In brief
The Madinah Ethical AI Competition invites developers worldwide to create AI models that reflect Islamic ethical principles and smart city goals. Registration opens on Kaggle until November 14, 2026, with a SAR150,000 prize pool. Eight teams will advance to an on‑site phase for further evaluation.
The Al Madinah Region Development Authority, together with the KAUST Academy at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, announced on November 2, 2026, that the Madinah Ethical AI Competition is now accepting entries from developers, researchers, and startups around the globe. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the event is aimed at promoting innovation that dovetails with the region’s smart‑city ambitions while incorporating Islamic ethical principles.
At its core, the competition seeks to stimulate the creation of machine‑learning models that embody responsible AI practices—specifically the four pillars highlighted in the announcement: privacy, fairness, transparency, and harm prevention. These concepts are commonly understood in the AI ethics community as safeguards that ensure technology does not amplify biases, protects personal information, provides clear reasoning for decisions, and avoids unintended negative consequences. In a setting where cultural values intersect with technology, the competition places an additional emphasis on alignment with religious moral frameworks, ensuring that solutions respect local norms while leveraging global best practices.
Competition Structure
The event is organized in two distinct phases. In the first phase, participants will work remotely via the Kaggle platform, a popular online environment for data‑science challenges where teams share code, datasets, and progress in real time. Teams are expected to develop prototypes that solve a technical problem related to Madinah’s smart‑city priorities, such as optimizing traffic flow, enhancing energy efficiency, or supporting public health initiatives. According to the announcement, the selection criteria will assess how well entries address the challenge, their adherence to the ethical pillars, and their technical performance.
From the multitude of entries, the competition will narrow the field to eight teams that qualify for a second, in‑person phase. This forum will convene over a three‑day period in Madinah, allowing finalists to present their solutions to a panel of experts from the region’s development authority, KAUST scholars, and external AI ethicists. The on‑site evaluation will focus on practical deployment considerations, scalability, and the depth of integration with local infrastructure.
Ethical Framework
While the competition is open to participants of any nationality or background, applicants are explicitly expected to demonstrate how their AI systems incorporate Islamic ethical wisdom. This requirement reflects a broader trend in the Middle East to contextualize global technology standards within region‑specific moral landscapes. The criteria cover four aspects:
• Privacy – safeguards that prevent the unauthorized collection or use of personal data;
• Fairness – mechanisms that detect and mitigate bias against any demographic group;
• Transparency – clear documentation and explainability of AI decision processes;
• Harm Prevention – proactive analysis that predicts and avoids detrimental outcomes for individuals or communities.
These principles mirror those articulated by international bodies such as the OECD and the EU’s AI Act, but are explicitly framed in a way that acknowledges local religious and societal expectations.
Prizes and incentives further amplify participation. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the total prize pool is SAR150,000, which will be distributed among the winning teams. While cash rewards are a direct incentive, the competition also offers participants exposure to Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning technology ecosystem, access to local government networks, and opportunities for collaboration with KAUST researchers.
The competition’s registration window remains open until November 14, 2026, on Kaggle. Interested developers can sign up directly at the provided link: https://www.kaggle.com/competitions/MDA-Ethical-AI-KAUST-Academy. The platform will manage submissions, track progress, and disseminate documentation throughout the event.
By situating the competition at the intersection of advanced AI, public policy, and cultural accountability, the Al Madinah Region Development Authority and KAUST Academy underscore a vision of technology that is both globally competitive and locally resonant. The initiative is poised to attract a diverse cohort of talent, providing a unique laboratory for testing AI in a context where ethical guidelines are explicitly tied to heritage and civic planning.
