrogen Vehicle Endurance Race 2026, held for the first time in the State of Kuwait. The event was held under the patronage of the President of Kuwait University, Prof. Dina Musaed Al-Mailem, and attended by the Vice President for Academic Support Services, Dr. Abdullah Al-Mutawa, representing the University President. With this event, Kuwait becomes the first country in the Middle East and North Africa region to host this global educational program specialized in hydrogen-powered vehicle racing.

The closing ceremony was attended by the Acting Dean of the College of Science, Prof. Sayed Haidar Jawad Behbehani; the Acting Director General of the Public Authority for Youth, Nasser Al-Sheikh; and the Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Affairs at the Ministry of Education, Eng. Hamad Al-Hamad, along with representatives of Al-Sayer Group, the strategic partner of the competition, and the Marketing Director of Lexus Group, Salah Al-Din Ahmed Mohammed.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Mutawa emphasized that hosting this competition reflects Kuwait University’s academic and national role in supporting innovation and empowering youth to acquire scientific and technical skills aligned with future demands. He noted that the competition is considered one of the leading global educational initiatives in clean energy and hydrogen technologies, providing practical experiences that enhance students’ innovation, engineering thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.

He further explained that the participation of student teams from Ministry of Education schools, alongside Kuwait University and the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, reflects the integration of national efforts aimed at supporting young talents and developing their scientific capabilities. He affirmed that the participants’ achievements throughout the competition demonstrate the promising potential of Kuwaiti youth and their ability to excel and compete in modern scientific and technological fields.

For his part, the Acting Director General of the Public Authority for Youth, Nasser Al-Sheikh, stated that the competition serves as both a scientific and practical platform that contributes to developing youth skills and promoting a culture of innovation and sustainability. He praised the collaboration between academic institutions, government entities, and the private sector in supporting youth-oriented initiatives and investing in their capabilities.

Similarly, the Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Affairs at the Ministry of Education, Eng. Hamad Al-Hamad, affirmed that the competition represents a successful model of cooperation among national institutions involved with nurturing talented students. He noted that such initiatives align with Kuwait Vision 2035, which aims to invest in human capital and promote innovation and a knowledge-based economy.

The Marketing Director of Lexus Group, Salah Al-Din Ahmed Mohammed, expressed his pride in Al-Sayer Group’s participation as a strategic partner in this initiative, highlighting the importance of supporting educational programs that provide youth with practical opportunities to acquire technical and engineering skills related to clean energy technologies and sustainable innovation.

The results of the national qualifiers witness the qualification of several teams to represent Kuwait in the global H2 Grand Prix Pro finals, scheduled to be held in Switzerland. Al-Sabahiyah School (Sonic Team) secured first place, while Kuwait University achieved first place in the university category. The Public Authority for Applied Education and Training team came in second place in the same category, and Maria Al-Qibtiya School placed third.

Salman Al-Faresi School and Al-Waha School won the Team Spirit Award, Maria Al-Qibtiya School received the Innovation Award, Al-Israa Secondary School for Girls won the Marketing Award, and Al-Sharqiya Secondary School for Girls received the Distinguished Design Award.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, winning teams, participants, supporting entities, sponsors, and partners were honored in recognition of their contributions to the success of the first edition of the competition in Kuwait, reaffirming the importance of continuing to support scientific initiatives that prepare a generation capable of leading the future of innovation and energy.