Madinah — The Al Madinah Region Development Authority, in partnership with the KAUST Academy at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, has opened registration for an international competition inviting developers, researchers and technology startups to create responsible artificial intelligence solutions for smart-city development.
The Madinah Ethical AI Competition aims to attract innovative machine-learning projects that address technical challenges connected to the city’s development priorities. Organisers are seeking solutions that combine technological innovation with ethical standards and practical applications for urban services.
Registration is available through the Kaggle platform until November 14, 2026, allowing participants from different countries to submit their applications and take part in the initial stage.
Ethical principles at the centre of the competition
The initiative places particular emphasis on developing artificial intelligence in accordance with Islamic ethical values and responsible technology practices.
Its guiding principles include protecting personal privacy, ensuring fairness, promoting transparency and preventing harm. These requirements are intended to encourage participants to consider not only the technical performance of their models but also their potential impact on individuals and communities.
The competition reflects growing interest in applying AI technologies to urban development while maintaining safeguards around data use, accountability and responsible decision-making.
Two-stage competition structure
The programme will take place in two phases. During the first stage, registered participants will work remotely to develop machine-learning models addressing a technical challenge associated with Madinah’s priorities.
This format allows international teams to participate without initially travelling to Saudi Arabia. Developers and researchers will have the opportunity to demonstrate their technical capabilities through solutions designed around the competition’s requirements.
Following the initial evaluation, eight teams will advance to the second stage. The selected finalists will travel to Madinah for an in-person programme lasting three days, during which they will continue developing and presenting their proposed solutions.
The final phase is intended to provide an opportunity for closer engagement among participants, organisers and technology specialists while allowing the shortlisted teams to demonstrate the practical potential of their work.
SAR150,000 allocated in prizes
The competition offers a total prize pool of SAR150,000, which will be distributed among the winning teams.
The financial awards are designed to recognise successful projects and encourage further development of innovative AI applications. The initiative also provides participating teams with an opportunity to gain international exposure and contribute ideas relevant to smart-city planning.
The collaboration between the Al Madinah Region Development Authority and KAUST Academy brings together regional development objectives and expertise in advanced technology and research.
Supporting Madinah’s smart-city ambitions
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being explored for applications in urban planning, public services, mobility, resource management and data-driven decision-making.
Through this competition, organisers aim to encourage solutions that can contribute to Madinah’s development while respecting the city’s social and cultural values.
The initiative also supports Saudi Arabia’s wider efforts to strengthen its technology ecosystem, attract international talent and expand research and innovation capabilities.
With registration closing on November 14, developers, researchers and startups interested in responsible AI have an opportunity to participate in the global challenge and present solutions that support Madinah’s smart-city objectives.
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