Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, known as Mawhiba, has announced a Guinness World Records title for the highest number of registrations in a cognitive aptitude assessment, marking a milestone in the kingdom’s long-running drive to identify and nurture young talent.The announcement, made in Riyadh on 16 February, coincided with the release of results from the 16th edition of the National Program for Gifted Identification 2026. Conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Education and Training Evaluation Commission, the programme screened tens of thousands of pupils across the country, reinforcing its position as one of the largest systematic talent-identification initiatives in the region.
According to Mawhiba, 94,323 students registered for the 2026 cycle of the Mawhiba Multiple Cognitive Aptitude Test, with 89,843 ultimately sitting the examination. From that cohort, 34,358 students were identified as gifted, including 2,469 classified as exceptionally gifted and 31,889 designated as gifted. The foundation said the latest intake brings the cumulative number of students recognised under the national programme to more than 278,000 since its inception.
Mawhiba’s secretary-general described the Guinness recognition as a reflection of the scale of participation and the growing awareness among families and schools of the importance of early identification of high-ability learners. Officials stressed that the record relates specifically to the volume of registrations for a cognitive aptitude test conducted within a defined timeframe, a category verified under Guinness criteria.
The National Program for Gifted Identification was established to create a unified scientific framework for discovering talented students in general education. It relies on standardised assessments designed to measure cognitive abilities such as analytical reasoning, problem-solving, spatial awareness and verbal comprehension. Education specialists note that such large-scale testing initiatives require robust psychometric design to ensure fairness and reliability across diverse socio-economic and regional backgrounds.
Over the past decade, the programme has expanded its reach, supported by digital registration systems and coordination with public and private schools. The Education and Training Evaluation Commission oversees quality assurance and testing standards, while the Ministry of Education facilitates access within schools. This institutional collaboration has been central to scaling up participation and ensuring consistency in test administration.
Officials say the classification of students into gifted and exceptionally gifted categories enables tailored educational pathways. Identified pupils may gain access to enrichment programmes, specialised summer courses, mentorship schemes and, in some cases, scholarships for advanced study. Mawhiba also works with universities and research institutions to create progression routes for high-performing students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Education analysts observe that Saudi Arabia’s emphasis on talent development aligns with broader economic diversification goals under Vision 2030. Human capital development is considered a pillar of long-term growth, with policymakers seeking to strengthen innovation capacity and competitiveness. Large datasets generated through national testing initiatives can also inform curriculum reform and targeted interventions.
At the same time, some education experts caution that aptitude testing, while valuable, represents only one dimension of giftedness. They argue that creativity, leadership and socio-emotional skills may not be fully captured through standardised cognitive assessments. Mawhiba has responded to such concerns by integrating multiple evaluation tools, including teacher nominations and academic performance indicators, alongside aptitude scores.
Participation levels in 2026 suggest sustained demand among families for structured pathways into advanced programmes. The figure of 89,843 test-takers represents a substantial share of the registered cohort, indicating high follow-through rates from enrolment to examination. Education officials attribute this to improved awareness campaigns and streamlined registration procedures.
The Guinness recognition has added international visibility to the programme, though Mawhiba emphasises that its primary objective remains domestic capacity-building rather than record-setting. By framing the achievement within the broader context of educational reform, the foundation has sought to underline continuity rather than novelty in its mission.
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