SYHF 2026

SYHF 2026 · Competitions

Compete. Build.
Showcase.

One competition tests what you know under pressure. One takes your team from an idea to a working prototype in two months. And if your organisation is already making a real impact — The Impact Award puts SAR 40,000 and incubation behind it.

03Ways to take part
05Per Olympiad team
32Olympiad teams
3–5Per MEDATHON team
Competition 01

MedIQ
Olympiad

Gulf-level, Jeopardy-style medical showdown

Buzzers, a live board and a room watching. Five students from the same university against thirty-one other teams — tested on medical knowledge, speed, strategy and clinical reasoning.

Registered through your university’s official delegation — not an individual sign-up. Speak to your delegation coordinator first.

  • Teams32 accepted
  • Squad5 from one university
  • EntryFree
  • Registration7 Sep – 28 Oct 2026
  • Teams announced10 Nov 2026

Only complete teams are accepted, and selection is competitive.

Enter the Olympiad
Competition 02

MEDATHON

Building the Future of Health

A multi-stage healthcare innovation hackathon. Teams develop technology-driven solutions to real healthcare challenges, pass two filters, then build and present their prototype on the ground at the forum.

  • Squad3 – 5 per team
  • Tracks4 — choose one
  • Registration1 – 15 Oct 2026
  • PrizesSAR 20k · 10k · 5k

Winners are announced at the Closing Ceremony on 29 November, and may also be introduced to incubators and accelerators. Details can’t be changed once you register.

Enter MEDATHON
Competition 03

The Impact
Award

For the initiative already making a difference

A national recognition award for youth-led organisations and initiatives (ages 16–28) creating real impact in Saudi Arabia’s health sector. Judged on real, measurable impact, not just a pitch.

  • PrizeSAR 40,000
  • Ages16–28
  • EntryFree
  • RegistrationOpens 15 Oct 2026

Winners also receive incubation with Jeddah Business Incubator. Applications open automatically on 15 October 2026.

Apply for the award

How entering works

  1. 01

    Form your team — or fly solo

    The Olympiad needs a complete team of five, and MEDATHON teams have 3 to 5 members. The Impact Award has no fixed size: enter alone or with your organisation’s team.

  2. 02

    One of you applies

    The captain, or the exhibitor themselves, submits once and lists anyone else involved.

  3. 03

    We confirm

    You get an application number by email. Keep it — it is your reference at the door.

  4. 04

    Take part

    All three run inside the forum, 26–29 November in Jeddah.

Olympiad applicants hear back when accepted teams are announced on 10 November 2026. The Impact Award opens for applications on 15 October 2026. Every final, and the awards themselves, run inside the forum, 26–29 November.

Full details & FAQ

MedIQ Olympiad

Gulf-level, Jeopardy-style medical showdown

Overview

A live, buzzer-based knowledge competition in front of a watching room. Teams of five go head-to-head against thirty-one other university teams, tested on medical knowledge, speed, strategy and clinical reasoning.

How to enter

Registration is through your university’s official delegation — MedIQ is not an individual or informal-team sign-up. Speak to your university’s SYHF delegation coordinator first; they register your team of five on the delegation’s behalf.

Eligibility & rules

  • Exactly 5 medical students from the same university — no mixed-university teams.
  • Only 32 teams are accepted; selection is competitive.
  • Complete teams only — partial or incomplete entries are not accepted.

Timeline

  • 7 Sep – 28 Oct 2026 Registration, through your university delegation
  • 10 Nov 2026 Accepted teams announced
  • 26–29 Nov 2026 Final, inside the forum in Jeddah

MEDATHON

Building the Future of Health

Overview

A multi-stage healthcare innovation hackathon that brings together interdisciplinary teams to develop innovative, technology-driven solutions to real healthcare challenges — across digital health, AI, medical devices and MedTech. Selected teams take part in on-ground teamwork during the forum and present an implementable prototype on the final judging day.

Tracks — choose one

  • Track 1: Healthcare Crowd & Patient Flow Management — patient flow, overcrowding, triage, safety, operational efficiency and movement within healthcare facilities and mass-gathering environments.
  • Track 2: Healthcare Digital Transformation — workflows, automation, interoperability, data utilization, AI-enabled processes and overall system efficiency.
  • Track 3: Medical Tools & Devices Innovation — medical devices, physical tools, diagnostic or monitoring technologies and practical healthcare prototypes.
  • Track 4: Out-of-Hospital Healthcare — prehospital care, prevention, remote monitoring, home care, follow-up, emergency response and community-based healthcare.

Eligibility & rules

  • Teams of 3 to 5 members, including the team leader.
  • Every team must include at least one student from a healthcare-related academic field; the specific specialization isn’t restricted.
  • Multidisciplinary teams are encouraged.
  • Each team selects one track and submits its project under that track.
  • Submitted work must be original; external content, data or tools must be credited. Plagiarism, false information or rule violations may lead to disqualification.
  • Qualification to each stage depends on the official evaluation results.

Details cannot be changed after registration. Only the team leader can request a member change, from the team dashboard, until Filter 1 closes.

Timeline

  • 1 – 15 Oct 2026 Registration
  • 1 – 20 Oct Phase 1: project template submission
  • 1 – 24 Oct Filter 1: screening · 25 Oct results
  • 25 Oct – 10 Nov Phase 2: remote development sprint
  • 25 Oct – 14 Nov Filter 2: prototype-based selection · 15 Nov finalists announced
  • 27 – 28 Nov Finals: on-ground teamwork and judging in the Exhibition Area
  • 29 Nov Top 3 pitches on the Main Stage (5–6 PM) · winners at the Closing Ceremony (7:30–9 PM)

Winners

1st place SAR 20,000 · 2nd place SAR 10,000 · 3rd place SAR 5,000, announced and recognised during the Closing Ceremony on 29 November 2026. Winning teams may also be introduced to incubators and accelerators.

FAQ

Who can participate?

Eligible participants who meet the published participation requirements and register as part of a team of 3 to 5.

Is a healthcare-related team member required?

Yes — each team must include at least one student whose academic specialization is within the healthcare field. The specific specialization isn’t restricted.

Can a team enter more than one track?

No — each team selects one MEDATHON track during registration and submits its project under that track.

Can we edit our submission after registering?

No. Registration details can’t be changed. Only the team leader can request a member change, until Filter 1 closes.

How will we receive updates?

On your MEDATHON team dashboard and by email: results, submission openings, deadlines and workshops.

What if we have a technical problem or a question?

Open a support ticket from your team dashboard. Anything that needs the organisers is escalated to the MEDATHON administration.

Everything about MEDATHON

The Impact Award

For the initiative already making a difference

About the award

A national recognition platform celebrating youth-led organisations and initiatives (ages 16–28) creating a real impact in Saudi Arabia’s health sector. Open to startups, non-profits, campaigns and innovations at any stage of development.

Prize

SAR 40,000, plus incubation opportunities with Jeddah Business Incubator.

What you’ll need to register

  • Your organisation or initiative’s details — name, type, stage, city, website and socials.
  • An official representative’s information — name, national ID/Iqama, institution and contact details.
  • A written case: the problem you address, your solution, measurable impact, target beneficiaries, alignment with Saudi healthcare priorities & Vision 2030, and your plan for scale.

Required attachments

  • Pitch deck (PDF) — required.
  • 2-minute video presentation — optional.
  • Supporting documents (reports, prototypes, photos, proof of impact) — optional.