Competition4 days left

The Catalyst AI Hackathon

A three-day, in-person AI hackathon in Riyadh run by SDAIA for early-stage founders, technical teams and individuals with an advanced idea. Teams build a stronger prototype with workshops and 1:1 mentoring, pitch to judges, and the best move onto a qualified path into SDAIA's Catalyst AI Accelerator.

Deadline24 October 20264 days left

Apply on the program's site

Checked against the operator's own pages on 21 October 2026. Dates change. Always confirm on the program's own site before you apply.

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Key terms

Duration: 3 days, 29–31 Oct 2026
Cohort starts: 29 October 2026
Format: In person · Riyadh

What you get

Three in-person days in Riyadh (about 100 participants, 26+ teams): team formation and lightning pitches, intensive building with hands-on workshops and 1:1 mentoring, then pitching the prototype to a judging panel. Outstanding teams get a qualified path into The Catalyst AI Accelerator straight after the hackathon.

Who it's for

Technical teams and data/AI specialists, founders of early-stage startups, and individuals or teams with an advanced idea. No commercial registration required; individuals can apply alone and form teams on day one. Attendance is in person in Riyadh. Screening is rolling from the day applications open and looks for a real problem, the right skills, a clear go-to-market strategy, feasibility within the hackathon, AI at the core of the solution (not an add-on), and scalability.

Run by: Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA)
Stages: Idea · Pre-seed
Sectors: AI

Elden Studios